10
Steps to a Job as a Television Reporter: /Producer.asp
If you’ve ever
watched the news on TV and thought you’d like
to be the one in front of the camera, the good
news is your dream can come true. By following
the proper steps, you can become a television
reporter.
Here are 10 steps
you can take to break into this fab job, based
on the
fabjob.com
Guide to Become a Television Reporter.
1. Become a
News Junkie
The first step
is to watch as many local and national television
news broadcasts as you can. You should also read
your local newspaper and one national paper daily.
Subscribing to one or two weekly news magazines
will help you to better understand the issues.
If you’ve never
paid attention to the news before, you’ll have
a lot of catching up to do. But, knowing the news
is important if you plan to report the news. So
do your best to get caught up on current events.
2. Learn to
Write
Good writing is
the secret to good reporting. Broadcast writing
is short and to the point, while writing for print
journalism can be a bit longer and more detailed.
Several books can help you learn to write for
broadcast. One of the most respected is
Writing Broadcast News:
Shorter, Sharper, Stronger
by Mervin Block.
3. Find Your
Voice
You don’t have
to have a deep, booming voice to succeed in broadcasting,
but you must sound professional. You should get
rid of any regional accents and try to speak through
your diaphragm instead of your nose.
Consult your local
Yellow Pages to find a speech therapist or voice
coach who might help you improve your delivery.
Taping yourself will also give you a better idea
of your strengths and weaknesses.
4. Sharpen Your
Appearance
You don’t have
to look like a model, but you do need a professional,
crisp presentation. Pay attention to the national
reporters and anchors on TV. What are they wearing?
How do they wear their hair?
The key is finding
a look that won’t be distracting to the audience.
This usually means short, neat hair, solid-coloured
clothing and no large earrings or flashy necklaces.
5. Get Experience
If you’re still
choosing a college, find one that offers a broadcast
journalism program with equipment like cameras
and editing machines that will give you hands-on
experience.
If you’ve already
finished college, you need to find an internship
at a station that will give you a chance to do
some reporting. This usually means going to a
smaller station to apply for an internship. Starting
as a radio reporter is also a way to get your
foot in the door.
6. Make a Demo
Tape
The demo tape (a
videotape of news reports you have done) will
make or break your chances of getting hired, which
is why it must be put together very well. In general,
you’ll need at least three stories on your tape:
breaking news, feature and a longer investigative-type
piece. It also helps to have at least one live
shot.
Many news directors
like to see a one-minute montage of a reporter’s
on camera stand-ups at the beginning of the tape,
so they can get a better idea of how the person
performs on air.
7. Target the
Markets
The best way to
approach your job search is by starting with the
smaller stations closest to where you live. Every
region of the country is divided into a television
market that is ranked according to its population.
Currently, there
are 210 markets in the United Kingdom. The smallest
stations are in market sizes 100-210. You’ll have
the best chance of getting a job at a station
in one of those markets.
8. Hit the Road
When a station
has an opening for an anchor or reporter, the
job is often filled before the advertisement is
published on-line or in an industry magazine.
This is why job hunters must be proactive in their
search. Make two dozen copies of your tape, set
up appointments with news directors in advance,
then pack your car and begin your tour.
Meet as many news
directors as you can, even if they don’t have
any current job openings. That way, when a position
does become available, you’ll be one of the first
in line to grab it.
9. Network
Attend professional
meetings and seminars offered in your area. Many
of these programs give you the opportunity to
mingle with news directors and have tape critique
sessions for students or interns. Meetings are
offered by organizations such as the Radio and
Television News Director’s Association and the
Associated Press.
10. Ace the
Interview
When a news director
calls you for an interview, it’s time to start
doing your homework. Study the station’s own web
site and go online to find the local newspaper
for the town where the station is based. Learn
the most important issues affecting the community
and be sure to know the state officials.
If you are applying
for a reporting position, you may be asked to
go out on a story. If you’re applying as an anchor,
you’ll probably have to tape an audition.
10 Steps to a Job as a Television Reporter: /Producer.asp
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