Talent & TV Reporter Jobs
Some of the most recognized faces on TV are those of "talent," an industry term for those hired to be on screen during programming. Their importance to the success of programs and stations cannot be overstated as they are the person the viewer invites (or does not invite) back into his home every night. For those looking for talent jobs, there are a number of factors to keep in mind, particularly if you're looking for a specific job as a TV reporter or news anchor.
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Responsibilities
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Talent can perform a range of jobs when it comes to TV. They can act on a TV drama, host a travel program, and even can play themselves on a reality show; in all instances, they are invaluable to a program's success. TV reporters have a more limited scope of job types, and usually host news programs, report live on the scene of a news event, or pre-record segments on special topics. They also may be responsible for recording voice-overs for news segments, and sometimes talent is even responsible producing or directing the segments in which they star. Thus, the scope of what talent might do in TV is always changing and often unique to a particular station.
Training
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There is no one guaranteed successful way to train to become a TV reporter or another type of talent. Still, more training never hurts, and the specific kind to pursue depends a lot on what kind of talent you want to be. If you want to act, then going to acting school and getting in as many productions (film, commercials, and theater) is often crucial in gaining the experience and resume needed to get you noticed at a TV talent audition. For reporters and other news-related talent, the content is almost always just as important as the delivery, and often having a background in journalism or experience in TV news production can help you meet the right people to get you in front of the camera.
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New York and Los Angeles
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Talent in films or commercials often find that it's necessary to move to either New York City or Los Angeles to find regular work. Still, these cities are saturated with people who have the same idea, and it may be easier to move to a smaller city if your ultimate goal is to become a TV reporter. Small cities often have local news channels, and many have multiple reporters who cover local stories and news pieces. Being flexible on where you're willing to move can make it easier to get a TV reporting job at one of these smaller stations. And, if your goal is reporting at the national level, a job at a smaller, localized station can be the first step to getting there, allowing you to boost your resume and reel while gaining invaluable experience and earning a paycheck to boot.
Supply and Demand
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One thing to keep in mind when scouting for a job as TV talent or as a news reporter is the simple economic law of supply and demand. Because the supply of capable and willing news reporters is potentially high, particularly in large cities, the demand for these jobs is relatively low. Available jobs fill up quickly, and many would-be reporters or TV actors will never make it to the small screen. Still, if you are determined to beat these odds, getting involved at TV stations in other ways, such as interning or taking related, lower-level jobs, can help you get your foot in the door in case the opportunity for new talent opens up.
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References
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