What's your take on personal websites for reporters looking for jobs? Does this make things easier for News Directors, and is there a downside?
-T.L.
Dear T.L.,
There are two schools of thought on this. One says that any way you can get your work out there is worth it. The other (mine) says that while marketing yourself via the Internet can be a good thing, you have to be very professional about how you do it.
Bear in mind that many NDs these days will google job applicants because, quite frankly, you can dig up some valuable stuff that might raise a red flag. I'll give you an example. A few years ago a reporter brought someone else's personal website to my attention. The site featured a female reporter in a rather suggestive pose wearing very little in the way of clothing. Of course this photo was right next to her resume. Whatever credibility this young woman may have had went right out the window. And once you post something on the net, forget about ever taking it off.
If you're going to create a website, keep it totally professional. One picture, your resume, and something an ND can click on to view your resume tape. That's it. No party photos, no list of "friends," no rambling about how hammered you got on New Year's Eve. Keep it simple and easy to use. And keep it modest. You don't want anything that screams "ego problem" on your site.
The other problem is getting an ND to actually click on your site. NDs get hundreds of emails each day, and the odds that they'll open one from a stranger and click on a link aren't very good. You know, fear of computer viruses and/or lack of time. It is actually a lot easier to post your work on tvjobs.com. Lots of NDs go there to look for talent.
Best of luck in your search.
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