There was an interesting moment while I was on the set of CNN’s Newsroom with Don Lemon last week. Lemon, a four time Emmy winner and Edward R. Murrow award recipient, was about to interview the Rev. Al Sharpton, who had just delivered a rousing eulogy for seven year old, Aiyana Stanley-Jones. Stanley-Jones was the third child killed in Detroit during police raids in the past few weeks.
As an outsider, it’s easy to look at news stories indifferently, seeing them as mere numbers or statistics; however, while Lemon was on commercial break, he asked his producers to speak with Rev. Sharpton before they went live on-air. After a few trying moments he got his wish. “Reverend Sharpton?” He asked, “How is the family doing? Are they holding up? This is such a sad story, Reverend.” I was taken by surprise by Lemon’s heartfelt emotional connection with the story. He honestly cared about the people involved and was not just reporting the facts: his concern for humanity makes him a very special journalist.
I was beyond excited when Don Lemon invited me to spend a day with him on the temporary Los Angeles set of his weekend prime-time show, CNN Newsroom. Lemon and his show are based at the network’s world headquarters in Atlanta, where he also serves as a correspondent across CNN/U.S. programming. He has covered many breaking news stories including the Inaugural of the 44th President in Washington, D.C., Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana in 2008, and the Minneapolis bridge collapse in 2007. Last year it was no surprise when Ebony Magazine named Lemon as one of the most influential African American men in America.
In part one of my interview with Lemon, we discuss his journey to CNN. After working at several local news affiliates, Lemon found himself working for NBC in New York as a correspondent for NBC News, The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, MSNBC and as an anchor on Weekend Today. He humorlessly reflects his childhood curiosity and his innate ability to constantly question everything and his need to find answers. One of the most intriguing moments of our interview is when we discuss his interview with Joe Jackson, Michael Jackson’s father, at the BET Awards just days after Michael’s death. Joe Jackson’s notorious and questionable antics did not disappoint.
Part two of my interview takes on the ever-so-touching story of Lemon’s interview with Anne Nixon Cooper, the 106-year old voter President-elect Obama highlighted in his election night acceptance speech after he had seen Lemon’s interview with Cooper on CNN. Lemon gives us a withjosh exclusive and shows personal photos of himself with Cooper, who died right before her 108th birthday.
Don Lemon happens to be one of those people that you hope everyone can meet. He’s funny, sincere, and real. Like every great mentor or role model, Lemon is doing his best with the responsibility he’s been given. He’s so humble and unaffected by the industry that it’s hard for me to believe he truly understands the impact he is currently making on thousands of viewers’ lives. Don Lemon in an extraordinary journalist but while you’re with him, it’s easy to call him friend.
| Posted by Josh on May 27, 2010 @ 8:06 PM |  |
EXCELLENT interview with Don Lemon! My house always has CNN on and it’s great to see him so personal. I like how conversational you are. First time visitor to your site and will be watching more interviews now. Fantastic fantastic work. Thank you. Jeremy H.
Comment by Jeremy — May 27, 2010 @ 10:42 PM
One of the best interviews on your site!
Comment by Tiffa — May 28, 2010 @ 6:42 AM
Fantastic!!!
Really interesting!
Comment by SOLANGE — May 28, 2010 @ 10:05 AM
This is was a fantastic interview. Don really is a nice guy.
Comment by Zack Isaacs — May 31, 2010 @ 9:46 AM
Hi, Josh!!
Wowwwww!!!! it`s sincerely a great interview!, i love your way to show us every story!
He seems so direct and credible. I like it!
Comment by Dheniss — May 31, 2010 @ 1:20 PM
Hi, Josh (“Yang Man”-respect it i´ll be giving the evidence that it`s in the chine Horoscope of Ludovica Squirru!!!!!, my “nefarious” friends thinks that it`s my invention!-):
It turns difficult to watch without one perspective of the world that we watch in the TV. And i believe that it`s the more interesant in this favoulous interview, cause it makes us analize the world in wich we lives.
