Could You Become a News Reporter or Anchor?

October 21, 2024 by

If you find broadcast journalism exciting, you may wonder what it takes to become a news reporter or anchor.

On the surface, it may look like an easy enough job. How hard can it be to sit behind a desk and read news stories, right? Plus, you’d become something of a local celebrity.

But that’s a gross oversimplification.

What Does a News Reporter or Anchor Do?

Obviously, it’s so much more than sitting behind a desk and reading. As a news reporter, you do research and conduct interviews to investigate news stories. Then you find a way to share the information in an accurate but interesting way.

You also contribute to articles and features related to any story you’re assigned. Furthermore, you must be able to determine the accuracy of any facts you gather and work with editors and producers to create on-air reports.

News reporters and anchors often work under tight deadlines and there are times you’ll need to conduct follow-up reporting on your stories. You will also need to have some familiarity with operating the technical and recording equipment needed for covering stories live and in the field.

Even if you’re able to do all of that, becoming a top-notch news reporter ultimately comes down to skills.

The Skills You Need to Become a News Reporter or Anchor

If you’ve read this far and think, ‘Yeah, I can do this,’ the next step is to ensure you have the necessary skills.

First and foremost, you must have great communication, interviewing, and public speaking skills. Meanwhile, when you’re not on camera, you’ll need to possess advanced research and writing skills as well as creativity and storytelling abilities.

The most successful news reporters and anchors know how to work well under pressure, meet deadlines, manage their time, and pay attention to detail. The ability to problem-solve and to work well on a team are also essential skills. You’ll also need an understanding of journalistic best practices and ethics – which will become more attuned with education and time working in the field.

So Then What Does It Take to Become a News Reporter or Anchor?

Most news reporters receive a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or a related field. The programs in these degrees offer priceless knowledge and experience in reporting, writing, and broadcast practices and ethics.

While you’re still in school, you’ll want to start building a portfolio you can present to hiring managers once you graduate. As the top news talent agents can tell you, broadcast journalism is a highly competitive field. So you’ll need to create a body of work to present to hiring managers.

Consider beginning with student broadcasts that will enable you to get on-camera and in-field clips you can use in your portfolio. If you’re able to snag an internship or even land employment at a small or local news network while finishing your degree, grab it. You’ll be presented with a variety of opportunities and gain valuable experience working with professionals in the field.

In essence, get as much broadcasting experience under your belt as possible so that your portfolio material and resume make a statement. This will also be key in acquiring an agent when the time comes.

Finally, never underestimate the importance of networking. Connect with industry professionals and influencers whenever the opportunity arises. This includes broadcast professionals, editors, producers, and writers. Building a strong social network will increase your chances of finding work and could lead to exciting opportunities in the future.

Do You Have What It Takes?

If you’re ready to embark on the exciting journey to become a news anchor or reporter, we hope the information in this article helped and we wish you the best of luck.

And if you’re already on that path, have some experience, and are now seeking representation, contact us today.

With decades of experience as news talent agents, we have the experience, expertise, and CONNECTIONS to get you noticed.

Filed Under: Blog

What Are the Qualities of Great TV News Talent?

October 14, 2024 by

Are you currently working as a broadcast journalist but having trouble landing jobs? Is this confusing because you’re frequently told that you’re good at what you do?

You very well may be a good meteorologist or reporter. But just as in any profession, certain skills and traits are required to excel as a broadcast journalist.

So what are the qualities of great TV news talent?

Qualities of Great TV News Talent

First and foremost, the key to landing more work and moving up in the industry starts with serious leadership skills. Especially if you’re jockeying for a prestigious position such as lead anchor.

It’s not enough though to be a strong leader. As any top-of-the-line TV news talent agent will tell you, there are additional traits and skills you should possess.

  1. Be a Great Storyteller

If you want to advance as a broadcaster, you need to be able to get to the bottom of a story. And this requires solid investigative skills. You should know the right questions to ask to get the answers and relevant information that will move the story forward. Because at the end of the day, a great reporter is a great storyteller.

  1. Have Excellent Communication Skills

Hopefully, you were drawn to broadcasting because you love to connect with people. But you also need to be able to speak on camera to your unseen audience. What’s more, those communication skills need to come across in your writing, as well as when working with your team. After all, creating a newscast is about teamwork on BOTH sides of the camera.

