How to Make Your Resume Tape Stand Out
The world of broadcast reporting is tremendously competitive, so therefore it is imperative that your resume tape shows off your broadcasting skills to the best effect. If you do not have the money to pay a professional company such as American Broadcast Talent to work with you on your resume tape, then you will have to "buy in" the skills you do not have, such as the shooting, lighting and editing. Amateurish presentation will not help your chances, as your tape will be vying for attention with top-notch professional tapes.
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Instructions
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Include a montage of three stand-ups (straight-to-camera pieces) and two news packages in your tape. Focus on the job you are aiming for, suggests American Broadcast Talent. If you aspire to be a sports broadcaster, then only include clips of sports events and sports news reporting. Similarly, if your ideal job is to cover breaking news, then focus on hard news reports and do not include that one-off celebrity interview that you did as a student. Be selective and ruthless in your choice of material.
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Learn editing skills or research companies and individuals who have these skills. In the same way, pay attention to the lighting and the sound quality of your resume tape. Your performance on camera might be brilliant, but if nobody can see it or hear it, then it is a failure. Capturing an editor's attention in the first few moments of the tape is vital. However, news directors will look past a poor-quality tape if it is not the applicant's fault.
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Investigate the possibility of working with a specialist company who will show you off in the best possible light by providing you with a professional camera crew and make-up artists.It will also guide you on your choice of reporting clips, writing, stand-ups and help with locations. You will also get a slate at the end of the tape with your contact details on it. A professional service will give you a master tape or DVD. You can complete the process in a day. Typical fees are around $2000 for the complete package.
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Tips & Warnings
Show news editors that you are comfortable presenting to camera and avoid looking away, fidgeting or stumbling over your words.
Avoid covering a national story, as this is mainly the preserve of the professional. It is probably better to showcase your skills on a smaller, local story.
References
- Photo Credit tv nyc image by The Russian Negresco from Fotolia.com
