Interview With Cierra Jordan
What city are you from/ Where are you based now?
I am a proud New Yorker. I was born in Queens but raised in Long Island.
I currently reside in Bangor, Maine serving as a news reporter.
What is your real name & nickname?
Cierra Jordan but you can call me Cee or CeeJ.
What do you do?
I’m a news reporter and an EMMY Award Winning producer. Sharing inspiring stories has always been my calling. I truly enjoy writing compelling and significant news the public cares about.
How long have you been in your industry?
My passion for journalism started at the student television station at the University of Connecticut. As a UConn Husky, I’ve spent most of my days as a news and sports reporter for UCTV. My biggest break was when I covered the UConn Women’s Basketball regional semi-finals game against Mississippi State back in 2016. Just being able to actually witness and cover that game, I knew becoming a journalist is my destiny. After I graduated from UConn, I became a feature reporter intern for the Cape Cod Baseball Summer League in Cotuit, Massachusetts. It took me some time after my internship to land a professional job. So, I worked as a production assistant for the Steve Wilkos show in 2018. As a side hustle, I’d challenged myself to increase my skill set in visual storytelling by conducting my own interviews for my blog. I always knew my end goal was to become a multimedia journalist, so I had to keep telling myself, this is only temporary. I left Steve Wilkos and got an amazing broadcast associate position at the Major League Baseball Network in 2019. I worked closely with the producers and talent pitching creative story ideas, editing game highlights and montages for the network.
At the start of 2020, the pandemic hit, and I was unemployed for a year.Since then, I applied to hundreds of jobs to eventually get the job of my dreams as a news reporter for ABC and FOX in Bangor, Maine.
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS?
It was definitely getting the job of my dreams. I prayed every day to God for this amazing opportunity. I was in such a dark place. But with the support from my family and friends, their love, encouragement and positivity has kept me going through this bumpy road. If I had to name a second HUGE accomplishment, I’d say becoming an Emmy Award-Winning Producer for the Major League Baseball Network. Like what! Huge shoutout to the MLB Tonight Team for all the hard work and making my dream come alive!
HOW HAS COVID AFFECTED YOUR LIFE
2020 was a pretty tough year, but full of surprises. It opened my eyes to who and what I want to become in life. I was unemployed and applying to hundreds of jobs across the country. There were times I felt like giving up and starting a new career path. But God kept telling me not to give up the mission.
Fast forward, in July of 2020, I landed my dream job as a news reporter for ABC and Fox in Maine. It was a huge transition moving from the city that never sleeps to rural vacationland but I’m loving every single minute of it. I want to prove that I am ready for bigger professional challenges in journalism, and I can tackle important stories and interviews. COVID has taught me to stay humble and never give up on your dreams.
WHAT’S YOUR NEXT MOVE?
My contract is up next year in July. I hope to continue pursuing my career as a news reporter but hopefully land a job in sports. My ultimate goal is to become a sports reporter/anchor and win another EMMY. This is only the beginning!
WORKING ON ANY PROJECTS?
As of now, I’m currently working on building my own blog filled with interviews of different artists and athletes.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN A YEAR?
Hopefully, at the next chapter of my journey in a bigger media market. Ultimately, I hope to inspire other aspiring young women to forge their own paths to successful careers in journalism.
