Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Kelley.
Hi Charles, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m from the Midwest (Milwaukee, Wisconsin area) which is where I grew up with my parents and five other siblings. I ended up going to college at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to study Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies.
Throughout my time, I was involved in Greek life on campus in the Sigma Chi fraternity and also had several internships on campus and off campus. I worked for the university student involvement department doing Social Media and eventually was part UW Milwaukee’s Content Creator program my senior year where I got to showcase my involvement on campus, my internship, restaurants, and the city life in the Milwaukee area by posting videos to UW Milwaukee’s main Instagram and TikTok page. I interned at a TV station in Milwaukee during my time in college for the Morning Blend at Tmj4 News. Here I got my first exposure to the broadcasting industry where I was planning to go into after college. I even had several opportunities hosting on air segments. After I graduate a college in 2023 I moved to Rochester Minnesota in September 2023 to pursue a career in TV news. This is where I got my start as a weekend morning anchor/producer and reporter. This is where I got a lot of great exposure in the broadcasting industry through the Rochester market where I got to fill in on all shifts at the anchor desk, reporting, and even hosting the lifestyle show. There are some really great opportunities I had from my reporting like being on a panel podcast for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace to talk about my reporting on an investigative story I did during my first two months at KTTC news. I really enjoyed getting to tell people stories in the community and and make positive impact on local businesses. After nearly 2 years in TV news, I stepped away from the anchor desk and move down to West Palm Beach, Florida with my boyfriend whom I met in Minnesota. In being a local to the area in West Palm Beach I’m grateful we ended up here. As I transitioned out of TV news and into working in social media and public relations, it really is giving me time to navigate life in South Florida. I’m really find who I am. Now being here a little more than a year I’ve really loved getting to understand the Florida lifestyle, fashion, beaches, and the restaurant scene. Currently I’m enjoying some I’m off as I navigate my next step in my professional career, but I’m continuing to make social media content on my TikTok and Instagram and YouTube about my life here in Florida. There’s been some really cool opportunities that have come from posting consistently on social media and growing my following. News definitely helped me bro my following on TikTok as I created day in the life and get ready with me as I was working in the career, but I’ve continued to bring those people on my journey of living in South Florida and navigating life outside of TV news.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road, especially navigating life after college in a new city, especially a smaller city, but I was able to navigate and find sense of community there while living in Minnesota. Now I’m really enjoying navigating life and South Florida. I’m recently unemployed after being laid off a few weeks ago and it definitely has been a time of redirection. But with my supportive boyfriend, I’m making the most of the time I have right now and reflecting, and searching for what’s next.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been creating content since I was in middle school when I started a YouTube channel. I continue creating videos all throughout high school, which led me into studying for broadcast journalism in college. These opportunities of teaching myself how a film edit and build a YouTube channel led me into internship opportunities in college. While I was working in TV news, I was able to build up my following on TikTok as I live streamed during the weekend morning shows that I anchored and created behind the scenes, get ready with me videos, and do the life videos while working in TV news. But I’ve continued making videos since relocating to South Florida and leaving the TV industry. I have continued to build my following, I showcasing my lifestyle, enjoying the restaurant scene, and just Burg the camera along on adventures with my boyfriend and I. By Posting videos in the area it’s created new opportunities like VIP invites to restaurant openings or other events and connecting with others in the area.
What matters most to you?
Living life to its fullest and living with no regrets because we only get one life and it’s important to make the most stuff today because we’re not guaranteed tomorrow. I’ve always wanted to live with the palm tree trees are and I’m glad. I finally have the opportunity to get up and move from the Midwest to South Florida and I love it here. I’m living the life I’ve always wanted to.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliemkelley
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551559134873&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/charliemkelley
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@charliekelleyy?si=gZq6qoECgt7Pb5yp
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@charleskelleyy?_r=1&_t=zt-95a1dxgwlvn
