Broadcast Trade Secrets:
GET HIRED IN TV NEWS

If you're a college student who wants to break into television news, here are some tips:

1. Get Good Experience in College

•Intern, intern, intern.
•Get hands-on training; learn how to write, report, shoot, edit and produce.
• Take lots of writing and English classes.
• Study and debate journalism ethics.
• Get well-rounded by studying history, government and economics as well as journalism.
• Develop good news habits.
• Read the paper and newsmagazines, watch and listen to local and network news.

2. Do Your Homework

• Contact your local state broadcasting association for a list of TV stations.
• Research jobs online (all sites are free unless otherwise noted):

www.rtnda.org
www.tvspy.com (ShopTalk)
www.tvjobs.com (free and fee)
www.tvnewz.com/jobs.htm
journalismjobs.com
www.tvnewsweb.com/briefing/jobshop.shtml
nbci.com/mikestvjobs
www.ire.org/jobs
www.medialine.com (fee)
www.lostremote.com/jobs
emonline.com (Electronic Media)
To compare cost of living: www.homefair.com/calc/salcalc.html

• Spend spring break going door-to-door soliciting jobs.
• Network and get the word out.

3. Develop a Strong Résumé

Always call a station before sending anything to get a list of openings and confirm correct spellings of names. If there's no opening, you can send a tape, but don't expect a response.

• Paper résumés should include:

1. Contact information, including name, address, phone number and e-mail.
2. Work experience that relates to television, like internships, hands-on classes you took in school, plus any radio or newspaper jobs.
3. Education background, including where you went to school, when you graduated and what your degree is in.
4. Extracurricular activities/clubs you participate in as well as awards you've received and if you are bilingual.
5. References, including names, titles, phone numbers and an explanation of how you know the person.

• Cover letters should include:

1. Correct spelling of news director's name.
2. Correct mailing address.
3. Something of relevance to current news in the market, the station's brand and image. Log on to the station's web site or to local newspapers.
4. Reasons why you should get the job. Sell yourself with attitude, teamwork and willingness to work hard.

• Tape résumés should be no more than eight minutes and should include:

1. Quick montage of stand-ups and live shots showing your on-camera abilities
2. Three solid packages. (Make certain that some of the standups included in your montage are part of at least two of the stories on your tape.)
3. Anchor segment, if it's strong. As a beginner, you won't be a candidate for many top anchor jobs, so don't put anchor segments first.

4. Prepare Carefully for Interviews

• Realize that news directors want good attitude, experience, teamwork and initiative as much as they want good journalists.
• Expect to spend time with several people within the newsroom, not just the news director.
• Expect questions about your experience and news
philosophy.
• Bring a copy of your résumé (paper and tape).
• Be prepared to write sample scripts, go out with a crew in the field and do a mock anchor segment on the desk.
• Always dress as if you were on the air that day.

5. Be Realistic About Your First Job

• Don't expect to start in the top 100 markets.
• Expect to move at least three to five times before finding your dream job.
• Realize that the hours are long and include nights and weekends.
• Expect to earn from $14,500 to the mid-20s a year to start, depending on position and station.

Adapted from Susana Schuler, corporate news director at Nexstar Broadcasting. June 2001 Communicator.

Resources

How to Land a Journalism Job

Creating Effective Resumes

Face-to-Face: Surviving the Interview for a Newspaper or TV Reporting Job

Broadcast Trade Secrets

Have you done your Homework?

Preparing Your Portfolio

A PR Career?

Landing a Job in Advertising

Career Home