Award-Winning Journalist & Author Dave Lopez: Five Things You Need To Thrive & Succeed As A…

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Award-Winning Journalist & Author Dave Lopez: Five Things You Need To Thrive & Succeed As A Journalist

Always make sure your passport is up to date. When the Berlin Wall fell, I was assigned to go to Germany. I was packed and headed to the airport when I looked at my passport — expired by ONE MONTH….NO TRIP…never again did I make that mistake!

As a part of our series about “Five Things You Need To Succeed As A Journalist”, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dave Lopez.

Dave Lopez is a retired news reporter who has won virtually every award in broadcasting and journalism over his distinguished career reporting on the air in Southern California, including nine Emmys and the Joe Quinn Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Los Angeles Press Club. A native Angeleno, he and his late wife, Elaine, raised two children in Downey, where he was a noted youth coach for many years. He currently lives in Long Beach, CA, with wife, Diandra, and dotes on his four grandchildren. His mini-broadcasts can be seen on Facebook and Twitter @cbsladavelopez.

Dave recently released his memoir, It’s a Great Life If You Don’t Weaken, an inspirational tale of faith, family, and the news from a true LA native. Set against the backdrop of every major story of the last half century — from Vietnam War protests to the O.J. Simpson trial to countless politicians behaving badly — this story is a vivid remembrance of a life well lived, both on and off camera.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

When I was in the fifth grade, our assignment was to write an essay on what we wanted to be when we grew up. I wrote newspaper reporter and TV journalist. Ever since I can remember, I was curious about everything and have never afraid to ask questions or talk to people. My dream came true!

Can you share the most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career?

Without question, it was the William Bonin case in 1980. He was a serial killer who confessed to me in a jailhouse interview. He killed 25 young men. I wound up testifying against him in a case that made headlines.

Can you share the funniest mistake that you made when you first started? Can you share the lesson you learned from it?

It wasn’t a funny incident, but one that taught me a valuable lesson. In 1976, a Federal hearing was held in San Diego about tuna fisherman. The hearing officer ordered me and my camera crew to leave, which I did. When I told my news director, he ordered me to get back into the hearing citing Freedom of the Press. I did. A huge controversy ensued. I was almost arrested, but I got my story and I learned to never back down.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

My book “It’s a Great Life if You Don’t Weaken” is my major project. Writing it and now promoting it is my top project. It has been a labor of love just like my 48-year career on television.

Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?

I have met thousands of people from all walks of life — some famous, others just ordinary people with great stories to tell. That’s what I loved doing: telling stories, telling the truth. In my book, I recount numerous stories of the people I met: OJ Simpson as a shy 20-year-old BEFORE he became the OJ; Muhammed Ali writing a poem for my newborn daughter 46 years ago; Los Angeles Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley giving me a private tour of Dodgertown in his custom-made golf cart; Mary Ann Fraser — the mother of Robin Samsoe, who at age 12 was murdered by Rodney Alcala. She told me how she sneaked a gun into the court room one day in 1979 and was going to shoot Alcala but changed her mind. So many stories and I put them in the book.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in journalism?

In this business, you must know how to write and be ready to work long hours, and learn to listen.

What advice would you give to your colleagues in the industry, to thrive and not “burnout”?

You must have balance in your life and make time for family and hobbies. You can’t live 24/7 as a journalist. Life is too short to do that.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

I have established a scholarship in memory of my late wife who died in 2013. It goes to high school seniors who want to become teachers. Now, in our ninth year, we have given over $120,000 in money.

I know this is not an easy job. What drives you?

The need to succeed and be the best in whatever I did.

Do you have a favorite book that made a deep impact on your life? Can you share a story?

I was twelve years old when Los Angeles Dodgers’ Roy Campanella wrote a book about his terrible accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. It was called “Fear Strikes Out.” I was so impressed with his courage and faith in God. When I met him years later, I told him that. I was in my first year as a TV reporter for KHJ-TV in 1972.

Ok wonderful. Thank you for all of that. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

  1. How difficult it is to accept rejection. I put a few of those rejection letters in my book. Actually, those rejection letters made me more determined to succeed.
  2. People don’t return phone calls. Many times, I would drive to the offices of those people who didn’t call back. Some were impressed, while others could not care less.
  3. Don’t be afraid to brag about yourself. I was too humble about my abilities in a job interview at KRON-TV in San Francisco and I lost out to a reporter who lasted less than one year. Never again did I make that mistake.
  4. Always make sure your passport is up to date. When the Berlin Wall fell, I was assigned to go to Germany. I was packed and headed to the airport when I looked at my passport — expired by ONE MONTH….NO TRIP…never again did I make that mistake!
  5. Get a good agent. I didn’t hire an agent until 1980, my third year at CBS. It was the best move of my career. My agent took care of my career until I retired in June 2020.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

I would love to have stricter gun laws regarding assault weapons. PERIOD!

Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

Oprah Winfrey. I find her one of the most fascinating people in my lifetime.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

My weekly Facebook and Twitter reports:

@cbsladavelopez

https://www.facebook.com/davelopezreport

This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!


Award-Winning Journalist & Author Dave Lopez: Five Things You Need To Thrive & Succeed As A… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.