Today we’d like to introduce you to Calvin Hughes.
Hi Calvin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started in Columbia, Missouri, not with a clear path but with an out-of-mind belief—the kind that ignores odds and just whispers, go. I threw myself into reporting like it was oxygen: long nights, uncomfortable moments, chasing sources who didn’t want to be found. That insane work ethic wasn’t a performance; it was devotion. I simply refused to let the story die.
I had stops in Kentucky, Dallas, Atlanta and Philadelphia along the way.
Then Miami. A leap that looked impulsive from the outside—but I knew heat and humidity don’t scare someone who’s already weathered doubt. Every hurricane, every assignment, every deadline I met with the same quiet ferocity.
Today? I’m not here because it was easy. I’m here because when my mind said this is crazy, my heart said this is home. And I listened. Compassionately: that hard road shaped me into someone who holds others’ stories gently—because I know what it cost to tell my own.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. I have faced some deeply human struggles that would test anyone’s strength.
The weight of covering tragedy like the 2010 Haiti earthquake. There’s nothing that prepares you for seeing dead bodies everywhere.
Professional sacrifice – I have missed my son’s basketball games and family time for the job, and special events like weddings and graduations to cover assignments.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What I do
I’m the evening news co-anchor at WPLG-Local 10 in Miami, anchoring the 4, 5, 6, 9 and 11 p.m. newscasts. I’ve been the trusted voice in South Florida for 20 years. I also teach at the University of Miami, mentor young journalists, and—most importantly—I’m a father of three.
What I specialize in & am known for
I take local stories and show their global heartbeat—especially for Miami’s Haitian and Cuban communities. I’ve interviewed the last three democratically elected Haitian presidents, secured a world-exclusive with First Lady Martine Moïse after her husband’s assassination, and even sat down with the prime minister in August 2024 while gangs controlled most of Port-au-Prince. In Cuba, I was the first American journalist to broadcast live from the new U.S. Embassy in Havana, and I covered the papal visits and Fidel Castro’s death. I’ve also reported on Parkland, Surfside, Hurricane Irma, and COVID. My Juneteenth documentary won an Emmy and aired on nearly 200 stations and Armed Forces TV.
What I’m most proud of
Honestly? Given all the sacrifice and uncertainty, what I’m proudest of is showing up for the community that showed up for me. I’ve served as President of NABJ-South Florida, a “BIG” for Big Brothers Big Sisters, a YMCA leader, and a mentor for 5000 Role Models. I chose to stay in local news and turn it into something globally significant.
What sets me apart
I walk into the fire. I don’t just report from the studio—I go to the most dangerous places because I believe the story matters. I bring humanity, hope, and possibility into people’s living rooms. I’m a multi-Emmy winner and have been voted Miami’s Best TV News Anchor, but my real legacy isn’t the awards—it’s the courage and compassion I try to bring to every story. That’s what I hope people remember.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happy? My children. Plain and simple. Coming home to them—or even just hearing their voices—reminds me why I keep showing up. After everything I went through to stay in their lives, every moment with them feels like a gift I don’t take for granted.
Mentoring young journalists also fills me up. Seeing a student’s eyes light up when they finally “get it”—that spark of confidence—that’s pure joy. It’s like paying forward every chance someone once gave me.
And honestly? Making a real difference in someone’s day—whether it’s a story that gives a voiceless person a platform, or a viewer telling me I helped them understand something painful—that moves me. It makes all the sleepless nights and missed basketball games feel worth it.
Why? Because happiness, for me, isn’t about awards or ratings. It’s about connection. After years of uncertainty and sacrifice, I’ve learned that joy lives in the people you love, the lives you touch, and the quiet moments when you know you mattered. That’s it. That’s what keeps me going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.local10.com
- Instagram: calvinwplg
- Facebook: Calvin Hughes
- LinkedIn: Calvin Hughes
- Twitter: CalvinCHughes
- Youtube: thereelcalvinhughes
