FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2018
ST. LOUIS - Art Holliday, one of St. Louis’s most distinguished journalists, has renewed his contract with 5 On Your Side. He will mark his 40th year with the station in 2019.
Art grew up in St. Charles, and says his four decades at 5 On You Side just kind of happened. He was about to take a sports job in Tampa in 1979 when he found out about an opening in St. Louis. He knew if he returned home it would mean a lot to his late parents to see his television work.
“It wasn’t any sort of master plan to spend my whole career in St. Louis. It just worked out that way,” said Art. “Having said that, I always consider it a huge honor and opportunity to tell stories in my hometown, and I still feel that way, now more than ever. As far as I’m concerned, it worked out the way it was supposed to, and I’m happy about that.”
For his first 10 years at 5 On Your Side, Art reported on local sports, covering the Whiteyball era in Cardinals baseball and interviewing national sports figures, including Michael Jordan, John McEnroe, Wayne Gretzky, and Sugar Ray Leonard. In 1989, he moved to news and formed a well-known partnership with Jennifer Blome, co-anchoring Today in St. Louis together for 22 years. In 2011, Art moved back to a more traditional sleep schedule, anchoring and reporting for 5 On Your Side’s evening newscasts.
“I thought I was going to be a sportscaster my whole career, so to work with Jennifer Blome for 22 years on Today in St. Louis, then hit the re-set button again and become a storyteller, I take a lot of pride in re-inventing myself and proving I’m more than one-dimensional as a broadcaster,” said Art.
Over the years, Art has received numerous journalistic honors and awards, including:
- Three Mid-America Emmy Awards – Two for best sportscaster, one for best sports report
- Induction into the Hall of Fame of the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists in 2001
- Recipient of the annual Media Award from the National Alliance on Mental Health in 2002
- Selection for the University of Missouri- Columbia’s Faculty-Alumni Award in 2003
- Art and Jennifer were voted best anchor team by St. Louis Magazine
- Induction into the St. Louis Media Foundation’s Television Hall of Fame in 2009
“Art exemplifies St. Louis,” said President & General Manager Alicia Elsner. “He is sincerely invested in improving our community and showcasing the interesting characters that make St. Louis unique. His role as a storyteller matches his talents perfectly.”
In addition to anchoring and reporting, Art continues to work on his passion projects, documentaries Johnnie Be Good and Brother Boogie. His first documentary, Before They Fall Off The Cliff: The Ripple Effect of Schizophrenia, was selected for several film festivals, including the St. Louis International Film Festival, True/False, and the Kansas International Film Festival.
About TEGNA
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. With 46 stations in 38 markets, TEGNA delivers relevant content and information to consumers across platforms. It is the largest owner of top 4 affiliates in the top 25 markets, reaching approximately one-third of all television households nationwide. Each month, TEGNA reaches 50 million adults on-air and 32 million across its digital platforms. TEGNA has been consistently honored with the industry’s top awards, including Edward R. Murrow, George Polk, Alfred I. DuPont and Emmy Awards. TEGNA delivers results for advertisers through unparalleled and innovative solutions including OTT local advertising network Premion, centralized marketing resource Hatch, and G/O Digital, a one-stop shop for local businesses to connect with consumers through digital marketing. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.
For more information contact: Alicia Elsner 314-444-5256.
