Jenni Hogan: KIRO 7 Traffoxy Traffic Tweeter
BTF (Best Twitter Friend), Traffoxy, and perfectolicious; what do all of these words have in common? I had never heard any of them until I met Jenni Hogan.
As the KIRO 7 Traffic Anchor, Jenni’s main job is to get commuters to their destination, whether that be to work or away from it. But for all of us Seattleites, we know that can be a big job! Between 405, I-90, I-5, and 520, there are a lot of ways to make our morning commutes even longer, slower, and more frustrating; thankfully, there is now one more way to get that traffic information: @JenniHogan. That’s right; she’s on Twitter. 
But on Twitter, she does more than just tell us about the roadways; she uses it to interact with the community, give people behind-the-scenes looks into the TV world, and has even invented #fashionfriday!
Please get to know Jenni, KIRO 7’s Traffoxy Traffic Tweeter!
The Basics:
1. What is your name?
Jenni Hogan
2. E-mail
jhogan@kirotv.com
3. What is your occupation/company?
Traffic Anchor KIRO 7 Seattle.
4. Originally from?
I was born in Adelaide, Australia. The first time I came over to Seattle was when I was competing on the Aussie National Rowing team in the Windermere Cup. The University of Washington coach offered me an athletic scholarship and Seattle became my new home. The trip sure changed my life.
5. How can people find you on the web?
Social Media:
6. Why do you like social media?
It’s a great way to connect with viewers and make new friends. The hardest thing for me about being on television is breaking through the one-sided relationship wall. People invite us into their home and we tell them information, but they can’t talk back to their TV’s. Well, they can, but we can’t hear them. With social media, we open it up to a two-way relationship. It allows people to talk to us while sitting on their lounge chair or computer seat. It’s nice.
7. How do you utilize social media?
I utilize social media to connect with people. I’m on air every 10 minutes for 2.5 hours each morning. With social media, I can connect with viewers anytime, not just while I’m live on air. I use it during reports and after the show is over. Traffic doesn’t stop, so being available to commuters and viewers shouldn’t just stop once the camera is off. I also love knowing I have a little army of amazing people out there that have my back and I have theirs. It’s nice to look at the camera and see different faces in my head; it’s sort of comforting to know my friends are watching.
8. What is one thing the mainstream population should know about social media?
Social media is like rubbing your dog’s belly. It takes a little effort, but you get a bunch of love back in return.
9. If people follow you on Twitter, what can they expect?
To be called my BTF and know I take that seriously! That stands for Best Twitter Friend. I appreciate you opening up your life to me and caring about mine. I enjoy the interaction and learning about new people, so yes, there will be many replies on my feed, mixed in with a guaranteed early morning tweet (to make sure you wake up with a smile) plus candid behind-the-scenes moments.
10. How would you describe the social media scene in Seattle?
It’s like an amazing high school clique that welcomes people in with open arms! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a ton of Seattle tweeters and every single one has such a beautiful, unique soul that shines through on their tweets and in real life. I think this scene is growing at the hands of brilliant-minded people, and I’m excited to see where it goes in the future. I feel lucky to be a part of it.
11. Do you have a good social media success stories or “wow” moment?
Almost every day, I have a “wow” moment online. It blows me away how powerful social media is. From being able to help a friend fill her fundraising event with a simple re-tweet or posting to asking for advice and getting flooded with replies of people that have my best interest at heart. It’s wonderful.
12. Are there any social media events or conferences in the future you would like to let people know about?
***NOTE: This was this past weekend. Look for the next Bonza Bash on their website***
The Bonza Bash is going on this weekend, Saturday August 22. It’s organized by @bonzabash and benefits the Humane Society. It’s not really a tweetup, but it could be called one. It happens to be my birthday, so I’m going to be there along with a ton of BTFs. Come along.
For more information, go to www.bonzabash.com.
Just For Fun:
13. What are your hobbies?
Trying out new fun restaurants with my husband, tweeting or meeting up with BTFs, and attempting to train my dogs to put a treat on their nose and sit still (that last one is a @chrispirillo challenge that I promised I’d get my dogs to do—may be working on it for a while).
14. Favorite vacation spot? Thing to do there?
Adelaide, Australia, because I get to hug my parents. In the United States, it’d be Las Vegas because it’s like a Disneyland for adults, and I’m a little kid at heart.
15. Favorite restaurant in Seattle? Favorite food?
The Palace Kitchen. I am addicted to its chicken wings. If I could only eat one food, that’d make me a happy girl for life. Yes, I even lick the plate. You HAVE to try them.
16. Favorite things to do in Seattle in the summer?
Find a friend with a boat and relax on the lake. That reminds me, I still need to make those “got boat?” t-shirts before summer is over.
17. Most embarrassing CD you own?
I love all my CD’s and would proudly pump NKOTB, Britney, Hanson, and Vanilla Ice, so I’m going to change the question to the most embarrassing CD that played at my wedding… The DJ in Australia didn’t know what 50 Cent’s “In the Club” was when we requested it, so he downloaded it online—the only problem was he downloaded the unedited version. Let’s just say the dance floor emptied and parents were covering their children’s ears. Oopsie daisy, where is the bleep button when you need it?
18. Any hidden talents?
I used to make all the jewelery I wore. Once, a guest on a talk show I was working behind the scenes on bought a pair of my earrings out of my ears. The next week I woke up and she was a guest on the Today Show! Yes, my earrings were on the Today Show! She ordered five more pairs and tried to talk me into starting a side biz.
19. What would you like everyone to know about you?
That I’m not related to Paul Hogan, Crocodile Dundee, although it’d be super cool to be able to say that I am.
Jenni Hogan Links
- Jenni Hogan on Twitter
- Jenni Hogan on Facebook
- Jenni Hogan on Google Profiles
- Jenni Hogan on Wikipedia
- Jenni Hogan on Qik
- Jenni Hogan on TwitVid.com
- Jenni Hogan on the KIRO 7 News website
- Jenni Hogan’s website
- MLB.com – Jenni Hogan at the Mariners’ Social Media Happy Hour Event
- SeattlePI.com - KIRO 7’s Jenni Hogan – a traffic and Twitter “hottie”
TwitVid: Behind-the-Scenes Video
YouTube: Jenni Hogan – How I Explain Twitter
YouTube: Jenni Tweeting
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MissBeth
