Dustin Dorsey
I grew up in San Jose and loved playing and watching sports. My family bonded over cheering for the Warriors, A's, Sharks and Cowboys. I played all sports growing including swimming, football and basketball to name a few. While I didn't quite have the skills to be a professional athlete, I knew very early on that I wanted to be in the spotlight. From performing made-up routines for my family in the living room, to emceeing my school's talent show as a kindergartner, I never shied away from the stage.
It has been a blessing to be a reporter with ABC7 News since February 2019. It's incredible to see how much happens in news in such a short amount of time.
I was lucky enough to cover the Super Bowl in 2020 when the San Francisco 49ers took on the Kansas City Chiefs. I told everyone that week that my feet never hit the ground, I was simply floating from the excitement of it all.
Life changed a month later when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, however. Covering the important stories of my community never felt more urgent. I recognized then just how big of an impact we can have as journalists while telling the news that people need to know.
I had never been so challenged to do my job, but it helped me clearly understand how and why we were Building a Better Bay Area every day.
I take that mantra very seriously when doing my work whether it be covering the Presidential visits, the devastating storms of 2023 or the daily news that tops the headlines in the South Bay.
I got my first taste of broadcasting at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose. In my senior year, I took journalism to get out of having to take a third year of science. It turned out to be the best thing I ever did. I anchored the Wednesday morning broadcast and realized this is what I wanted to do the rest of my life. I perfected my craft at San Jose State University and began my professional career after my Fall graduation.
I never wanted to leave the Bay Area, this is home. But in this business, I learned if you want to be on TV, you go be on TV. I took that advice to heart and moved to the opposite side of the country to little Wilmington, NC to become a multi-media journalist for WWAY news. I was quickly thrust into the news world where I covered Hurricane Matthew, a Black Panther Party protest, a Donald Trump presidential rally and many more stories that helped me realize I'm not in college anymore. My passion has always been sports and 6 months in I was able to get promoted to the sports director at the station.
Growing up, I always wanted to emulate my broadcasting idol, Rich Eisen, and become a sports anchor. Now just a short time into my career, I was able to live out that dream.
As the sports director, I had the opportunity to cover March Madness, the NCAA baseball regional and even a PGA Tour Championship. I told the small town stories of the athletes in Southeastern North Carolina and watched many head to do great things.
It was a life-changing experience to be able to live life in a different part of the country. But after two years in the South, I was ready to come home. ABC7 allowed me to do just that.
I now get to be in my own backyard telling the stories of my South Bay Community while working alongside the same talented journalists here that I grew up watching. It has been an amazing journey so far, but I always believe the best is yet to come!
Share the stories of the Bay with me on Twitter, Facebook or by e-mail: Dustin.W.Dorsey@abc.com.
Dustin's Stories
Then and now: A look back at San Francisco 49ers' 80-year history as fans celebrate team's legacy
As the San Francisco 49ers mark their 80th season, fans are reflecting on the franchise's long history, from its founding in 1946 to its place among the NFL's most storied organizations.
Meet 'Codey' the humanoid robot that hopes to tackle loneliness epidemic
The robot, named Codey, was developed by Mind Children and is designed as a social robot rather than a labor robot. Company leaders say its focus is on communication, learning and relationship-building.
SJ getting 'storm ready' ahead of potentially record-breaking El Niño winter
San Jose officials are preparing for what could be a significant winter storm season associated with El Niño, using the city's Emergency Operations Center to coordinate planning, training and flood mitigation efforts. We spoke with officials on how the city is preparing.
SJ mother, stepfather charged after child living in cockroach-infested home, dies from asthma attack
The mother and stepfather of 8-year-old Aurora Williams have been arrested and charged following a medical examiner's ruling that her death was a homicide. "This little asthmatic girl and her brothers and sisters were living in a home filled with roaches, mold, animal feces, and two parents who were not providing enough care or food for their children," DA Jeff Rosen said.
Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protests turn combative in SJ with graphic sign, car on sidewalk
Groups of pro-Israel and pro-Palestine demonstrators took to San Jose City Hall for counter-protests Wednesday night. But what ensued included graphic signs and a vehicle driving through one of the events.
Man sentenced 50 years to life for 2022 shooting of Mountain View police officer during traffic stop
A Union City man was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison after being found guilty earlier this year of attempted murder and other charges for shooting a Mountain View police officer during a 2022 DUI stop, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Medical emergency may have led to 7-vehicle East Palo Alto crash that killed 2, family says
Authorities have not released the cause of the crash that killed two people and injured three others, but family members of one of the drivers believe he may have had a medical emergency that contributed to the collision.
Shelter-in-place order lifted after fire at Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey Co.: Officials
Monterey County officials said that a fire reported Friday morning at the Moss Landing Power Plant that prompted people nearby to shelter in place is expected to burn itself out over the next 24 hours.
San Jose sees 32% drop in unsheltered residents, according to data
San Jose officials say the city has reduced its unsheltered homeless population by 32% over the past 18 months, citing data from a new independently verified model designed to track changes in homelessness more frequently than traditional counts.
Judge orders pause on ICE detention facility construction in Gilroy due to environmental concerns
A federal judge found ICE failed to follow the national environmental policy act, saying there was no proof that the federal government conducted an environmental analysis before construction.
