TV news directors and hiring managers, we need to talk. As a frequent reference, I’ve spoken to many of you over the years. If you’re not taking the opportunity to make a solid connection, you’re missing out on another potential employee. I’ve had great conversations with newsroom leaders from across the country. The best among them conversed well and asked me thoughtful questions. Some even became friends! Of course, not all have been memorable. One news director told me he didn’t see my coworker (and friend) as a main anchor. Another rushed me through the conversation and didn’t try to engage at all. From what I learned later, these were very accurate snippets of the atmosphere at those stations. There is a great value in listening and not just throwing out your own personal news manifestos. No one cares anymore. Just have a chat - and if you do it right, maybe another good employee will be incoming.
Lynne Vogt’s Post
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Senior Facilitator @ SolutionPoint +, LLC | Mental Health, Facilitation Patrol Sergeant (RET) Warren County Sheriff’s Office NY
As I read this inspiring article about Sara's first day on TV and the grace she received from her News Director, I couldn't help but recall my own similar experience at SolutionPoint+. On my first teaching assignment, I was a bundle of nerves. My lack of confidence in the material was evident, and what was supposed to be an hour-long class ended in a brisk 26 minutes. The feelings of dejection, mortification, and embarrassment were overwhelming. I seriously considered messaging my bosses, Joe and Jesse, to admit I wasn't cut out for the job. Expecting the worst, I met them for dinner, ready to face what I thought was the end of my brief stint as a facilitator. Instead, I received something far more valuable: grace and encouragement. Joe's words, "Ok, so it sucked. Do you know what you need to do to make it better?" followed by "Then make it better. I'm not giving up on you as long as you don't give up on yourself," were a turning point for me. That moment of understanding and support was unexpectedly emotional and fueled my drive to excel in my role. This experience mirrors the article's message about the impact of leadership that's grounded in empathy and understanding. Leaders who extend grace and believe in their team's potential can transform initial failures into foundations for success. Like Sara, I, too, have come a long way. I continually strive to improve, driven by the encouragement I received when I needed it most. To all leaders and managers out there, remember that your words of encouragement can have a lasting impact. They help not only shape careers but also build a positive and resilient workplace culture. #LeadershipDevelopment #EmployeeGrowth #WorkplaceCulture #Mentorship #EmpathyInLeadership #CareerJourney #Resilience #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipMatters #PositiveLeadership SolutionPoint +, LLC Joe Smarro Jesse Trevino, MS, PhD Candidate
Burned Out TV Anchor who wanted more / Leading others to design a life they love / Storytelling expert
I should have been fired on my 1st day on TV. In fact, I'm pretty sure my News Director considered it. I was reporting dayside - my first job ever in local news. I interviewed 16 people for "man on the street" interviews. 🤣 It took me 30 minutes to shoot a standup I liked. And it look me approx 1-million minutes to transcribe & write my pkg. You can guess what happened. I missed my slot. When my photog finished editing the piece.... It was 6 min 23 seconds long And he finished editing it AFTER the newscast ended. So yeah...... It never made air...... But I made it to the bathroom before the tears started flowing. I always wanted to be a reporter, and I blew it on the first day. I was sobbing in the stall when there was a knock on the bathroom door. What my News Director did next, shocked me. He had me re-write the pkg. The photog re-cut it for the 11pm (it was 1:38 recut) And my ND gave me the best gift: GRACE. He told me tomorrow would be better. He reminded me that he hired me because he believed in me. And he noted that I would probably never make that mistake again. He was right. So today: A reminder for those newsroom leaders out there: 1) Don't always be so hard on your employees. When they screw up, I can almost guarantee you that they are hard enough on themselves. 2) When you offer grace and forgiveness, it won't be forgotten. Over 2 decades later, I still remember that day. And I'm still grateful for how he handled my huge mistake. 3) If you deal with your employees with understanding and empathy, they will learn from their mistakes and won't make them again. They will want to do their best for YOU. The crazy part to the story? I went from a horrible reporter, to winning my first AP award 8 months later...... and my first EMMY just 2 years later. I went from a tiny city.... to 7 years later anchoring the morning show in a Top-10 market. And that's thanks to a News Director who knew how to be a LEADER and not just a BOSS. #tvnews #journalism #localnews #broadcastmedia #media
