Last week an intern at my old station in Spokane emailed me. She's about to graduate from college and pursue her dream of working in TV. She wrote, "With that though comes a lot of nerves and questions; a place where it sounds like you have been yourself. Do you remember your feelings and emotions when you took your first job? Do you have any advice for me as I head into this new stage of life?"
YES! Of course, I do. I was in her shoes exactly six years ago! I hope this helps-
1) It's scary. And that's OK. I have never been so stressed or scared as I was the summer after I graduated college. I didn't know where I was going to land. I just knew I had a VHS tape with 8 minutes of stories and stand-ups and I prayed it would land me a job. I sent them out to stations in the northwest, the midwest, the deep south, the east coast. Three weeks passed and I didn't hear back from a soul. So I got aggressive (or desperate).
2) Be aggressive! I picked up the phone and started calling news directors. I remember shaking as I dialed those long distance numbers. I remember rehearsing what I was going to say if they answered. I remember leaving a message for Jim Nagy at KIFI in Idaho Falls and then going to get a hair cut. My cell phone rang half way through and it was an Idaho number! He left a message-and I called him right back. Yes, still shaking. I flew myself out to Idaho for an interview-acted like I knew what I was getting myself into and I was offered the job on the spot.
3) Be yourself!! Viewers aren't stupid-in fact they're dang good at identifying which people on TV are "real" and which ones aren't. You have to be yourself because they will recognize fake (you know, that terrible "anchor voice" we've all heard).
4) CARE! I remember asking reporters at my internship-don't you ever get jaded going to car crashes and rapes? Covering murders? Do you ever build up a wall and become numb? The answer, for me, is absolutely not. If I ever stop caring-I hope I get fired. You will handle some heavy stuff on a daily basis. People give you a gift by telling you their stories. You should treat it like a gift-a treasure. It sounds so corny but you will learn SO MUCH about the human condition. You will learn what a person can handle. You will ask why?! Why has this terrible thing happened? Why can life be so unfair? You will also be there for incredible joy-inevitably you'll cover everyday people doing extraordinary things, miracles-things that just cannot be explained and soldier homecomings. These are the days that you go home with a huge smile-knowing there really is good out there.
5) Take advice, criticism-but don't take it all too seriously (and consider the source). I've received a lot of advice the past 6 years-Once a viewer told me to quit saying "back to you guys" (he was totally right! it sounds unprofessional). Another time a consultant told me to "lay off the lipstick-all anyone's watching is your huge lips smacking." (also true-my deep maroon lipstick was out of control). In both cases I was initially offended, but realized there was a little truth to the advice. Those are piddly examples-but honestly, find someone who you trust and admire and get them to critique your work. I owe my whole career to a handful of incredible mentors.
6) Be humble. You always have a ton to learn-whether it's your first day of reporting or the final day before you hang it up.
7) Be a sponge. I have learned so much from so many people. Find a journalist you admire. Watch their work regularly. Seek out the quieter people in the newsroom for advice-often these are the folks who put a lot of thought into decisions and are willing to take the time to help and coach. You won't only learn from people in the business-often the best teachers are people you interview or meet on stories.
8) Have confidence that you land exactly where you're supposed to be. Ask my family and closest friends and they will tell you-I haven't always been happy on this journey. It's hard. It can be lonely. But it is so WORTH IT. I can't imagine a career I could love more than this!
I am so excited for you to start this journey! You will do great! One other tidbit-often your first job is the most fun-so soak up the next couple of years. If you start in a small market (which I highly recommend-it's a blast starting small)-most people are single and young. You grow and make mistakes together. You'll come out of your first job with lifelong friends-I promise! Good luck and keep me posted!!
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