Meet Canton Repository sports writer Peter Holland Jr.
Peter Holland Jr. is a sports writer at the Canton Repository. He covers the Pro Football Hall of Fame and general assignments. He graduated from Florida International University with a bachelor's degree in mass communication and journalism in 2017.
After graduating, he interned at Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah. Previously, he worked at the Kearney Hub in Kearney, Nebraska, and the McPherson Sentinel in McPherson, Kansas.
Why I became a journalist
I've always wanted to be involved in sports media probably from the moment my seventh grade teacher told me I should be a broadcaster because of the way I asked questions, which is ironic because I'm shy and not really a talkative person.
I grew up watching ESPN every morning not just to watch the highlights but to watch special features on an athlete or coach. I eventually switch to being a sports writer when I went to FIU because of the creativity I could have in print. Since then, I dedicated my adult life to becoming a beat reporter at a sports publication.
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What I like most about my job
I love football. From high school, college, all the way to the NFL.
I have the opportunity to be a part of that while learning more about the history of the game. Canton is the birth of football, and it is an honor to cover the Pro Football Hall of Fame and learn more about the legends who helped make the game what it is today.
Not many people can say they went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement. I was able to cover it for the first time. For a young guy like me, it's an experience like no other.
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My favorite story or stories that I've worked on
So far, it's covering Dominique Robinson and his NFL Draft journey. I love the NFL, but I really love the NFL Draft. As soon as I found out Robinson was invited to the NFL Combine, I had to jump on it.
I wrote a special feature on him days before the combine, and it did well on the SEO traffic. He invited me to his draft party where I met him and his family. They were all nice and appreciative of the story. I was right there when the Chicago Bears selected him.
I recorded a live video of him and everybody who was there. It was an intense moment, and one of the most fun experiences that I've had as a reporter.
The biggest challenge I face
It's always challenging when you're relocating to a different environment that you're not accustomed to. I lived in three different states before moving to Canton.
The difference is that it was the first time I drove long distance. I was coming from Nebraska, which was 1,018 miles. As soon as I arrived, I was caught up in a middle of a snowstorm. Perfect timing.
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What I like to do when I'm not working
I'm a laid-back kind of person. A lot of times I'm watching TV shows on my streaming services or listening to podcasts and radio shows in the morning.
I love listening to old school hip hop and R&B from the '90s and early 2000s. Those were the good old days of music.
I still watch cartoons, too. I'm a kid at heart. I also like watching documentaries. Sorry Cleveland fans, but I root for all Miami teams; Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, Miami Hurricanes and FIU Panthers.
How to reach me
You can reach me at pholland@gannett.com, or follow me on Twitter @_Da_pistol.
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Peter Holland Jr. covers sports for the Canton Repository