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Emmy Award winning multifaceted veteran journalist who has extensive experience managing large teams as well as creating content and business partnerships across platforms: television,
I love this advice:
Burned Out TV Anchor who wanted more / Leading others to design a life they love / Storytelling expert
I should have been fired on my 1st day on TV. In fact, I'm pretty sure my News Director considered it. I was reporting dayside - my first job ever in local news. I interviewed 16 people for "man on the street" interviews. 🤣 It took me 30 minutes to shoot a standup I liked. And it look me approx 1-million minutes to transcribe & write my pkg. You can guess what happened. I missed my slot. When my photog finished editing the piece.... It was 6 min 23 seconds long And he finished editing it AFTER the newscast ended. So yeah...... It never made air...... But I made it to the bathroom before the tears started flowing. I always wanted to be a reporter, and I blew it on the first day. I was sobbing in the stall when there was a knock on the bathroom door. What my News Director did next, shocked me. He had me re-write the pkg. The photog re-cut it for the 11pm (it was 1:38 recut) And my ND gave me the best gift: GRACE. He told me tomorrow would be better. He reminded me that he hired me because he believed in me. And he noted that I would probably never make that mistake again. He was right. So today: A reminder for those newsroom leaders out there: 1) Don't always be so hard on your employees. When they screw up, I can almost guarantee you that they are hard enough on themselves. 2) When you offer grace and forgiveness, it won't be forgotten. Over 2 decades later, I still remember that day. And I'm still grateful for how he handled my huge mistake. 3) If you deal with your employees with understanding and empathy, they will learn from their mistakes and won't make them again. They will want to do their best for YOU. The crazy part to the story? I went from a horrible reporter, to winning my first AP award 8 months later...... and my first EMMY just 2 years later. I went from a tiny city.... to 7 years later anchoring the morning show in a Top-10 market. And that's thanks to a News Director who knew how to be a LEADER and not just a BOSS. #tvnews #journalism #localnews #broadcastmedia #media
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Communicator | Storyteller | Author | Public Speaker | Executive Coach | Entrepreneur | Public Relations | Media Relations | Brand Advocate | Animal Advocate
Dear newsroom. Please cover this story. 💡 There’s actually a better way to get coverage. And it’s not just about trying to stand out among the tens of thousands of messages in our inboxes. We have people who diligently sort through the press releases and news tips. But you are competing for a spot on any given day. 🎤 If you want your voice to be truly heard, start by building a relationship. Our reporters are required to pitch stories EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Get to know one of them. Grab lunch. 🥪 They want to hear what you’re working on. They want to dig deeper than the bullet points. 🗞️ Find a reporter who covers the type of story you’re pitching, or one who specifically covers YOUR community. Reporters are very loyal to their “beats” and love to develop sources. 📚 Be that go-to person. If you’re a subject matter expert on a particular topic, be ready with story pitches (made directly to your new friend the reporter) based on current events. 👨👩👧👦 Remember the human element in your story pitches when relevant. People love to learn about their neighbors, and personal stories have a bigger impact. ie rather than having a “talking head” explain an alternative sentencing program, let the reporter talk with and get video of someone whose life was changed by this opportunity for a second chance. 📺 Alas, your new friend may eventually move on. It’s inevitable. There is a lot of turnover in TV news. Just let him or her know that when that time comes, you’d be grateful for an introduction to the person who will be handling their coverage area. If the reporter skips town before that happens, start again. Reach out. Grab lunch! 🥗 It’s all about building relationships.
