Today we’d like to introduce you to Vince Sims.
Hi Vince, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Vince Sims. I grew up in the small community of Selma, Arkansas, on a farm. My dad raised cotton, soybeans, and cattle. My mom was a 3rd-grade teacher. Mom taught me the importance of an education. Dad taught me the importance of hard work. Both combined makes me who I am today.
I graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in Mass Communications with a Minor in Journalism. My first job was in Little Rock, Arkansas, at a TV station as a video editor and cameraman. After a few years there, I started my on-air career as an Anchor and Reporter in Monroe, Louisiana.
Currently, I’m the Weekend Evening News Anchor and reporter for NBC 5 in Dallas/Fort Worth. I joined the NBC 5 family in July 2019 after spending five years anchoring and reporting in Atlanta, Georgia. I’m a two-time Emmy Award and an Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist. I’ve worked in several states, including Monroe and Shreveport LA, Tulsa OK, and Pittsburgh, PA.
Throughout my career, I’ve covered all kinds of severe weather situations, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and snowstorms. My reporting also includes everything from politics, covering presidential candidates including Barack Obama and Donald Trump, to sports covering three Super Bowls. I truly enjoy most covering stories that have an impact on someone’s life or changes their life for the better.
I love that my job gives me the opportunity to mentor young people. I love talking with young people about the importance of getting an education. I stress to them their surroundings don’t define their future. Growing up on a farm in rural Arkansas, I never imagined one day being on television keeping people informed about what’s happening in their community. As for hobbies, I like to considers myself a “sock enthusiast” with a large collection of fun and colorful socks. I also collect matchbooks and enjoy swimming and playing tennis. I’m a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. I am married to a wonderful supportive wife and we have one son.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it has not always been a smooth road. In the television industry, it’s not all about your resume and skill. It’s more subjective. You have bosses and consultants that can decide whether they like your look, style, performance and they decide whether they like you or not. I’ve had previous bosses tell me, “You’re not ready,” or “I don’t see you as this or that.” But I’ve never let someone else’s opinion of what they think of me hold me back from going after what I want for me. If I had, I might still be in that very first job in that same position, thinking that was all I could do. But instead, I followed my heart’s desire and with the grace of God, here I am… a television news anchor and reporter in a top 5 market.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a journalist. I’m a visual story teller. I gather facts, information, interviews and present them in hopefully an interesting and informative way to viewers each day. It will start with a simple idea in the morning and by the evening it’s a story I’m telling people on the news. As a reporter I go out with a photographer gathering all the information, video, and interviews. Then it’s a team effort. I write the story and the photographer edits it all together to make it polished for TV. As a news anchor, my job is to be the face of the newscast. I’m there to deliver the day’s news in a trustworthy, confident and relatable way so that viewers get it, take it in, and want to come back and watch again.
I’m most proud of my two (so far) Emmy awards and my journey. The awards are judged by peers in the industry in other parts of the country. For someone who does what I do to look at my work and deem it award-worthy means a lot. I’m proud of my journey because I’ve put in the time, effort, and work to be where I am. No one can ever say I haven’t worked hard for and deserve to be where I am.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
It’s truly an unknown where the television industry will be in the next 5-10 years. I’ve seen it change in my time from typewriters and videotape recording to all digital and computer use. I’ve seen newscasts expand from just on TV to on websites, apps, mobile phones. The news is now part of social media. So, I’m not sure where we will be in the next 5-10 years. But I do believe our industry will always be needed and be relevant. I think we are an industry that will adapt with any changes and trends to deliver news to the people.
Contact Info:
- Email: vince.sims@nbcuni.com
- Instagram: @VinceSimsNBC5
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/VinceSimsNBC5
- Twitter: @VinceSimsNBC5
