Friday, November 14, 2008

The power of the "thank you" note

I have one drawer in my desk that is filled with happy stuff. Pictures of friends, media badges from various stories, funny articles...

And thank you notes.

Nothing brightens a bad day than re-reading an old message from someone who appreciated something I did long ago. May have been advice, an opportunity I provided; doesn't matter. What matters is that someone took the time to actually take out a pen, write something in longhand, put it in an envelope, stick a stamp on it and mail it.

And while most managers probably don't save stuff like this (the Grape, though a dyed in the wool New Yorker, has a sentimental streak), the effort sticks in their minds like glue.

Emails are easy, take a few seconds, and guess what? If you're sending them to a News Director you have about a 50-50 chance of them actually being read. No one sends snail mail thank you notes anymore, so this is your chance to stand out from the crowd.

Has a News Director sent you nice feedback on your tape even though you didn't get hired? Send a note. Have you been on an interview? Notes should go to everyone with whom you spent significant time. Did you rub elbows with a crew from a network or big market on a recent story... and did those people help you or give advice? They should get thank you notes.

It's old fashioned, sure, but it just screams class. It tells me a young person is polite and was brought up right. (And manners are in short supply in this business.)

And it makes me remember their name. Down the road that could pay big dividends for you.

So next time someone is nice, take a minute and go the snail mail route. You don't have to write anything long winded; it's the thought that counts.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Good book & a hot bath... or a bad date?

A few years ago I worked with a terrific young lady who was unattached. She rarely dated, didn't want to be fixed up, and once told me, "I'd rather sit home with a bottle of wine, a good book and a hot bath than have a bad date on Saturday night." In other words, better to wait for the right guy to come along than spend an evening with one just for the sake of going out.

Yes, time for another dating metaphor. Bottom line, grabbing the first job offered just to get outta Dodge might be a bad move.

Of course these days, multiple job offers aren't exactly the norm. And if you're looking for that first job, you don't really have much in the way of bargaining power. Still, you have to be selective when making any move. The right move can do wonders for your career, while the wrong one can really set you back.

I once was so desperate to get away from a certain News Director that I took a job that was totally wrong for me. The station wasn't committed to quality, and I didn't do my homework before making the move.

So when you get a job offer, take time to breathe, step back, and take a look. Remove the rose colored glasses and get an honest assessment of what you'll be going into.

-Check the product. You can usually do this online. Is the newscast a good one, or is the quality not up to your standards?

-Check the photography. Do the packages have great video and editing? Or are earthquakes (no tripod) prevalent in every story?

-Will your job be as a one man band? This is crucial, and you need to get your job description in writing.

-Research the ND. Screamer? Nice guy? One who will give you honest feedback? And you should also find out the ND's history. On the way up or down?

There are the other things that always factor in, like money and benefits, but the important factors are those that will affect your career.

And if the opportunity doesn't feel right, get a good book. Otherwise you literally could end up in hot water, and it won't be from the bath.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The confidence machine

Wouldn't it be great if there was a device television reporters could use to turn their confidence on to its highest level when it came to job hunting?

Well, there is. It's called a microphone. Stick one in the hand of the most shy journalist you've ever met, and chances are that person will morph into a take-no-prisoners reporter with absolutely no fear. The microphone and camera and live truck give you license to act outside your personality, to become someone you're probably not. They are your shields, protecting your true self. You're almost bulletproof, protected by the First Amendment.

And that's why so many of you lack confidence when applying for jobs. No microphone. No live truck. Pit bulls in the field, wallflowers with resumes tapes. It's almost as though the resume tape sucks the confidence out of you like a vampire. Give a man a microphone and he's Brad Pitt in a singles bar. Take it away and he's a tongue tied kid at the high school dance.

It's amazing to look at resume tapes of reporters who can truly kick the competition in the field, then hear them over the phone as their self-doubt won't let them put a tape in the mail.

So, wise Grape, how do you get the confidence in the field and translate that to your job hunt?

For that, you need to watch the movie "Hoosiers" with Gene Hackman.

(At this point you're thinking the Grape is heading off the deep end, but bear with me.)

In case you haven't seen this movie, it's about a small town basketball team heading to the state championship. Toward the end of the movie the kids walk into the biggest arena they've ever seen and their jaws drop. Hackman takes out a tape measure and shows them the rim is still ten feet off the ground and a foul shot is still fifteen feet.

And by the same token, a package on the network is the same as a package in market 210. Video, nat sound, sound bites, standup, good writing and editing. There's no magic formula that makes a network or major market package any different than the one you do today.

Opportunities for young people have never been better, as my generation is leaving local news in droves. Take your shots now. And if you have to hold a microphone while going to the post office, well, so be it.

Thank a vet today

Over the years I've worked with lots of veterans, many of whom were photographers. Many had both external and internal battle scars.

All served so that we remain free to do things like broadcast news... and write blogs like this one.

Many people think Veterans Day is yet another day for shopping, but in reality it is meant to celebrate those brave souls who keep us free.

There are veterans at your station. Find them and thank them today.