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Burned Out TV Anchor who wanted more / Leading others to design a life they love / Storytelling expert
My first day in a top 10 market was SHOCKING. I showed up as the new anchor for a show where the current anchor DIDN’T KNOW she was being pulled off the air. I was set up in a desk directly across from hers…and watched her pack up her things with tears rolling down her cheeks. The glaring daggers she sent my way were excusable....and understandable. But what wasn’t? The fact that my ND put both of us in that situation. You can imagine the whispers that went around the newsroom all week. Who would be next? What kind of changes is management making? Aren’t our ratings going up? What the *** is going on???? This was the start of a very toxic tenure at my station. So what do I wish I had done differently? Here are 3 tips to keep in mind..... ❌ I wish I had paid attention to the red flags. When I interviewed, the ND was very hush hush about the whole visit. The ND never really let me see the newsroom, or interact with anyone. I knew in my gut something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t get my ego past the “top 10” market BS. ❌ I wish I had reached out over social to some of the reporters to see what the vibe was like. As newsies, we are always happy to share our experiences with others. ❌ I wish I had looked into the high turn over rate. The station couldn’t keep good people past their orginial contract. A little research would have uncovered that. 🔥 Eventually, that toxic newsroom fueled my fire to get out of the business. 🔥 I knew I was made for more. I knew my skilset could be used in other industries. I knew that work/life balance DOES exist….and I was going to find it! If you are ready to get out, and need some mentorship and direction, you can always reach out! #tvnews #media #news #localnews #journalism
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Communicator | News Anchor | The Morning Show Host | Translations Manager | IsiZulu Translator | Head of News | Executive Content Producer
We need more leaders that have empathy.
Burned Out TV Anchor who wanted more / Leading others to design a life they love / Storytelling expert
I should have been fired on my 1st day on TV. In fact, I'm pretty sure my News Director considered it. I was reporting dayside - my first job ever in local news. I interviewed 16 people for "man on the street" interviews. 🤣 It took me 30 minutes to shoot a standup I liked. And it look me approx 1-million minutes to transcribe & write my pkg. You can guess what happened. I missed my slot. When my photog finished editing the piece.... It was 6 min 23 seconds long And he finished editing it AFTER the newscast ended. So yeah...... It never made air...... But I made it to the bathroom before the tears started flowing. I always wanted to be a reporter, and I blew it on the first day. I was sobbing in the stall when there was a knock on the bathroom door. What my News Director did next, shocked me. He had me re-write the pkg. The photog re-cut it for the 11pm (it was 1:38 recut) And my ND gave me the best gift: GRACE. He told me tomorrow would be better. He reminded me that he hired me because he believed in me. And he noted that I would probably never make that mistake again. He was right. So today: A reminder for those newsroom leaders out there: 1) Don't always be so hard on your employees. When they screw up, I can almost guarantee you that they are hard enough on themselves. 2) When you offer grace and forgiveness, it won't be forgotten. Over 2 decades later, I still remember that day. And I'm still grateful for how he handled my huge mistake. 3) If you deal with your employees with understanding and empathy, they will learn from their mistakes and won't make them again. They will want to do their best for YOU. The crazy part to the story? I went from a horrible reporter, to winning my first AP award 8 months later...... and my first EMMY just 2 years later. I went from a tiny city.... to 7 years later anchoring the morning show in a Top-10 market. And that's thanks to a News Director who knew how to be a LEADER and not just a BOSS. #tvnews #journalism #localnews #broadcastmedia #media
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"Good newsroom citizen" is a phrase you hear from a lot of managers...but how many people actually know what it means? I recently heard someone define it as "someone who is positive." With all due respect to Pollyanna...I don't think she's the model of a great newsroom citizen. We NEED people who will poke holes in plans, let us know when there's an issue, speak up if they feel we're moving in the wrong direction, have a hard conversation when it's warranted. Someone who smiles and says, "Everything's great!" regardless of what's actually happening isn't a good newsroom citizen. That's not a green light for newsroom gossip, behind-the-scenes complaining, disrespect to colleagues, or dragging others into your bad day. So what DOES it mean to be a good newsroom citizen? Here's how our team defines it: 📺 Treat colleagues with respect. Sometimes "respect" gets confused with "nice." If I'm walking around with spinach in my teeth, the person who notices and says nothing is perhaps being nice...but letting me go about my day that way isn't exactly an act of respect. Yeah, the conversation might be uncomfortable. But to me, respect is the willingness to be honest and direct while trying preserve the other person's dignity. 📺 Own mistakes and your role in them. It's very human to feel defensive...but a good newsroom citizen can pivot from defensiveness to curiosity. Even if you disagree with the feedback, there's usually a kernel of SOMETHING you can learn. No one is too talented or too experienced for accountability. 📺 Raise issues directly and constructively with the person involved/appropriate manager. This means you're not just walking in with a problem...you're also ready to propose a solution. And if it's not a big enough deal to raise the issue with the person you're upset/annoyed with, it's not a big enough deal to raise it with others in the newsroom. As our news director Brandice Bailey often says, taking a problem to someone who can't help solve it can turn a THEM problem into a YOU problem. There's always more to it, and no one's going to carry this out perfectly every single time. I know I fall short more often than I'd like. But it's important to have a concrete definition of the term so we can strive for something. We're looking for progress, not perfection. And (because this is LinkedIn, after all) if you're looking to be part of a team that works toward this goal every day...check out our job openings. Good newsrooms need good newsroom citizens.
