MEET THE PROFESSIONAL
March 2019
Frank Elaridi
Frank Elaridi is freelance journalist and tv producer covering everything from Syrian refugee camps in the Middle East to the Academy Awards. A career spanning print, television, and digital, producing and on-camera, Frank is a storyteller through various platforms.
As a producer for ABC Network News, which includes Good Morning America, Nightline, 20/20 and ABC World News, his works are primarily in the field on stories ranging from Dancing with the Stars to natural disasters.
We are very excited to feature him this month in our “Meet the Professional” series.
Below are a few questions to help facilitate this interactive connection. At the end of the page you will have an opportunity to post your own questions for Frank Elaridi.
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Describe your current Occupation & Degree/s and Universities.
Bachelor of Journalism from the University of La Verne
Awards/recognitions:
- 4 Emmy Awards as part of a team for best morning show
- 2 Edward Murrow Awards
- 105k youtube subscribers/25 million views
Publications
https://abcnews.go.com/Author/Frank_Elaridi
Discuss a moment or turning point in your life that led you to your career path:
I always thought I would be an actor, and I only went to college as a backup plan that I didn’t think I needed. When it came time to choose a major, I chose journalism, because writing was my passion and I could also still be on camera. Little did I know that this “backup plan” would take center stage and become my passion.
The turning point in my life and career was getting an internship at Good Morning America 10 years ago. The internship led to being a producer and an on-camera reporter. Getting my foot in the door was crucial, but working hard as an intern allowed me to prove myself and eventually led to me getting the positions I have now.
Discuss a role model or mentor who influenced your career choice:
One of the greatest lessons I learned is that you have to build your team— a council of sorts— that you can call upon for specific needs. It has taken years, but I know who to call on when I need help with a documentary, or a literary agent for my book, or advice on which contracts to sign and which ones to avoid, how to respond to certain emails, the correct way to pitch a project, and so on. You need to have a circle of successful and talented people who believe in YOU and your work, and are willing to guide you in the right way.
You also need people in your life that will motivate you. I will never forget when I first started to produce for ABC News, and I got a single line email from Diane Sawyer which read: “you are so clearly on your way.” I was 22 or so and I thought “wow, Diane Sawyer thinks I am on my way!” Since then I’ve covered everything from the biggest Syrian refugee camp to the Academy Awards. I was at a volcano eruption in Hawaii and in another moment backstage at Dancing with Stars learning how to do the cha-cha on camera. I never imagined that my “backup plan” would lead me to these experiences, and so much more.
Do you recall any specific challenges you encountered and overcame?
My journey has been filled with challenges, whether it was juggling college and a job to avoiding a massive layoff. I remember having to work while going to school and getting off a 3 am shift only to have to be in class by 7 am.
I also remember almost losing my job before I even started. On my first day at ABC News they announced they were laying off hundreds of people. The bureau chief called me into his office and told me that I should probably look for another internship. I knew that I wanted to work at ABC News and did not want to go anywhere else, so being the stubborn person I am, I told him I didn’t want to go anywhere else. That was the best decision of my life. They kept me on as an intern and I was eventually able to rise up in the ranks and become a producer and an on-camera reporter.
Having faced challenges and knowing that motivation is an important factor in a person’s success, I cover this topic on my YouTube Channel. Here is the link to a video I made about hard work and challenges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQOxFC0ESaE
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
In ten years I would like to see the novel I just finished get on the bestsellers list. I want to keep creating inspiring content, and I don’t know if that will come in the form of documentaries, unscripted shows, my own talk show, or a million YouTube subscribers, but I will always be creating.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in your field?
Ask a lot of questions, say yes to everything, choose work over parties, surround yourself with people more successful than you, choose a podcast over music at the gym or in the car, reads lots of books, and nurture your spirit. Meditation and spiritual retreats are not a waste of time — they connect you with your authentic self and they allow you to make decisions from your soul, because when you are connected with your soul purpose, nothing will sway you.
Also — don’t try to be like anyone else. There is something that only you can bring to this world in your own unique way, and you are doing yourself, and us, a disservice to be anything less than that. When I first started making videos I tried to sound like Anthony Bourdain and Oprah, and no one connected with it, because people can sniff out a fraud from a mile away. When I stopped doing that and just spoke and wrote like Frank Elaridi, I started to get millions of views.
Tell us a little bit about your hobbies outside of your field:
I am the biggest health freak, and when I’m not working I am pampering myself! Infrared beds, acupuncture, cupping, hyperbaric chambers, ozone therapy, stretch therapy, IV treatments, cryotherapy, sensory deprivation tanks… you name it, I’ve done it!
A Q&A form will be uploaded shortly. In the meantime feel free to send any questions you would like to ask Frank Elaridi to admin@network1017.com
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