The Little Engine that Could... Maybe?
Arg!! Help!
I have a serious dilemma. All of those in the News Biz who know me know that being a P.A. really isn't my thing. While I enjoy having less responsibilities, I am bored with feeling impotent at work. And yes, I know, everyone in TV matters, and ultimately you couldn't do the News without "lowly" P.A.s.
But (and stop me if I'm too full of myself) I am better than that. Sure for a temporary gig being a Production Assistant is fine. It's also a good way to break into a station and move up. But after three months it's becoming increasingly clear that unless I want to direct (I don't really) I have no where to go, not even full-time.
Our station is currently hard up for Photogs. It's been suggested to me that I should apply and since they're so desperate I could maybe get my way (i.e. no overnight shoots by myself.) Even if I was promised that I'd only have to shoot court stuff, maybe some medical PKGs, and edit to my heart's content I don't know if I would do it.
For one when I left NBC I was shooting like maybe once a week. And even then they were always Guerrilla shoots (run in, film enough for :40 sec, run out.) Occasionally I'd get to shoot some web pages or a live shot, but overall I was at best a "solid" shooter.
But what about the yummy lure of editing? I LOVE editing. It's not even bragging to say I have a gift for it. But like all gifts there are some areas of weakness. The biggest weakness is that my talents lay with a system called AVID. From day one I've connected with that machine. But my current station doesn't have my beloved AVID. Instead they have a system that I feel is far inferior. I've only played with it a little, and I'm sure with time I'd be ok at it, but right now I know I'd not reach my full potential with EDIUS.
Ok, so I'm scared, super scared. I could do it, but I still don't want to. The money and security thing is soooo tempting, but months ago I was dead set on NOT ever being a Photog again, I hate going against my word.
But that is only half the dilemma. Today I found this job posting on the local ABC web site:
Television News Trainees (10/09/06>
LOCATIONS: Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, Flint, Michigan, Toledo, Ohio The ABC Owned TV Stations Group (OTVS) has a unique opportunity for individuals who are interested in a news career in the television industry. ABC OTVS is comprised of 10 television stations, including the top 6 Nielsen markets. We have opportunities for ambitious news trainees who must be geographically flexible to work in any of our station locations/markets across the country. Trainee opportunities are initially available in Raleigh-Durham, Flint, and Toledo. We are offering an on-the-job training program for one year in the key area of television news producing. If successful, we will want to place you in a producer position in one of our 10 stations. We have a commitment to diversity and seek diverse candidates and talent. The selected candidates will:
Be assigned to produce daily newscasts and will also act as associate producer for newscasts.
Receive exposure to promotion, programming, community affairs and other operations of the TV station as they interact with news producers.
Shadow news managers as well as news producers.
Participate in news editorial and planning meetings.
Learn and be tutored on the practical side of news producing including the key areas of news ethics, news judgment and story selection, news writing and graphics production.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: The qualified candidates will have a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of six months experience working in a television or radio newsroom as an employee and/or intern. The candidates will demonstrate:
Ability to produce daily newscasts.
Ability to manage time effectively to meet tight deadlines.
Excellent writing skills.
Good judgment and story selection.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Previous news producing experience is a plus. Effective use of I-News and Grass Valley NewsEdit is desired. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: We will pay a salary and full benefits while on this one year program. Regional or local candidates preferred. Minimal relocation assistance may be available. Candidates should bring a non-returnable tape of a recent broadcast they produced, as well as writing samples to the job interview.
Ok, to sum up if you didn't bother to read it, they'll train and pay me for a year. A year! Ah, but check out the last line--- I don't have ANY samples of my writing. Sure I've written a few cut-ins and a national story or two in the past few years. Hell, I even produced in College for part of a semester. But did I keep any samples? Umm, no.
Hindsight and all that crap aside, how do I convince these people that I'm a good candidate? This seems like a dream and if I could get in on this I'd be so happy. Because even if they didn't hire me after the year, I'd have a year's experience.
But self doubt is rearing it's ugly head.
1) I just got to my station (not the one offering the producer gig) and I feel bad jumping ship so soon.
2) I have no proof that I can write (not even sure I CAN, but I'm a quick learner and I've been in News longer than some Producers I know)
3) What if they want me to do my training in one of the other cities?
4) I'm not good at grammar or a great speller, but I do know something about good copy (just had to throw that in.)
So please people, now is not the time for you to tell me I can do it (although that'd be nice to hear.) I need real solutions and fast.
I have a serious dilemma. All of those in the News Biz who know me know that being a P.A. really isn't my thing. While I enjoy having less responsibilities, I am bored with feeling impotent at work. And yes, I know, everyone in TV matters, and ultimately you couldn't do the News without "lowly" P.A.s.
But (and stop me if I'm too full of myself) I am better than that. Sure for a temporary gig being a Production Assistant is fine. It's also a good way to break into a station and move up. But after three months it's becoming increasingly clear that unless I want to direct (I don't really) I have no where to go, not even full-time.
