Eric Deggans serves as TV/Media Critic for the St. Petersburg Times. In 2004 and 2005, he sat on the newspaper’s editorial board and wrote bylined opinion columns, specializing in race issues, pop culture, media and national affairs. From 1997 to 2004, he worked as TV critic for the Times, crafting reviews, news stories and long-range trend pieces on the state of the media industry both locally and nationally. He also crafts commentaries on TV trends for National Public Radio.

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A Times employee since November 1995, Eric originally joined the paper as music critic. He is chair of the National Association of Black Journalists Media Monitoring Committee and is past president of the Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists. Eric has also served on the board of directors for the national Television Critics Association.

As a guest lecturer and adjunct professor, he has taught at Loyola University, Indiana University, University of Tampa, University of South Florida, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg College, Columbia University and many other schools.

Additionally, he worked as a professional drummer in the 1980s, touring and performing with Motown recording artists The Voyage Band throughout the Midwest and in Osaka, Japan. He continues to perform with area bands and recording artists as a drummer, bassist and vocalist.

Background:

Born in Washington D.C. but raised in Gary, Ind., Eric came to the Times after serving as music critic for the Asbury Park Press newspaper in New Jersey. His work also has appeared in the Washington Post, Village Voice, VIBE magazine, Detroit News, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press, Chicago Sun-Times, Seattle Times, Hispanic magazine, Newsmax magazine, Smart Computing magazine, Rolling Stone Online and the MusicHound series of album guides.