TJ Carpenter Bio

This Website is dedicated to showcasing the work of TJ Carpenter through all major media platforms. Television, Radio, Print and Social Media all play a part in today’s media landscape and TJ Carpenter has training and extensive experience on a professional level in all of them.

TJ Carpenter was born on September 13, 1986 in Blytheville Arkansas, but was raised since he was 18 months old in Fayetteville, Arkansas where he also attended college at the University of Arkansas. Being a good journalist and media personality is all about communicating with people, which is something TJ has always had an aptitude for.

But TJ’s path to the media world was an unorthodox one. Originally he went to college to become an architect but after his first year realized it wasn’t the path for him. He became disillusioned with college in general and dropped out. He became a land surveyor and for two years while doing that job listened to national sports talk radio every single day. A year and a half later it dawned on him, “I can do that.”

So he did. He enrolled back in school as a journalism major while simultaneously applying for jobs at every television and radio station in the northwest Arkansas area. He got a job at Channel 5 KFSM as a sports photographer in 2008. He did that job until he was offered a producer role at the Hog Sports Radio which he did until August of 2009 when ESPN’s affiliate in Northwest Arkansas offered him his own show during afternoon drive time.

In the two years during the show’s duration it was the highest rated sports talk radio show in Northwest Arkansas, despite the fact the ESPN affiliate had only been up and running for a few months. The show drew a 7.8 rating among males 25-54. The second highest rated show during that time was the direct competition, Drivetime Sports, a show in its 20th year of broadcast which drew a 3.1 in the same demographic.

TJ also regularly contributes to the online website and physical periodical Arkansas Sports 360. TJ’s columns are among the most read on the website and are usually characterized by the large number of online conversations which they generate. Often polarizing, the work always takes a direct stance on issues, include humorous pop culture references, though sometimes esoteric, and range in content from national to local sports.

TJ works as a reporter for UATV as a beat reporter, much of which can be seen in his resume reel. While sports is his obvious passion, his news and communication expertise is not limited to the gridiron and the hardwood. TJ’s packages range from hard news stories on controversial construction projects to features on social entertainment crazes.

TJ is characterized first by his tireless work ethic on the professional level. “No one outworks me,” he says. “That is the mentality I walk into any professional situation with. My talent is only potential without work. My daily goal is to turn potential into product. The amount and quality of product I produce is a testament to my work ethic first. There is a difference between being proud of your work and being satisfied. I am often proud, but never satisfied.”

TJ Carpenter is moving to a new opportunity working for The Hog Sports Radio Network doing a sports talk show from noon to two in addition to continuing to contribute to local television stations and Arkansas Sports 360.