Faraz Javed is a reporter at WXYZ-TV (ABC 7 News Detroit), where he covers breaking news, enterprise stories and community issues. Through interviews and in-depth reporting, he focuses on uncovering answers and telling the stories of people across Metro Detroit.
Can you tell us what types of stories, trends or issues are on your radar now?
Anything that impacts people’s daily lives immediately grabs my attention. I’m especially drawn to stories where someone is looking for answers, trying to solve a problem or simply wants to be heard.
That can be crime, consumer issues, healthcare, housing, public safety, local and state government accountability, small businesses or education. I’m also fascinated by how artificial intelligence is changing the way people work and live.
But honestly, some of my favorite stories start with a simple tip, a frustrated resident or someone who says, “I don’t know if this is a story, but…” In my experience, that’s usually how you know you’re onto something.
What story or stories stand out to you? Describe the craziest or most fun story you have written, or one that you are proud of.
This is probably one of the hardest questions to answer because Metro Detroit is full of incredible people and stories that remind me why I got into journalism in the first place.
One week, I’m covering an 18-year-old who goes viral after spending his own money filling potholes in his neighborhood. The next, I’m telling the story of a struggling taco restaurant that was on the verge of closing until a TikTok video brought customers from across the Midwest and Canada to its doors.
Then there was the retired Hamtramck detective who adopted four children, fostered six more and opened her home to dozens of kids who needed a chance. Or a teenage girl who rebuilt her confidence through martial arts after surviving an attempted kidnapping.
And then there are the stories that remind you that truth really is stranger than fiction. Like the Melvindale police officer who found himself helping deliver a baby during a traffic stop, with guidance from his brother over the police radio. That’s not exactly something they cover in the police academy.
Sometimes it’s also being on the front lines of history, like covering the devastating EF-3 tornado in Union City and obtaining exclusive body camera footage showing neighbors, first responders and entire communities coming together in the aftermath.
That’s what makes Metro Detroit and Michigan such a fascinating place to report. You can start your day expecting one story and end up somewhere completely different. The common thread is always people, and the resilience, determination and occasional unpredictability they bring… aka Michigan grit.
Honestly, one of the things I love most about this job is that I never really know what story I’ll be chasing next. If I did, it probably wouldn’t be nearly as much fun.
What elements or characteristics do you look for in a story?
People. No matter how complicated the topic is, the best stories almost always come back to people.
I look for strong characters, real emotion, high stakes and something that makes viewers stop scrolling or stop changing channels.
I also ask myself one question: “Why should somebody care about this right now?” If there’s a good answer, there’s probably a story there.
I view every story as an opportunity to make a short film. As a journalist, I’m often writing, shooting, editing and reporting the story, either by myself or alongside a talented photographer, so I’m always looking for creative ways to bring real-life events to viewers in a way that feels compelling, personal and memorable.
Maybe that’s why some people have nicknamed me the “Tom Cruise of local news.” I can’t confirm or deny the title, but I do embrace the spirit of it. Unlike Tom, though, I’m usually hanging off deadlines instead of airplanes, and somehow the stunts never come with a Hollywood budget.
How long have you been in journalism and how did you get started?
I’ve been in the media industry for more than 25 years. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked across nearly every platform, producing television shows, hosting radio programs, creating commercials and corporate videos, and even working on major Hollywood productions, including Mission: Impossible. Yes, Tom Cruise and I have exchanged a few fist bumps during the filming. Maybe that’s where the whole “Tom Cruise of news” thing started.
Journalism, however, came into my life 12 years ago.
I got into it because I love storytelling. At heart, I’m a filmmaker who’s endlessly curious about people and the world around me. Journalism felt like the perfect profession for someone who’s naturally nosy but can call it research.
What keeps me going is the fact that no two days are ever the same. One day I’m covering breaking news. The next, I’m interviewing someone who’s changing lives in their community. Along the way, I get to tell stories that inform, inspire and sometimes help people when they need it most.
Finish this sentence: If I am not reporting, I am …
…probably doing something fitness-related. If I’m not chasing a story, I’m usually chasing a workout. My hobbies include jiu-jitsu, CrossFit, rock climbing and swimming, which has led some friends to wonder if I’m training for a competition I forgot to tell them about.
When I’m not working out, you’ll likely find me cooking a healthy meal or working toward another goal: earning my private pilot’s license. It’s still a work in progress, but I’ve always loved the idea of seeing the world from a different perspective. Apparently, reporting from the ground isn’t enough.
What advice do you have for PR people that want to pitch you?
Keep it concise and tell me why it matters to the average person.
A great pitch answers three questions quickly:
- What’s the story?
- Why does it matter?
- Why now?
Bonus points if you include interesting people who can help tell the story. Reporters appreciate experts, but viewers connect with people, and those are often the stories that resonate the most.
Also, don’t bury the lead. If I have to scroll halfway through an email before I figure out what the story is, you’ve probably lost me.
Any pet peeves with PR people?
Mass emails that clearly weren’t intended for me.
If the email starts with “Dear reporter” and then pitches an event happening three states away, we’re probably not off to a great start.
I also appreciate honesty. If something isn’t available yet or an interview might be difficult to coordinate, just tell me. Most reporters understand. What we don’t love is surprises five minutes before a deadline.
Tell us a little about yourself (family, interests, hobbies, background, some fact about you that few people know, etc.)
One thing people may not know about me is that many of my story ideas come from everyday conversations. I’ll be standing in line somewhere, talking to someone at an event or chatting with a neighbor, and suddenly there’s a story.
It’s both a blessing and a curse. My friends have learned that almost any conversation can accidentally become a pitch meeting.
Another thing people often find surprising is that journalism is actually my second chapter in media. Before becoming a reporter, I spent more than two decades working across television, radio, commercial production, corporate media and even major Hollywood productions. I’ve had the opportunity to work around the world before eventually finding my home in Metro Detroit.
Five years ago, I arrived in the Detroit market chasing an opportunity and a dream. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to win two Emmy Awards, earn eight Emmy nominations and receive over 3 dozens of other industry honors and recognitions. And yes, I’m incredibly proud of those accomplishments. Growing up, however, I was often told what I couldn’t do, what I wouldn’t become and what wasn’t possible. Every award, nomination and milestone serves as a reminder that other people’s opinions do not determine your future.
But if there’s one thing I’m even prouder of, it’s the support of my family and the trust I’ve earned from the people of Michigan.
My family is spread across the world, but they’ve always been my foundation, my biggest cheerleaders and the people who believed in me long before anyone else did. Every accomplishment I’ve achieved is just as much theirs as it is mine.
I’m equally grateful to the people of Metro Detroit. As someone who wasn’t born here, I never imagined how warmly I’d be embraced. Whether I’m covering a story, grabbing groceries or just trying to sneak in a quick workout, people often stop to say hello, share a story idea or offer a kind word about my work. Those moments never get old.
Detroit may not be where I was born, but it has absolutely become home. The love and support I’ve received from people across Metro Detroit has been one of the greatest blessings of my career. It’s still surreal when someone recognizes me while I’m out running errands. I guess that’s the downside of being the “Tom Cruise of news”… except Mr. Cruise probably gets stopped a lot more.
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned throughout this journey, it’s that life has a funny way of proving the doubters wrong. Work hard. Stay curious. Be kind to people. Never stop believing in yourself, even when others don’t. Sometimes the biggest difference between success and failure is simply refusing to quit.
And if a kid from Dubai who was told he’d never make it can end up working in Hollywood, winning Emmy Awards and finding a second home in Michigan, then just about anything is possible ❤️
To learn more about Faraz, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, X or TikTok.
