ATLANTA — WSB-TV’s very own Fred Blankenship is being highlighted for his enthusiasm and motivating videos online.
In an article by Lonnae O’Neal on Andscape.com, she calls Fred’s videos “a testament to the power of affirmation and old-school dance moves.”
Every morning, just before he gets on air for Channel 2 Action News This Morning, Fred records one-minute-long videos in the studio makeup room. In these videos, Fred screams positive affirmations set to a soundtrack.
Blankenship, an Emmy Award-winning anchor, husband and father of three, joined Channel 2 Action News in 2007. Since then, he’s been using his videos to motivate others early in the morning.
If you’re just waking up on a weekday morning and you need a word, a beat, or an old-school dance move to help you step into the a.m., to ripen you to the promise and possibilities the next 24 hours might have in store, then Blankenship’s got you
— Lonnae O'Neal in Andscape article
Fred’s videos receive tons of love, likes, comments and shares on social media. He told O’Neal that he wants to send a message to people letting them know they will have an amazing day.
Fred said in his interview with O’Neal that getting to the news of the day can be kind of tough, so before doing so, he wants people to know they’re going to have an amazing day.
I want to know that I’m gonna have an amazing day. And that’s kind of the message — that the first thing you see when you get up in the morning is somebody telling you that you can do it
— Blankenship to O'Neal
To get your day started off right, he always sets his videos to a groovy soundtrack; typically one that’s a decade, or more, old.
O’Neal describes in her article how Fred does his thing in his morning videos.
When the videos begin, the music has already dropped and Blankenship is sitting in a chair, wearing a crisp shirt and a pricey-looking tie. He might rise up as he yells out, “Uh-oh! Here we go, baby! We’re back on a Monday! Oh! I know we got a lot going on in this world! It’s the holidays. I know way too many people! I gotta get presents right now!”
He claps.
“Who are these amazing people? Family! You know how we do it. Aye!”
Then he hits that dance move.
— O'Neal
Shonda Sims, a Medicare adviser from Stockbridge, Georgia, has been watching Blankenship since 2007. She told O’Neal that she starts her day off with Fred on WSB-TV.
“Every single morning, I start my day off on WSB with Fred,” she said. After somebody shared one of his videos on Facebook a few years ago, she started following him on Twitter. “I would go every day and he would do the dances and would just start with an affirmation. Something really encouraging and positive and upbeat,” Sims said. “And he always ends with, ‘Let’s go get it!’ You know? It was just awesome for me, especially being in sales, when you have to have a certain amount of energy to perform well at your job.
— Shonda Sims to O'Neal in Andscape article
Sims said she loves how Fred is always consistent with his joy and happiness.
Several other viewers told O’Neal how Fred’s videos have impacted their lives. Fred has also been spotted by a few notable icons.
The Songstress, Miss Anita Baker, has retweeted him when he’s played one of her songs. So has Missy Elliott. And when people come up to him, they tell him he’s part of their lives, and their routine in getting kids to school, and all their morning rituals. They say he looks just like a dude they went to school with.
— O'Neal
At the end of the interview, Blankenship told O’Neal he was “very appreciative” and said he is living his dream every day.
“I can’t tell you how appreciative I am,” Blankenship said. “I’ve wanted to do this job since I was 12 years old. So I’m living my dream every single day.”
Aye!
— Blankenship to O'Neal
To read O’Neal’s full interview with Fred, click here.
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