How to Get a Job Doing TV News

Don't Just Prepare for Your Interview; "Produce" it

• Television news is a medium dominated by producers, so, you need to "produce" your interview, not just show up at it. Most interview tips for TV news are the same as for other careers (research the organization where you want to work, act pleasantly), but there are a few things you should pay particular attention to when looking for an opportunity in TV news.

  Know that you will be judged by your appearance. Television is filled with people are paid to make snap judgments based on how things look, so they can't help themselves when it comes to you. Like it or not, you need to look as good as you can. Ladies, dress for success. Guys, strap on a suit. Don't overdo it, though. Cake on too much makeup or hair gel and some techie might mistake you for the talent and throw you on the set. Either that, or the whole newsroom will laugh at you when you leave.

  Know what's "going on in the world," and what the day's top stories are. Be prepared to discuss three or four stories you have been following over the last few weeks. That doesn't include sports or your personal life. If you haven't been following any, do a little background reading. If the interviewer asks you what you think about any of the stories, don't give your personal opinion. Show that you can be objective. Talk about how the media have covered these issues and what you would do differently.

  If you're heading to a local station, make sure you have digested the area newspaper before you walk into your meeting. If you're going to a network, don't walk inside without having fully read "The New York Times." To be on the safe side, skimming "USA Today," the "Washington Post," and the "Wall Street Journal" can't hurt. Listen to the radio on the way over. Being able to discuss the story of the hour with your interviewer shows her that you'll be up-to-the-minute on the job.

  Be prepared for breaking news. Most consulting firms probably won't make you stand around for 45 minutes if the local mayor resigns or if there is a school shooting at the other end of the country. In TV news, they may. If this occurs and you happen to know something about whatever the story is, count your lucky stars and speak up. Volunteer whatever information or sources you know about without getting in the way. Whatever you do, don't just sit there for a few minutes and then say you have to leave. Showing that you understand the nature of breaking news can be a nice plus right off the bat.

  Do not be late. Have you ever seen an evening newscast in which the anchor is still getting dressed or making notes to himself or humming weird tunes for the first four minutes of the show? Deadlines aren't flexible in live TV. Strolling in late for an interview shows that you think they are.

  Bring writing samples. Got any clips from your college newspaper? Bring them. (If you don't, and you are still in college, try to get some under your belt.) Otherwise, a good exercise is to grab some copy from the news wires--The Associated Press, Reuters, etc.--and rewrite them as 30-second anchor "tells." (A "tell" or "reader" is when an anchor reads the whole story into the camera without introducing a reporter who delivers a live report or taped piece.) For techniques on clear, effective writing for broadcast news, it's hard to beat "Writing News for Broadcast" by Edward Bliss and John M. Patterson. Especially at networks, entry-level jobs involve little or no writing. Still, demonstrating that you have some skill might show them that you're a good investment. If you know how to edit videotape, say so.

  Bring story proposals. Here's where you can blow your interviewer away. Research two stories that have been simmering on the back pages but nobody is talking about. Or look into stories that everybody is talking about but nobody is writing about. Craft a brief proposal for each (one page will do), saying why it's important, who you would talk to and what footage you would show with it. These should not begin with, "Call the President of the United States and ask him what he thinks about China." If you're at a network, they will already have this covered, and if you're at a local station, they'll probably recommend you apply to their Beijing bureau. If done right, story proposals will almost always put you in a category above everyone else who is applying for the same job.

  Show that you're willing to do grunt work. If you're interviewing for an entry-level job, make it clear you're not afraid to do entry-level tasks--because that's what you'll be doing. Most beginners in TV start out answering phones, printing out script pages, scanning the news wires and unclogging paper jams in giant photocopiers. These jobs aren't hard, but they actually are important. One unanswered phone call or misplaced script page can wreck a newscast. Show them you know that, and will never let it happen.

  In TV news, getting your foot in the door is perhaps the hardest part of building a career. Use any personal connections you may have, no matter how extraneous, and if you're not an anchor by the time you're 23, just keep plugging.