How to Become a Television Reporter
Working as a television reporter is often viewed as an exciting and glamorous career, but it requires hard work, long hours and commitment. However, if you have the persistence, you can succeed in the very competitive field of broadcast journalism.
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Instructions
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Educate yourself. Most colleges and universities have broadcast journalism programs that will provide you with the foundation, and even the connections, that you’ll need to begin and to succeed in your career as a television reporter.
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Take television writing courses, even if they’re only electives in your program. Working as a television reporter requires more that just standing in front of the camera. You must also have the ability to write clearly, succinctly and professionally.
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Focus on your speaking skills. Speaking professionally and clearly is essential to your success as a television reporter, so ensure that you are constantly honing your speaking skills.
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Absorb all the news you can. Read at least one newspaper every day, and watch television news broadcasts. Successful news reporters keep up to date with the issues of the day.
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Apply for internships with television stations. An internship will give you real-world experience, help you gain contacts, and may even land you an entry-level job upon graduation.
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Prepare a resume tape for prospective employers. Your resume tape is going to be a determining factor in whether you are hired or not, so make sure it provides a broad overview of your experience, including a live clip, a breaking news clip, a clip that shows your investigative skills and a clip of a feature story.
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Scope out jobs and be prepared to leave your hometown. You may have to take a television reporting job in another town just to get your foot in the door, so make sure you are flexible as to where you live, especially in the beginning.
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Advance in the field. Once you’ve gained the experience that you need to position yourself as a top television reporter, you can begin looking for higher-profile jobs, and, if it’s your goal, an anchor position.
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Tips & Warnings
It’s important to understand that million-dollar television reporters aren’t the norm. Television reporters generally don’t make a lot of money, especially in the beginning.
Writing for television is vastly different than writing for print, so make sure you know how to differentiate the two.
Be prepared to work long hours and to work hard, especially when you’re starting out in the business.
You will likely have to work holidays and be scheduled to work different shifts, often at a moment’s notice.
Working in television can be extremely stressful, so be sure you’re up to the challenge.
