CNN's Ed Henry is my 2008 work life hero in journalism

When CNN's Ed Henry was appointed to the Washington bureau and assigned to cover President-elect Barack Obama, his knowledge of things - work life - emerged. I think it was an organic thing. A kind of extra perk of his intuitive journalistic prowess. As I track the major networks including CNN - everytime I hear the "toss" to Ed Henry, I'm delighted with this short-sleeved veteran reporter - live from the beaches of the Hawaiian islands. He's giving us - by mere visual - the notion that covering the prez is a cool job - indeed a demonstration of the best of the work life experience. 

This evening a special treat from Ed Henry which sealed the deal for me in naming him the 2008 work life hero in journalism. He reported on the President-elect's rigorous work-out routine and actively pumped some iron to illustrate the story.I think Mr. Henry truly contributed to the understanding of the need for work life balance in a whole new way tonight. Click here to watch the CNN story.

Keeping a keen eye on Mr. Obama's work life balance became a sidebar to covering stories of national interest.  Last week in my post, Obama's Hawaiian work life strategy,I expressed a tad of envy regarding journalists relegated to Hawaii to track our incoming president.That being said, we know there is work involved, as Washington Post's Philip Rucker pointed out in his Christmas day story, Life's Not Necessarily a Beach for Press Corps.

Getting back to my work life hero in journalism, Ed Henry. The beach-going CNNer not only put his biceps to work, but brought attention to the need for exercise and stress reduction in the name of national interest. Whether you're the prez or a member of the press corps - we all need a little sun and R & R - even if you're living and working in Hawaii for a few weeks.

Keep it up Ed, and enjoy it while you can. It's damn cold here in the northeast!