Tom Joles Honored in New Mexico

By Kevin Eck 

Longtime KOB anchor Tom Joles was inducted into the New Mexico Broadcasters Association Hall of fame last Friday.

Colleagues at the Albuquerque NBC affiliate told stories about Joles’ passion and his leadership.

“One time there was this large spider in the newsroom,” said former KOB reporter Jeremy Jojola. “This thing was the size of a half-dollar and everyone was freaking out about this gnarly-looking spider in the newsroom. Tom walks over and he takes his fist and punches the spider! That is newsroom fierceness.”

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That intensity shapes his leadership style. Even during the difficult times, Tom finds a way to ease the tension, both on and off the air.

“He was fun! He would do crazy things out in the parking lot when there was down time,” said former co-anchor Carla Aragon. “But our newsroom was a family and Tom was the leader of that family.”

“He was someone who you could go to as a young reporter and he would have an answer to an ethical question. He was very good about asking questions about your story that nobody else would ask,” Jojola said. “He made you think about why you were approaching a story in a certain way. He was very blunt in making sure you story was fair and ethically-sound.”

“One of the things Tom taught me early on was if you want people to listen to your story, you’ve got to care about every story you do, and that’s the type of journalist that Tom is,” said former KOB reporter Gadi Schwartz.
Everything Tom sets out to do is done with an unmatched ferocity.

“I love Tom’s passion – his passion for anything,” said co-anchor Tessa Mentus. “His passion for the Green Bay Packers, his passion for the state. I love his passion for making sure we are the best news organization in the state.”

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