Are you good enough? Fuhgeddaboudit!

It's funny how so many young reporters have no fear when it comes to covering a story, yet when it comes time to put together a resume tape, their confidence seems to drain out of them as if someone pulled a plug. The predominant question is, "Am I good enough for market X?"

Sadly, the answer often deters talented people from sending a tape.

We've talked about market size before and how quality isn't even close to what it used to be. On the other side of the coin, opportunities for young people to get into big markets has never been better, as people of my generation are getting out of the business (or being pushed out) in droves. Companies are going cheaper, and that often means younger. That means doors that used to be closed to people with limited experience are now cracked open. You still need talent, but your chances are better than they used to be.

In the past year I've had three clients under 25 crack big markets. Common denominator besides talent? They believed in themselves and actually put the tapes in the mail.

But I'm amazed at how often I hear clients doubt themselves.... and how they are shocked when someone in a decent market actually likes their tapes. For whatever reason there seems to be this common belief that markets 50 and larger exist is some sort of unreachable state, and that only the cream of the crop can break in after years of experience. Guess what? There are some pretty awful people working in the top fifty markets. And a lot of bad newscasts out there as well in those markets.

Wanna see what's out there and what the competition is? Check out any online service that posts resume tapes, or simply visit websites of stations in markets 50 and higher. I'm betting you'll be amazed. I'm also betting you'll head straight to the post office when you realize you are just as good, if not better than people already in the markets you're targeting.

It's like the Publisher's Clearing House slogan... You can't win if you don't enter. Take your shots, throw as many hooks in the water as you can, and do not be deterred. There are entry level people starting in top fifty markets.

Ten years ago I wouldn't have said this. But the game has changed. And if you wanna play, you need to know the rules.

There are none.

Send the tape and fuhgeddaboudit.