Well, I guess I'm not the only one in the business to get bitten by the fiction bug. One of the best photogs who ever shot for me, Rick Portier, has knocked out a kick-ass novel about a shooter in Louisiana. (Hmmmm... he's a shooter in Louisiana.) Check it out:
Rick is almost as sarcastic as I am. I think he might have a few New Yorkers in his roots.
-
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The 2012 interview wardrobe
I thought I'd help you get the jump on job hunting since you all probably made New Years resolutions to get the hell out of Dodge.
Anyway, this just in: the outfits people are wearing for job interviews this year:
-polo shirts
-khaki pants
-white tee shirts visible under the polo shirts
-docksiders
-jeans
I've come up with this list because just a few days into the new year, this is what I'm seeing on various local news stations. Oh, yes, wrinkled clothes are encouraged as well, so throw away your steam iron and ironing board.
You know that old saying about being in sweeps every day? Well, you guys are on a job interview every day. Today might be the day you knock out a great resume tape piece, or have your best live shot... and there you are, on camera, dressed like you're gonna mow the lawn.
Most of the problem lies with the men. While we are notorious for hating clothes shopping, there's no excuse for not wearing a decent shirt and tie. If, back in the day, I'd dressed like some reporters I saw this week, my News Director would have sent me home to change.
Just as you're in sweeps every day, you're on a job interview every day. You never know who's watching, what stories will end up on the feed, what pieces will go on your resume tape or when you might end up doing something for the network.
You wouldn't wear a tee shirt and jeans to a real job interview, so why do it on camera?
--
Anyway, this just in: the outfits people are wearing for job interviews this year:
-polo shirts
-khaki pants
-white tee shirts visible under the polo shirts
-docksiders
-jeans
I've come up with this list because just a few days into the new year, this is what I'm seeing on various local news stations. Oh, yes, wrinkled clothes are encouraged as well, so throw away your steam iron and ironing board.
You know that old saying about being in sweeps every day? Well, you guys are on a job interview every day. Today might be the day you knock out a great resume tape piece, or have your best live shot... and there you are, on camera, dressed like you're gonna mow the lawn.
Most of the problem lies with the men. While we are notorious for hating clothes shopping, there's no excuse for not wearing a decent shirt and tie. If, back in the day, I'd dressed like some reporters I saw this week, my News Director would have sent me home to change.
Just as you're in sweeps every day, you're on a job interview every day. You never know who's watching, what stories will end up on the feed, what pieces will go on your resume tape or when you might end up doing something for the network.
You wouldn't wear a tee shirt and jeans to a real job interview, so why do it on camera?
--
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Re-voicing other packages
Every station does it. They have their local anchors re-voice a network or syndicated package in an attempt to make the viewer think it was their own.
Back in the day we had a service that sent us regular medical packages to voice. Slight problem...they produced all the packages in New York City. We were in the South and inevitably there'd be a sound bite from a doctor that sounded like this:
"Ya need ta tawk to ya doctah when ya hava problem."
No viewer would possibly believe the story was produced locally.
On the occasion they'd send a piece without a physician who didn't talk in Brooklynese, we'd get calls from viewers wanting an appointment with the guy... and then we had to confess he was in New York.
You can get around this problem easily by taking a little time to include someone local in your package. You can still use the same b-roll from the original piece, but don't send up a red flag to viewers that the story is not your own.
--
Back in the day we had a service that sent us regular medical packages to voice. Slight problem...they produced all the packages in New York City. We were in the South and inevitably there'd be a sound bite from a doctor that sounded like this:
"Ya need ta tawk to ya doctah when ya hava problem."
No viewer would possibly believe the story was produced locally.
On the occasion they'd send a piece without a physician who didn't talk in Brooklynese, we'd get calls from viewers wanting an appointment with the guy... and then we had to confess he was in New York.
You can get around this problem easily by taking a little time to include someone local in your package. You can still use the same b-roll from the original piece, but don't send up a red flag to viewers that the story is not your own.
--
Friday, December 30, 2011
Resolutions you might consider
Most people make pretty normal resolutions...you know, lose weight, quit smoking, send out ten resume tapes each month, etc. But if you're stuck for something meaningful you might give it a little more thought, and it might even help your career.
Considering the state of local news, the business in general, and the fact that viewers are leaving in droves you might think the biz has no future. Let's face it, it is not exactly a growth industry. But while TV News as we know it has an uncertain future, you can still make it better in the present. I'm always reminded of the great Carole Kneeland, the late News Director who worked in Texas and coined the phrase, "It is never the wrong time to do the right thing." Carole had a wonderful view of the news business, as she basically turned down the police scanner and did stories that actually affected people. She also believed in treating people well, something that is often lost in many newsrooms today. If you simply let her famous quote weave its way through your life and career, you might see things in a different light...and make this business a little better.
So, with that in mind, here are a few suggestions to "re-invent" yourself in 2012:
-Make a difference with a story. Once each month, make it a point to knock out a package that makes the world a better place.
-Don't "advance" a story for the sake of advancing. Too often this leads to speculation, rumors and misinformation. We're not in the rumor business. If you have nothing new in the way of hard facts, tell the public just that. Viewers would appreciate the honesty.
-Praise a co-worker in front of someone else. Don't just tell the photog he shot some great video, make sure someone hears you say it.
-Welcome the new person at your station. Too often the new guy gets the cold shoulder because someone else wasn't promoted from within.
-Do stories that really affect the viewer. Don't just take a press release and pass it on. Find two sides of the story, then look for the third point of view... one that affects the average person.
