Channel 7's Elex Michaelson Talks About His Life in Agoura Hills

If you tune into KABC Channel 7 for your local news, chances are you have seen the newest member of their Eyewitness Team, Elex Michaelson. Joining the ranks a couple of months ago Michaelson is a general assignment reporter. Whether he is covering breaking news at 4:30 a.m. or hitting the streets to hear what people have to say on gas prices, he has been busy.

After Michaelson graduated from Agoura Hills High, he got his degree in Journalism and Political Science from the Annenburg School of Journalism at USC. He went straight to San Diego to work as a reporter and anchor for San Diego 6 news, and covered President Obama's inaguration. In 2009, he won an Emmy Award for most outstanding arts/entertainment story.

This Agoura High School alum even got the chance to report back in his hometown of Agoura Hills during the Egyptian protests.  We caught up with him to talk about all things Agouran. You can follow him on Twitter for all his local news updates.

Patch: What are some of your favorite memories from growing up in Agoura? Let's start with Agoura High School.

Michaelson: At , some of my favorite memories came via Student Council. I was lucky enough to serve as student body president and join a team of smart and fun people, many of whom remain good friends to this day. We were especially proud to start the school's talent show, host our prom at the Beverly Hilton, and help pass a parcel tax for more district education funding. But the extraordinary bonding at our council retreats was probably the best part of the program. Our director, Jason Busby, instructed us all to play a song that describes a significant moment from our lives. That simple task led to some of the most intense conversations I've ever been a part of.

I also played basketball for the Chargers–which was a lot more fun my first few years when we won as compared to the last few when we usually lost.

Patch: Any fun adventures in middle or elementary school?

Michaelson: In middle school, I played tenor sax in an extraordinary program: the band directed by Matt McKagan. It felt like the real-life version of Mr. Holland's Opus, with a teacher who inspired a life-long appreciation of jazz and classical music for so many of us. was an exceptional place to grow up. The "great works of art" lessons from my mom were the best. But then again, anything my mom does is great, of course!

Patch: We have a lot of great places to eat in Agoura. Where are some of your favorite spots?

Michaelson: My mom is a fabulous cook and made almost every meal at hom, so we hardly ever ate out in Agoura. The dinner rolls and fried onion strings of , though, were a rare treat. I can still see and smell the smoke on the 101 freeway, as the BBQ works overtime on a busy night. In addition, we're beach bums and a trip to Zuma Beach isn't complete without an sandwich. There's something about their dressing!

Patch: How did you get into journalism?

Michaelson: Since I was a student at Willow, I've been interested in news and politics. Yes, I am that much of a geek. Agoura High's career counselors, Mrs. Cox and Mrs. Hawkins (mother of current KCBS reporter Kirk Hawkins), helped introduce me to LA. newsrooms up close. For our school's "operation shadow" program, I followed Kent Shocknek at KCBS for a day my junior year and "Good Day LA" executive producer Josh Kaplan my senior year. Kaplan, the father of an Agoura student, offered me an internship with the Fox morning show after my first year of college.

That internship gave me a tremendous leg up on my journalism studies at USC and helped me land future internships with KNBC and NBC News Channel in Washington. I've been so fortunate to have mentors like USC's Serena Cha and KNBC's Conan Nolan who have helped guide me nearly every step of the way both personally and professionally.

Now, KABC is filled with leaders who I've learned much so from already, especially our news director, Cheryl Fair. The entire team has been warm and welcoming.

Patch: What's it like being able to cover Los Angeles, an area you have grown up in?

Michaelson: Part of the exciting (and challenging) part of working in Los Angeles is that the market goes far beyond just Los Angeles. Our viewing area stretches from Ventura to Oceanside and out to Palm Springs and Big Bear. You never know what county you are going to end up in. But, its certainly surreal reporting from the parts of town I know so well, and running into friends of mine in the field.

As for stories from Agoura, I've had the opportunity to do that once. During the height of the chaos in Egypt, our family friends Bob and Marla Green were on vacation in Cairo. When they returned, we interviewed them about their harrowing trip, including their tank-guided trip to the airport. Their story was so interesting, after it aired, they were contacted by several other media outlets trying to profile them.

Doing a "live shot" in front of their home, just blocks from my elementary school was hard for me to process. As I posted on Facebook that day, it was "a dream come true."

Patch: What is your favorite part about being a journalist?

Michaelson: Having a front row seat to history is the best part of being a journalist. We get the chance to talk with some of the most interesting people and learn something new every day. It is quite a privilege when someone trusts you to tell their story.

Patch: Being a reporter you are always on call. What are some of your favorite things to do in your free time?

Michaelson: Having spent so much of my childhood at Zuma, the beach is my favorite place to be. I love riding my bike there, going for a run, or just relaxing by the sand. I am now focused on working out and trying to eat healthy but I can't stop myself from being a big "foodie."

I really enjoy going to the movies, reading my political books, listening to all different times of musical genres, and spending time with my family and our two dogs. As for an ideal night: There's nothing better than great friends and family, great wine, and great conversation.