Our station is currently hard up for Photogs. It's been suggested to me that I should apply and since they're so desperate I could maybe get my way (i.e. no overnight shoots by myself.) Even if I was promised that I'd only have to shoot court stuff, maybe some medical PKGs, and edit to my heart's content I don't know if I would do it.
For one when I left NBC I was shooting like maybe once a week. And even then they were always Guerrilla shoots (run in, film enough for :40 sec, run out.) Occasionally I'd get to shoot some web pages or a live shot, but overall I was at best a "solid" shooter.
But what about the yummy lure of editing? I LOVE editing. It's not even bragging to say I have a gift for it. But like all gifts there are some areas of weakness. The biggest weakness is that my talents lay with a system called AVID. From day one I've connected with that machine. But my current station doesn't have my beloved AVID. Instead they have a system that I feel is far inferior. I've only played with it a little, and I'm sure with time I'd be ok at it, but right now I know I'd not reach my full potential with EDIUS.
Ok, so I'm scared, super scared. I could do it, but I still don't want to. The money and security thing is soooo tempting, but months ago I was dead set on NOT ever being a Photog again, I hate going against my word.
But that is only half the dilemma. Today I found this job posting on the local ABC web site:
Television News Trainees (10/09/06>
LOCATIONS: Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, Flint, Michigan, Toledo, Ohio The ABC Owned TV Stations Group (OTVS) has a unique opportunity for individuals who are interested in a news career in the television industry. ABC OTVS is comprised of 10 television stations, including the top 6 Nielsen markets. We have opportunities for ambitious news trainees who must be geographically flexible to work in any of our station locations/markets across the country. Trainee opportunities are initially available in Raleigh-Durham, Flint, and Toledo. We are offering an on-the-job training program for one year in the key area of television news producing. If successful, we will want to place you in a producer position in one of our 10 stations. We have a commitment to diversity and seek diverse candidates and talent. The selected candidates will:
Be assigned to produce daily newscasts and will also act as associate producer for newscasts.
Receive exposure to promotion, programming, community affairs and other operations of the TV station as they interact with news producers.
Shadow news managers as well as news producers.
Participate in news editorial and planning meetings.
Learn and be tutored on the practical side of news producing including the key areas of news ethics, news judgment and story selection, news writing and graphics production.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: The qualified candidates will have a Bachelor's degree and a minimum of six months experience working in a television or radio newsroom as an employee and/or intern. The candidates will demonstrate:
Ability to produce daily newscasts.
Ability to manage time effectively to meet tight deadlines.
Excellent writing skills.
Good judgment and story selection.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Previous news producing experience is a plus. Effective use of I-News and Grass Valley NewsEdit is desired. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: We will pay a salary and full benefits while on this one year program. Regional or local candidates preferred. Minimal relocation assistance may be available. Candidates should bring a non-returnable tape of a recent broadcast they produced, as well as writing samples to the job interview.
Ok, to sum up if you didn't bother to read it, they'll train and pay me for a year. A year! Ah, but check out the last line--- I don't have ANY samples of my writing. Sure I've written a few cut-ins and a national story or two in the past few years. Hell, I even produced in College for part of a semester. But did I keep any samples? Umm, no.
Hindsight and all that crap aside, how do I convince these people that I'm a good candidate? This seems like a dream and if I could get in on this I'd be so happy. Because even if they didn't hire me after the year, I'd have a year's experience.
But self doubt is rearing it's ugly head.
1) I just got to my station (not the one offering the producer gig) and I feel bad jumping ship so soon.
2) I have no proof that I can write (not even sure I CAN, but I'm a quick learner and I've been in News longer than some Producers I know)
3) What if they want me to do my training in one of the other cities?
4) I'm not good at grammar or a great speller, but I do know something about good copy (just had to throw that in.)
So please people, now is not the time for you to tell me I can do it (although that'd be nice to hear.) I need real solutions and fast.
posted by SassyJill at 10:30 PM
3 Comments:
Okay, you fake the copy. You didn't save your "real" samples but so what. I've been asked to provide writing samples for jobs before and while I have tons to pick from I still make some up from time to time to better fit with the type of writing I'd be doing at that job. So, do the same -- and send to me to edit at my work e-mail. Then you can apply for the training program. Tell them you prefer Toledo and if they put you somewhere else decline. If all else fails you still have your current job. So, focus on this first and then worry later about the whole photog thing.
Of course, there's always option B -- apply for one of the many Orlando jobs I send you =)
Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm doing. I went ahead and sent my resume. Meanwhile my producer friend in Lansing has been sending me AP wire stories to re-write.
She actually used one last night, but the others needed work.
As far as Orlando goes, I loved it, I miss it, but don't hold your breath ^_^*
Good for you. In your boots, I would have regretted not having sent the resume. Sometimes the only thing you can do is step forward and see if you get picked. Good luck, Sassy. I hope you get picked.
Post a Comment
<< Home