-If you're an on-air person, be nice to the people who make you look good. Treat a photog to lunch, thank the truck op for pulling cables, buy a box of donuts for the morning meeting.
-Don't yell in the newsroom. Ever.
-Bury the ego.
-Spend time in someone else's shoes. If you're a reporter, don't criticize a producer if you've never spent a minute in the control room. If you're a producer, don't send field crews on assignments that can't be completed unless you've spent time in the field. Find out what everyone in the newsroom does and you might have a better appreciation of other points of view.
-Print out the phrase "It is never the wrong time to do the right thing" and stick it above your computer. It might help you make good decisions in the future.
Considering the state of local news, the business in general, and the fact that viewers are leaving in droves you might think the biz has no future. Let's face it, it is not exactly a growth industry. But while TV News as we know it has an uncertain future, you can still make it better in the present. I'm always reminded of the great Carole Kneeland, the late News Director who worked in Texas and coined the phrase, "It is never the wrong time to do the right thing." Carole had a wonderful view of the news business, as she basically turned down the police scanner and did stories that actually affected people. She also believed in treating people well, something that is often lost in many newsrooms today. If you simply let her famous quote weave its way through your life and career, you might see things in a different light...and make this business a little better.
So, with that in mind, here are a few suggestions to "re-invent" yourself in 2012:
-Make a difference with a story. Once each month, make it a point to knock out a package that makes the world a better place.
-Don't "advance" a story for the sake of advancing. Too often this leads to speculation, rumors and misinformation. We're not in the rumor business. If you have nothing new in the way of hard facts, tell the public just that. Viewers would appreciate the honesty.
-Praise a co-worker in front of someone else. Don't just tell the photog he shot some great video, make sure someone hears you say it.
-Welcome the new person at your station. Too often the new guy gets the cold shoulder because someone else wasn't promoted from within.
-Do stories that really affect the viewer. Don't just take a press release and pass it on. Find two sides of the story, then look for the third point of view... one that affects the average person.
-If you're an on-air person, be nice to the people who make you look good. Treat a photog to lunch, thank the truck op for pulling cables, buy a box of donuts for the morning meeting.
-Don't yell in the newsroom. Ever.
-Bury the ego.
-Spend time in someone else's shoes. If you're a reporter, don't criticize a producer if you've never spent a minute in the control room. If you're a producer, don't send field crews on assignments that can't be completed unless you've spent time in the field. Find out what everyone in the newsroom does and you might have a better appreciation of other points of view.
-Print out the phrase "It is never the wrong time to do the right thing" and stick it above your computer. It might help you make good decisions in the future.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Setting goals for 2012
I know, most of you only have one. "Find a new job."
But achieving that goal takes many steps. Sure, you can send out one tape and get lucky, but in most cases moving up the ladder is a process. Just because you have three good packages and a decent montage doesn't mean you're going anywhere.
The problem is that many young people are so focused on finding those resume tape stories they forget about the day-to-day job of reporting...and taking your eye off the ball can make you miss what could be the story that gets you...wait for it...outta Dodge.
If you do your best every day, the resume tape stories will magically appear.
But you need a set of goals to make those resume tape stories routine. If you're serious about moving on, and I know most of you are, here are the goals you need to set for 2012:
-I will treat every story as if the News Director at the station I want to work for is watching. Even if I receive a horrible assignment, I will go all out and treat it as if it is the last story I will ever do.
-I will pitch at least one enterprise story every day. I will treat looking for enterprise stories as part of my daily routine, even on off days.
-I will look beyond the two sides of the story for the third angle to make my story unique. I will never do a package with a single-source sound bite unless it is a profile piece.
-I will do a creative standup in every story. (Funerals are the exception.)
-I will write to my video and turn a clever phrase when it is appropriate.
-I will use nat sound and creative editing in every story.
-If I am shooting my own video I will always use a tripod.
-If I am working with a photog I will ask for his input as to how the story might be covered.
-I will dress professionally for every story that requires it.
-I will watch reporters and anchors from other markets and networks to get ideas on how to improve my own skills.
-Finally, I will send tapes to any station, whether or not it has an opening, regardless of my experience.
--
But achieving that goal takes many steps. Sure, you can send out one tape and get lucky, but in most cases moving up the ladder is a process. Just because you have three good packages and a decent montage doesn't mean you're going anywhere.
The problem is that many young people are so focused on finding those resume tape stories they forget about the day-to-day job of reporting...and taking your eye off the ball can make you miss what could be the story that gets you...wait for it...outta Dodge.
If you do your best every day, the resume tape stories will magically appear.
But you need a set of goals to make those resume tape stories routine. If you're serious about moving on, and I know most of you are, here are the goals you need to set for 2012:
-I will treat every story as if the News Director at the station I want to work for is watching. Even if I receive a horrible assignment, I will go all out and treat it as if it is the last story I will ever do.
-I will pitch at least one enterprise story every day. I will treat looking for enterprise stories as part of my daily routine, even on off days.
-I will look beyond the two sides of the story for the third angle to make my story unique. I will never do a package with a single-source sound bite unless it is a profile piece.
-I will do a creative standup in every story. (Funerals are the exception.)
-I will write to my video and turn a clever phrase when it is appropriate.
-I will use nat sound and creative editing in every story.
-If I am shooting my own video I will always use a tripod.
-If I am working with a photog I will ask for his input as to how the story might be covered.
-I will dress professionally for every story that requires it.
-I will watch reporters and anchors from other markets and networks to get ideas on how to improve my own skills.
-Finally, I will send tapes to any station, whether or not it has an opening, regardless of my experience.
--
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