Interviewing Presidents and Training Storytellers

Emmy®-Winning Greyhound Interviews U.S. Presidents and Trains Storytellers

By Desiree Cooper

Broadcast journalist Adam Vance (BS 97) has had a noteworthy career since his graduation from ENMU, garnering 25 Emmy ® nominations (including two wins) and interviewing not one, but five U.S. presidents.

During his 15 years as a senior photojournalist at WTSP-TV in Florida, Adam covered 30 space shuttle launches, three Super Bowls, one Stanley Cup championship, one World Series, three College National Championship titles and Hurricanes Charley, Francis, Ivan, Jean, Rita, Katrina and Faye.

Since 2015 Adam has been working at KUSA-TV 9News in Colorado as a senior photojournalist and satellite news gathering-operator. He chose the station because of its ‘reputation of being one of the best television news stations in the country.’

Adam Vance

“I wanted to keep that tradition going. This is one of the best jobs on the planet. I get to tell stories about people. I get a glimpse of people’s lives that most others get to merely see on their TVs or smart phones,” said the photojournalist, whose job duties include shooting, writing and editing stories each day.

“Every day is different and I never know what to expect. It makes it extremely exciting.”

The winner of two Society of Professional Journalism awards and five Associated Press awards, Adam said the most challenging aspect is shooting in extreme weather. His career goals are to eventually become Chief Photographer at 9News and to carry the traditions that have been established there.

Adam, who is originally from Santa Fe, chose to attend Eastern because it was the best value for the dollar.

Photojournalist Adam Vance has covered 30 space shuttle launches, including the Space Shuttle Columbia (pictured).

“I was told ENMU had the third best communication school in the nation, so it was a nobrainer for me.”

The broadcast major, with a minor in psychology, chose that field of study because he had always wanted to be a visual storyteller.

“ENMU provided me the tools to become the best storyteller I could be, both in front of the camera and behind,” said Adam. “I just didn’t want to torture viewers with my ugly mug,” joked the Sigma Chi member, who served as a recruiter for the University, as well as a studentstaff photographer, a member of the student yearbook, and a KENW-TV student employee.

“Eastern prepared me to think outside the box and work efficiently under extreme deadlines,” he explained. “It also gave me the tools to be a champion for our industry. I would not be where I am without the skillset I achieved at ENMU.”

Adam married his high school sweetheart and fellow Greyhound graduate, Paulette (Davis) Vance (BS 98). They have twin 10-year-old boys, Bryce and Connor.

“My hobbies, these days, are my two boys. Anything they are involved in, I am too,” he said. “Currently, it is baseball, basketball, soccer, skiing and snowboarding.”

Adam’s “best honor” is serving as Co-Director of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) News Video Workshop where he gets to train future storytellers. He has been with NPPA for over seven years and has trained some of the best in the business.

For more information about the workshop, visit: https://nppa.org/ training/news-video-workshop.