Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaime Cerreta.
Hi Jaime, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a Phoenix native. I went to Cherokee Elementary, Cocopah Middle School and Chaparral High. I graduated from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Broadcast Journalism. From there, I got my first job in radio at MetroNetworks at the Scottsdale Airpark. I worked 8pm -4am right out of college; writing overnight for the morning radio anchors. Soon, I had the chance to do news cut-ins myself on weekend mornings. I was nervous, excited and very green, but I loved it!! After nearly 8 months of searching, I landed my first TV job as a one-man-band reporter in Joplin, MO. I produced and anchored a morning show in Springfield, MO; anchored and reported in Beaumont, Tx, and was the evening anchor in Oklahoma City. Finally, after 14 years, Phoenix called!!! I had always wanted to live and work in my HOMETOWN. I’m now celebrating 13 years at Arizona’s Family and have reported and anchored for our morning shows, our night shows, our weekend shows, and everything in between. Now, I work weekdays anchoring our Noon-1pm newscast and our hybrid 3pm show which covers news headlines, trending topics and community and health focused live interviews. It’s a dream!! I am extremely proud of my franchise I started 11 years ago here at AZFamily: Jaime’s Local Love. Every Wednesday, I highlight– my personal heroes!– our Arizona business owners. I so admire their passion and tenacity!! And yes, my admiration came from watching my family work so hard building their business: Cerreta Candy Company in Glendale, AZ. I’m so proud of them!!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
TV news is not easy. It’s tough topics, rough hours and grueling work. It is also rewarding, exhilarating and so important. It is so important to give our local community members a public voice and shine a light on what matters TO THEM. I happily moved from town to town in my 20’s and 30’s and went– wherever I was hired. I adjusted to new cities, new managers, and never thought too much about my needs. I knew– I was working toward my end goal. I think life can be tough sometimes.. but people can be stronger!!! I believe in the value of mental strength and emotional intelligence… and I believe in the payoff when you –just dig in– when it’s hard. I accepted and embraced the hard times telling myself– I’m in my sowing season– so… SOW!! And when it’s time to reap, I relish in the happiness with those who helped me through it; because we never do it alone. Thank goodness for all the wonderful people I’ve met through my journey who saw past my weaknesses and flaws and lifted me up and loved me through those times.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I absolutely love my work. I find it a true calling. I love pouring through the details of a story and making sure we have it right. I enjoy the opportunity to walk into people’s homes and businesses on both their best and worst days and tell their stories. I find it a special honor to be welcomed in and I want to do right by the people who trust me. The world of TV news is changing so much and people get their news in so many different ways now. I have worked in many local newsrooms around the country and have always found dedicated journalists with a passion to seek the truth and to empower, protect, inform and when appropriate– entertain our community. I am incredibly proud to be a journalist in my hometown.
What makes you happy?
There are no words to tell you how my heart sings when I am in someone’s business, I just tossed back to the anchors after a live Local Love segment…. then the phone rings at that business! I tell them– answer it!– oftentimes the caller had just seen them on TV!! And I do a happy dance!! To know that our work can make a direct positive impact on people is just thrilling.
I am also beyond blessed to have a family who has and still does cheer me on every single day!! They taught me to believe in myself and DO THE WORK! I know it’s their guidance that’s help me live in such joy and happiness daily both personally and professionally. I try to spread that message too. I want to help make life just a little more enjoyable for the people around me and for those who watch me on TV. There still is so much to celebrate around us every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.azfamily.com/programming/good-morning-arizona/jaimes-local-love/
- Instagram: @cerretanews
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cerreta
- Twitter: @cerretanews
