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They say hindsight is 20/20.
So let's start 2020 with 10 things I wish I had known when I started in this business 15+ years ago.
Feel free to reply with your own!
#WriteLikeYouTalk
So let's start 2020 with 10 things I wish I had known when I started in this business 15+ years ago.
Feel free to reply with your own!
#WriteLikeYouTalk
1. Feedback is almost non-existent in our industry.
The fear that you aren't any good will be constant.
But those that take the time to offer you *helpful,* constructive criticism are saints.
The fear that you aren't any good will be constant.
But those that take the time to offer you *helpful,* constructive criticism are saints.
2. The business isn't fair.
People who didn't earn it will sometimes get a job you probably deserve.
People will also get news jobs for reasons that have nothing to do with actual journalism.
Some people 'pay their dues;' others don't.
Unfair. But fact.
Accept it and adapt.
People who didn't earn it will sometimes get a job you probably deserve.
People will also get news jobs for reasons that have nothing to do with actual journalism.
Some people 'pay their dues;' others don't.
Unfair. But fact.
Accept it and adapt.
3. Some people will dislike you, no matter how good you are and no matter how hard you work.
They're just like that.
And it's OK.
I repeat: It's OK if not everyone likes you
They're just like that.
And it's OK.
I repeat: It's OK if not everyone likes you
4. Viewers will yell at you and write you nasty emails too.
Yes, it stings.
But once you learn to be honest with yourself about your work, they matter less.
Read the emails. Decide if they have a point?
If yes, learn from it.
If no, ignore it forever.
Yes, it stings.
But once you learn to be honest with yourself about your work, they matter less.
Read the emails. Decide if they have a point?
If yes, learn from it.
If no, ignore it forever.
5. Writing: Simple is better.
Stories are about people.
You're rarely as clever as you think.
The best packages have memorable moments and surprises.
Hook the viewer write away.
Active verbs > Passive verbs
Visual = KING.
Stories are about people.
You're rarely as clever as you think.
The best packages have memorable moments and surprises.
Hook the viewer write away.
Active verbs > Passive verbs
Visual = KING.
6. The most under-used yet potent element in all of TV news?
Nat sound.
Nat sound.
7. Ask the question.
You know what's worse than a dumb question in front of a few people?
Not knowing the answer in front of every one of your viewers.
You know what's worse than a dumb question in front of a few people?
Not knowing the answer in front of every one of your viewers.
8. The best story ideas are almost always your own.
Executing your vision is so much easier than executing someone else's.
Call around.
Find things out.
Get to know people who know things.
Invest in your story ideas.
You'll reap the benefits every single day.
Executing your vision is so much easier than executing someone else's.
Call around.
Find things out.
Get to know people who know things.
Invest in your story ideas.
You'll reap the benefits every single day.
9. Yes, TV news is a calling.
Yes, it's about serving the community.
But it's also a business.
Learn how to merge the two and you'll succeed
Yes, it's about serving the community.
But it's also a business.
Learn how to merge the two and you'll succeed
10. You get out of this business what you put into it.
The stories that matter most to me, the stories I'm most proud of, are the stories that tested me and challenged me and pushed me.
They also tended to be the stories that mattered most to the viewers.
Make it matter!
The stories that matter most to me, the stories I'm most proud of, are the stories that tested me and challenged me and pushed me.
They also tended to be the stories that mattered most to the viewers.
Make it matter!
