Inspiring Conversations with DeJuan Hoggard of ABC11-WTVD

Today we’d like to introduce you to DeJuan Hoggard.

Hi DeJuan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I became television when I was a high school sophomore in San Diego. My school required all sophomore students to research a career we were interested in, interview someone in that industry, and present a report on our findings at the end of the year. I decided to get connected with the local sports director, Paul Rudy and proceeded to complete my assignment. Paul, now a dear friend, invited me to the station for a tour. I stayed close with Paul and always found myself immersed in the profession and production of the TV station’s sports coverage. Eventually hired me a couple of years later. And the rest, they say, is history. I did just about everything at this station. You name it. I did it. It wasn’t long before I began working in various departments and helping the sports department win several Emmy Awards. It truly was an amazing and exciting time!

Fast forward to the summer of 2013, when I switched from sports hosting/reporting to a news anchor for a national cable outlet. After helping the outlet reach nearly 15 million U.S. homes, an amazing opportunity became available with ABC11-WTVD in Raleigh/Durham, NC, in early 2016. It’s been an exhilarating ride! Everyone’s journey is different. I like to think of mine as the exception and most certainly not the rule.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth is not the word I’d use. Challenging is a much more appropriate adjective. While my high school peers were at football and basketball games or school dances, I was learning as much as possible at the TV studio. In college, while everyone was at the club or a party, I was at the TV studio all night, providing content for thousands of viewers. It’s safe to say that, in many ways, I feel like I missed out on many social activities and memories because I was working. On top of that, there’s the challenge and frustration of odd hours and working on holidays — missing many family moments in between. It can take a toll on your mental.

One of the biggest struggles has been reminding myself that I am worthy and have earned all the great blessings I enjoy. I truly believe many people, colleagues or not, have some self-doubt related to our job performance and ability. As my pastor would say, “Sometimes the enemy is my inner me.”

I specifically recall my experience as a sports producer in San Diego right out of college. I was making $10/hour. I worked in San Diego Tue-Fri and stayed with my parents, but I still had an apartment I was renting in Los Angeles — about two hours away — where I lived Sat-Mon. The math was not matching! I split my rent with a friend of my roommate who slept in my room while I wasn’t there. And when I was home in LA, she either stayed with a friend or slept downstairs on the couch. Like, what!?

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
ABC11 has been around for decades! Launched initially and still headquartered in Durham, NC. Since its inception, we’ve opened and continue to operate newsrooms in downtown Raleigh and downtown Fayetteville, in addition to our original Durham newsroom. We are owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company, and we pride ourselves on many, if not all, of the same core values and beliefs of our parent company.

As an anchor/reporter, I anchor the weekend evening news and routinely fill in as an anchor during the week on our morning and PM shows. When not anchoring, you can find me covering a variety of general assignment stories throughout the 20-plus counties we serve. That could include a story on race relations, state politics, and a human interest story about a toddler who started a lemonade business and used the money to buy diapers for needy children.

Our station prides itself in representing the community we serve, whether it be the on-air talent that reflects our viewership or delivering the news in an easily understood and inclusive way. We care. It’s intentional. And I love that about working here.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Guess I’ll let the cat out of the bag. All of the on-air talent, including me, do our makeup, and we don’t have people pick out our wardrobe!

Contact Info:

• Website: ABC11.com
• Instagram: @DeJuanABC11
• Facebook: @DeJuanHoggardWTVD
• Twitter: @DeJuanABC11