Is so common that we watched the news like others TV shows, then we take the News like one objetive true when we must understand the Real value of it. Perhaps, in many situations we believe us like Genious of the information: we´re connect to many signs of information, new lenguages, we codify complex way of messages and we make of our brain one perfect box of reception; but sometimes we desestimate one copious number of information, or we preffer take it in easy way without analize nothing, like if it would be so easy like watch “Miss Universe” (but Shows like it had a message behind of all, too). In this context, the world of the News is one interesant universe to understand the time in wich we lives.
When i was child (He!, it sounds like “When i was young…”!!!) I ever thonk that watch TV News would be one flagellation, and i didn´t understand why my parents watched it; but now, i know that it´s like obligatory for me cause it`s like one reference in my life respect the world around me; and find one good TV news that will be saying you one aceptable version of the reality is so important, perhaps so important like find one good oculist, or in effect, like find a good glasses. It remembers me when i watched one famous argentinian TV News. For me, it had greats and credibles journalists; but late i was observating how this journalist changed their discourse, so what i decided change my TV News in the same moment when i saw that one journalist changed of channel cause , in the channel where she was, one corrupt system took control of all. So what i began to watch her in her new Show, cause i saw in her one important thing: She was loyal to her convictions. And i believe that it`s the most important for one person who have the responsability to show us the News, cause it sn´t only one work, it`s one great challenge for who emit one social message (Be loyal to yourown convictions is the most important for all, in all aspect of the life, in all work). One agency of News can to say you what say, but ever the last word is in the journalist who can intent to mantein the own argument or acept the “oficial discourse”. It sn`t easy, specially in the world of the communication wich seems one site of the battle to emit the discourses that we´ll be repiting. For it, i think that who have the power of the word can to try, in some way, to make one little diference. I want to remit to the last discussion (the interview to the psychic, here in WithJosh. Please, watch it, cause it`s interesant) about the Truth and about the Belief of one society; it shows many things respect to the power of Truth. Why?, well; like in the discussion about this interview, i suppose that many peoples would be saying that show many stories is one conflict; but i think that in the TV News you can´t show one uniq and absolute version of the reality, cause it`s just ONE VERSION, not the reality. One journalist must to near the most to the truth, but the most important is that the journalist can to make you think, and in this aspect i must to congratulate you for make it (Hey, Josh: gained that i think for first time in my life. He!!! You made it!), Well, you aren`t one journalist, but with your Show (WithJosh) give us a multiply perspective of the reality, You give us the oportunity to think the things again; and it`s the most important activity in our world society; we must to think that all situations had one connection with others situations; nothing is cassual. It`s the true loyalty with the Truth.
Comment by Dheniss — May 31, 2010 @ 1:24 PM
[...] Don Lemon – CNN’s Breaking News | With Josh [...]
Pingback by wedding-secrets.info » Blog Archive » On CNN, Media Matters’ Boehlert Discusses Coordination Behind Town Hall Disruptions, Rick Scott — May 31, 2010 @ 8:13 PM
He is one handsome, classy, intelligent man!! Josh..one of your best interviews!! Charming!!!
Comment by justjamie — June 2, 2010 @ 11:36 PM
I like his energy and the way he incorporates technology in his life!
Your interview shows him in a different way and changes our impression of journalist.
Comment by tin@ — June 4, 2010 @ 4:38 AM
Josh Skinner:
I watched it and i’m very grateful for this interview.
Very cool about Obama.
Comment by Monica — June 4, 2010 @ 6:40 AM
I love when he talked about his family! He seems so sweet
Comment by wwwkiss — June 4, 2010 @ 6:48 AM
Congrats Josh on your interview. I admire Lemon!
Comment by cinthia — June 4, 2010 @ 8:46 AM
Josh:
Hi!; your interview is a crazy experience to check!!!! He seems a good journalist andone man with experince of the world in where he lives.
You`re so, so, so good.
I love you.
Comment by Carter — June 8, 2010 @ 8:21 AM
Fantastic!! He`s cool, i like it!
Comment by A-zure — June 18, 2010 @ 6:37 AM