Jayar Jackson
Producing the world’s largest online news show is no easy feat, but Jayar Jackson, the 31-year-old producer of Current TV’s "The Young Turks with Cenk Uygur," loves every moment of it. After starting with just an internship, he's now responsible for maintaining the overall quality of the hard-edged politcal show. It “presents a truly honest and informed take on the news every day. We are able to say what we mean, and don't always agree,” explains Jackson, who says he's on a mission “to return the power of the country where it belongs, the people.”
Here's a little background on the man they call "The Rev. Jayar Jackson."
REFLECTIONS: Hometown: L.A. Advice you would have given yourself 10 years ago: Don't quit running track before your senior year at USC for that pointless and mind-numbing internship at Fox Sports. * First real job: "The Young Turks" is the only one I took. I did have 14 "fake" jobs (all hated) while working with TYT for very little from 2002-2005. The two worst were as a car salesman and an electronics store sales associate. (Depression is real, and those two jobs can bring it about.) * Most valuable business lesson learned: No one is going to buy it unless you sell it. * The most valuable life lesson you’ve learned: No matter what anyone says or offers professionally, doing what you love will guarantee that you'll never really feel like you're working...despite the 12-hour days! * Words to live by: If you take care of yourself and follow your heart, everything else will fall into place in life.
WORKING ON CURRENTLY: In addition to the new show I co-host and produce on Current TV, “The Young Turks with Cenk Uygur,” I’m working on a book. A collection of random thoughts, it has slowly been in the works for about a year now. It's going to be tons of things that I notice about everyday life that everyone else unknowingly notices. When I break it down, the response should be a light-hearted, "Exactly!" A section of my website, jayarjackson.com, is dedicated to these.
DIVERSIONS: Reading now: I'm an unfaithful reader. I start with one book and before finishing it I start a relationship with another, and another. So, my four are: The Autobiography of Assata Shakur, Game Change, Che, and Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency. * Planning to read next: Assata, Game Change, Che, and Angler! * Last fun purchase: Call me crazy, but in preparation for my son to be born, I went on a Home Depot shopping spree. I got the things I always wanted but didn't have full justification to spend money on until now. My favorites were my power drill and industrial mop bucket for my hardwood floors (Swiffer mops are a joke). * Recently discovered: An '80s-style boom box on Craigslist. I'm wondering if I can get away with walking down the street with it on my shoulder while these youngsters blast their Dre and Ludacris headphones.
PLAYING FAVORITES: Hotel: Cheap ones. * Entree: To the chagrin of everyone I know, I tend to despise eating at restaurants. But I do love Doughboy's "L.A. Muffaletta" sandwich. * Drink: My childhood favorite, Black Cherry Kool-Aid. Oh, did you mean alcohol? Homemade margaritas. * Guilty pleasure: Rockstar Energy drinks. I know, I know. * TV Host : After his expletive-enhanced college football pick live on ESPN, it has to be Lee Corso.