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Sometimes, Local News Just Needs To Know Where To Stop https://lnkd.in/e_K7CGyD Time- and staff-starved newsrooms often cling tightly to practices they’ve always had, impeding their ability to take on newer, more relevant projects. Here are some practices to question and some enterprises that might better replace them.
Sometimes, Local News Just Needs To Know Where To Stop - TV News Check
https://tvnewscheck.com
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Network, network, network. Who often knows when there will be soon to be (yet to be announced) openings in a newsroom? Those already there. It takes time to network, build the connections, and most importantly- to build your reputation. Newsroom jobs are a plenty, but hiring managers are still looking for those who are good newsroom citizens, stewards of hard work and grounded work ethics. Echoing some of Cayle Thompson’s points below: There’s no bad time to start networking. Reach out to those in markets/stations you desire to get to. Find connections, whether it’s interests, goals, geography, college alumnus, etc. This is the process where you can also find constructive feedback and begin to build your reputation.
A reporter in a mid-sized market recently asked me for advice on how to get the attention of News Directors in larger cities without having to use an agent. A great demo reel goes a long way, of course. But if the News Director is bombarded with reels from other reporters, agents, or talent agencies - how do you stand out? (Full disclosure: I have an agent and she's great. But not everybody wants or needs an agent for their next job.) My advice: Network with the News Director's newsroom circle. Use LinkedIn to identify a Reporter, Anchor, Producer, or the Assistant News Director at the station. (Bonus if you already know somebody!) Reach out and introduce yourself. Tell them what you like about their newscasts, and why you're targeting the area for your next move. Let them know you welcome their expertise, and ask if you can share some of your recent work for their review and feedback. (Just be ready for an honest critique.) Start a friendly conversation without expectations and see where it goes. Taking the time and initiative to build a rapport with a potential future colleague can turn them into your advocate. And a strong internal reference is one of the best ways to be seen by a News Director. I know because it's worked for me. #TVJobs #TVNews #TVTips #Mentoring #Newsroom #TVReporter #Networking
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How To (Actually) Change A TV Newsroom Culture https://lnkd.in/etGjfBsp The industry’s focus on newsroom culture is critical, but nothing can fundamentally change unless leaders take these active and essential steps.
How To (Actually) Change A TV Newsroom Culture - TV News Check
https://tvnewscheck.com
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Corporate comms disasters of 2023: ITV, BBC, Natwest, OpenAI #CorporateCommsDisasters 🤝 Follow us on Discord 🔜: https://lnkd.in/gt823Zd3 🤝 Follow us on Whatsapp 🔜 https://wapia.in/wabeta _ ❇️ Summary: In 2023, ITV, BBC, Natwest, and OpenAI experienced some of the worst corporate communication disasters. These incidents were highlighted in PR Week. The specific details of the disasters were not provided, but it is clear that these companies faced significant challenges in managing their public relations and communications. This serves as a reminder of the importance of effective corporate communication and the potential consequences of mishandling public relations. Hashtags: #chatGPT 1. #CorporateCommsDisasters 2. #PRNightmares
Corporate comms disasters of 2023: ITV, BBC, Natwest, OpenAI #CorporateCommsDisasters
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