Name: Venton Blandin
Twitter: @VentonBlandinTV
Facebook: Venton Blandin Reports
Instagram: @VentonBlandinTV
Age: 43
Title: Reporter
Married/Single: Single
Kids: None
City you live in: Scottsdale
A typical day in my life includes… waking up with some praise and worship music, drinking water, checking emails and voicemails which arrived while both phones were on DND, scanning through morning network TV and checking on social media. I go back to sleep and wake up again for some type of light exercise then prepare for working the evening newscast.
I was born in Chicago. I grew up on the west side and in the inner-city community of Garfield Park.
My favorite thing about Arizona is learning new experiences about the West Coast. I would say the warmth but have a love/hate relationship with the Valley’s heat.
I’m listening to…a lot of gospel music, but some R&B and Hip-Hop. I am also listening to some audio books.
My family…is huge, very tight-knit and supportive. We don’t stress small things. We value family time and being with each other more than material things.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…this requires thought. I have been blessed to share dinner with several people. I would love to sit with Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Kathy Bates…I do not know. If it’s a dead person – Maya Angelou.
One thing I cannot live without…family.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…a reporter.
I’m inspired by…people. I love finding the good in them and helping them see it when they don’t see it in themselves. Through my work at ABC15, being on the board of the Rocky Mountain Emmys and being on the leadership team for the National Association of Black Journalists, I am exposed to so many incredible experiences. Those experiences often happen while engaging with people of all backgrounds right here in the Valley.
The one person who motivates me is…I don’t think one person motivates me, but am often motivated by family.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…focus on personal life better in a way to hopefully have gotten married and become a father by now.
The perfect day would be…relaxing with family on an international trip.
My first job was…a television mascot at the age of 13. WYYF News4 in Greenville, SC. The mascot was a dinosaur named Dino4. I made station appearances with anchors and reporters.
My favorite escape…weekend getaways. I love flying. I like road trips.
My life…blessed. I could have been dead, could have no friends and or an unsupportive family. But that’s not the case. I am grateful for my relationship with God, family and friends, the rooms I have been in, the people I have met, opportunities I have received and helped others to experience.
I’m currently working on…reading more, personal life and advancing my career.
Always…grateful, open to everything and attached to nothing, remembering everyone is having a hard time at some level, networking and preparing for the expected knowing full well God is laughing at me for trying to plan my life.
Never…done drugs.
Favorite Quote…This will change from time to time depending on the vibe/energy around me. Right now? “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.” – Maya Angelou
Biggest Dream…I reached mine of being a reporter. But now it’s just living a good life, starting a family and leaving a legacy for my children. I want family and friends to know everything I have done, I did it with intentional love, compassion, empathy, integrity and respect.
My Pet Peeve(s)…disrespect, bad customer service, being lied to.
Bio-on yourself/company: Venton Blandin, a Regional Edward R. Murrow recipient and Emmy winner, joined ABC15 in November 2021 and has nearly 30 years of newsroom experience, as well as experience working with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Venton’s passion for news grew when he moved to Greenville, South Carolina in 1993. He worked behind the scenes at WYFF-TV in Greenville, SC during high school. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1998 and received an honorable discharge as a Corporal.
In addition to countless local reports, Venton covered the deadly 2015 Emanuel A.M.E. Church shooting in Charleston, the deadly 2015 shooting at the armed forces recruiting office in Chattanooga. He covered Hurricane Joaquin in 2015, Hurricane Matthew in 2016, St. Louis protests in 2017 and the Branson Duck Boat Tragedy in 2018.
Venton has received two Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, four Emmy nominations and several awards from the Associated Press.
Venton loves God, serves as the Arts & Entertainment Task Force Chair for the National Association of Black Journalists, on the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Rocky Mountain Southwest Board and is a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild.
