Elle Thomas, KIRO 7 News

I’m Elle Thomas, a three-time Emmy-nominated anchor for KIRO 7, join me on KIRO 7 Tonight weeknights at 11, and for your Live Desk headlines at 4, 5, 6 & 7 pm. 7 Questions With Elle: Where did you grow up? I am Colorado-born and bred! I was born in Denver, but grew up all over the state and started my career in journalism as a morning/noon anchor in Grand Junction, Colo. Why did you become a journalist? I grew up in a big news household, if the news was on – you were not talking. My parents were captivated by the news, and from a young age, I knew it mattered, even if I didn’t always understand the content. My dad would say, “You could be a news anchor,” (although, I’m sure he would have said the same about becoming an astronaut or the president). As it turns out, he was right. I found a deep love of writing and storytelling as I got older. Now, I have the honor of sharing other people’s stories every night. What cities have you worked in during your journalism career? I started my career as a multimedia journalist (one-man-band reporter) in Phoenix, Arizona. I then took my first full-time on-air job as a solo morning/noon anchor and noon producer in Grand Junction, Colo. A few years later I moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where I was a reporter, anchor, traffic anchor and lifestyle host. I then dipped my toe in the network pool, working as an on-air correspondent for CNBC. I was given the opportunity to call Seattle my home in May 2021. You have probably seen me on a number of dayparts during my time in Seattle, having anchored weekend mornings, weekend evenings, and now weekday evenings. What’s the most memorable story you’ve ever covered? While working in Utah I read a wild story about a high school girl who had suffered a traumatic brain injury following a fall at a dance. It was like a real-life movie, every night her brain was like a slate that would be wiped clean – she couldn’t remember anything before the accident. I found a Facebook page dedicated to her journey as she sought out help from medical professionals across the United States, including Utah. Her family allowed me to tag along as she underwent a series of therapies at a special facility in Utah. Despite four days of filming, she never remembered me or my photographer. But by the end of her treatment, she DID remember where she was. One day she woke up and knew she was in Utah to see a special doctor. We called it a “miracle in the mountains.” What are you most proud of in your career in news? I am most proud of every story that would have gone untold. What’s something people don’t know about you? I speak French and have lived in France twice (Lyon and Paris). I am a dog-lover and named my Pomeranian after my favorite Pokémon, Eevee. What do you like to do when you’re not working? Travel! My husband and I have been to 13 countries together (I have been to more than 20). We set out to see the Seven Wonders of the World and got engaged in our final wonder at Petra in Jordan.