Watch CBS News

DeBlog: Hug A Newsman!

By Jason DeRusha, WCCO-TV

When you send me a Good Question, you'd better be ready for me to answer it.

Jill Bjorn sent me an email on Friday: "Monday April 4th is 'Hug a Newsman Day,' so will you come to our work, Caribou Coffee Headquarters, so we can hug you??"

First, I did some research, and found out that today is in fact 'Hug A Newsman' Day. I'm sure you can hug a newswoman as well, if you're so inclined.

I was a little worried this was a publicity stunt by Caribou, but Jill works in the Sales Audit department, and although auditors are known for their crafty publicity ploys, Jill was sincere, and I thought it would be fun. So I wrote back and said: Sure -- I'll be over at 1 p.m.!

I posted about it on my Facebook page, where WCCO photojournalist Carly Danek saw it. Carly sent me a text that said it was her day off, but she'd come over to take some still pictures of the hugging.

Hug A Newsman Day
(credit: CBS)

That's Jill and me ... as she experiences the special thrill of hugging her newsman.

I thought it would just be Jill, a hug, and I'd be on my way, but it turned out there was a line of people, looking for a free hug from their newsman.

Hug A Newsman Day
(credit: CBS)

Even the CEO of Caribou came down, Michael Tattersfield, to get in on the hugging. I'd love to have a hug with the CEO of CBS sometime, but the CEO of Caribou will have to do.

Hug A Newsman Day
(credit: CBS)

It was a good time ... the people couldn't have been nicer ... and if you see me around today, feel free to ask for a hug. As you know, I'm big into "official days" seeing as I had my own DeRusha Day in the City of Minneapolis a couple years ago.

Here's a slideshow of the whole hug-fest at Caribou!

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.