Alternative Roads to Electronic Journalism
By Joanne Stevens
A few weeks ago, we talked about some traditional
paths to
becoming a journalist on radio or television. This time, we'll examine the
roads less taken. We are in the GPS ‘recalculating’ mode; time for creative
approaches to arriving at a new, fulfilling career in electronic journalism.
And who knows what you may discover about yourself on the way!
Here are a few suggestions: From radio you can transition to TV, and the truth is, some people start
in TV traffic instead. You’ll need a resume reel and an audition. Get in
that door, be that dependable go-to hard worker, and keep your goal of
expanding your role in sight. From a job as a TV traffic reporter, new doors
may open: reporting packages on tires, driving safety, maybe features on
truck drivers or mechanics... or anything with a transportation hook. You’ll
develop your spontaneous gab skills with your anchors. Then, once you're in
the door, working hard and respected, maybe your skills and on-air
personality will get noticed by the morning producer or news director for
other assignments or types of reporting, say in the entertainment or
features realm. You already have your social media fan base... hmm. The Guest Contributor Road It was a peaceful day. Things were going smoothly. Then the phone rang.
“Help!” It was a non-journalist, professional client of mine who was often
interviewed live on set to flesh out or explain ramifications of a news
story. There was gleeful panic in the air. Apparently she’d been asked to
fill in for a cable network news anchor. The anchor’s partner had requested
her. We did a little teleprompter prep, they tried her out and she had a
blast. She was ‘bitten by the bug’ and she eventually left her prior career
to join ‘our side’ full time as an in-house analyst and reporter. She was
even stolen by a rival broadcast network! Here’s what can happen. If you specialize in a field, such as law,
medicine or finance/economics, you may find yourself becoming a constant
guest on TV. This is also very much the case for print journalists.
Excellent guests may pique enough newsroom interest to become a steady
contributor, which in turn may lead to a dialogue about becoming a
contracted correspondent. This whole thing is a lot like dating. If
management thinks they are discovering you, and they think you are seemingly
guileless about just how good you are, doors may unexpectedly crack open.
What’s my definition of good? If my TV is playing in the background and
someone causes me to look up and think ‘who’s that?’ – you’re special. The 'you’re in a different career and doing video for websites'
road Click. Skip this ad. Or click it. "Your video will play in 18 seconds."
Ugh. I lower the volume, glance at the newspaper, then ‘hmm...!’ This is my
digital equivalent of ‘who’s that?’ Clients outside of our business often
send me their website links. Luckily for them and ouch! for me, they are
sponsored. However, once you show up on camera via your in-house production,
you’ve activated my inner hawk. Maybe you sense your struggle and want to
get better. Or you may have already shared your secret: You’re wondering if
you have the skill or potential to join our electronic journalism world in
some capacity. Sometimes your at-the-job links can serve as a catalyst to
open a dialogue with the news networks or channels you’re hoping to contact.
Quite a few also have separate dot-com components that are great for
entry-level consideration. If you’re not already providing online video for your organization,
business or print publication, how about suggesting to your bosses that you
do so? They can be short and informational, and of greatest importance,
worthy of creating enough interest to generate return visits… or even a
subscription, and they can create a path to a new career on the air. Good luck! Please feel free to contact me through my website should you
have any questions. I’ll be around this summer other than a first time visit
to Utah! My hiking shoes are packed. Joanne Stevens News consultant Joanne Stevens has written extensively about broadcast
writing, reporting and anchoring, including columns in the former print version
of RTDNA's Communicator Magazine, and earlier versions of the RTDNA website. She
has taught at Columbia and New York University and serves as a news award judge
for the New York Press Club. She has returned to RTDNA.org to offer a new series
of News Coach columns with tips, best practices and more. - Click on
the RTDNA logo below to learn more.The Traffic Reporter Road
Unlike meteorology or news reporting, there is no formal ‘traffic school’
training and no certification necessary for traffic reporters; just a whole
lot of initial discipline, ability to quickly assimilate incoming video
information, and an ease and facility with language. If you’re banging your
head against the wall trying to land a reporter, director, producer or
writing job, how about becoming our favorite, trusted traffic reporter on
the radio? As one of my clients put it, you’re proving your capability of
reporting live and breaking news over and over again. And if you’re on
camera, you have no teleprompter and no notes!