  1. Handle Pressure with Aplomb

Great TV news talent not only handles pressure with aplomb, but they thrive on it to some degree. News media is driven by sometimes fierce deadlines and a short amount of time to meet them. So being able to handle pressure without crumbling is essential.

  1. Focus on Source Development

Regardless of how long you’ve been in your current community, or in the industry as a whole, a committed broadcast journalist is always ready to give his or her contact information to community leaders such as city council members, the police, government officials, etc. Source development is key to staying relevant.

  1. Take Advantage of Social Media

Everyone knows that the news isn’t limited to 5,6, and 11. It hasn’t been that way for many decades. 24-hour news cycle channels put the kibosh on that. In addition, the advent of social media enables people to be involved with current events at ALL TIMES. Therefore, being able to navigate social media is a necessity.

  1. Prioritize Authenticity and Curiosity

Regardless of how much your education in broadcasting may have taught you to express sincerity, you can bet that the modern viewing public can easily spot if you’re being fake. And if you’re seen as insincere, you will not go far. The TV news talent greats have always been truly curious and passionate about their work, as well as the audiences they serve.

  1. Show Integrity and Humanity

In line with being authentic and curious, successful broadcast journalists know the importance of exposing their own integrity and humanity. Any robot can report the news. Just ask AI. By bringing in a human element and circling back to being a storyteller, you’re delivering a product that AI will never be able to accomplish. Audiences (of honest media outlets, at least) are still looking for good people on screen.

  1. Just Generally Live a Well-Rounded Life!

Finally, and this could be the most important one, be sure you’re striking a balance in your life. Easier said than done, we know. But any broadcast journalist who claims that they eat, drink, sleep, and breathe news isn’t passionate so much as neurotic. And this will come across. So it’s important to have diversions.

Forward Your Career with a Highly Experienced TV News Talent Agent

Now that you understand the qualities of great TV news talent, you may be wondering where to turn to fine-tune some of those skills.

Your talent agent should be assisting you with every aspect of your career and not just finding placements for you. If that’s not the case, then contact us today.

Our seasoned TV news talent agents know the importance of well-rounded talent and we go the extra mile to ensure that you’re the best anchor/reporter/meteorologist/sports reporter you can be.

Filed Under: Blog

TV News Talent Agent Has VERY Wide Reach

October 2, 2024 by

Think about the last time you watched a newscast. You probably had some familiarity with the anchor, news reporters, sports reporter, and/or meteorologist. And why wouldn’t you? They’re the faces of the news business.

But have you ever considered what goes on behind the scenes? Chances are, every news person in front of the camera has an effective TV news talent agent backing them every step of the way.

So it’s a rare event when a newscaster references their agent on the air. It’s an even rarer event when the person the newscaster is interviewing has the same agent!

Mort Meisner Reps Both Markie Martin and Stacey Rusch

 

In a highly rare newscasting moment, Markie Martin interviewed Stacey Rusch today on NewsNation and referenced that they both had Mort (Meisner) as an agent. This is indicative of Meisner’s huge presence in the industry.

If you’re not familiar, Martin is the current co-anchor of the morning show “Morning in America” on the NewsNation Network. She started on the ground-floor team of NewsNation as a correspondent and has covered major stories, including the U.S. border crisis, Hurricanes Ida and Laura, and the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Before coming over the NewsNation, she was the weekday morning show anchor for KOCO 5 News (ABC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she covered the Oklahoma teacher strike, the 23rd anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, and the investigation into the disappearance of eight-year-old Kirsten Hatfield. She began her broadcast career at KTEN News (NBC) in Denison, Texas, as both an anchor and reporter there.

Meanwhile, Stacey Rusch is a former host of the QVC home shopping network. It was a job that she loved, but she decided to leave QVC to raise her daughter. Now she’s back on the scene. Rusch is one of the cast members of The Real Housewives of Potomac for the series’ ninth season.

The reality show (which premieres on Sunday, October 6th on Bravo at 8pm) follows several women including Rusch, former Miss District of Columbia Pageant winner Ashley Darby, Robyn Dixon, the ex-wife of former NBA player Juan Dixon; and philanthropist Gizelle Bryant.

You Want an Agent Who Is Well Known in the Industry

When you’re seeking a TV news talent agent, you definitely want someone with an impressive pool of clients.

Mort Meisner is clearly that someone.

So if you’re struggling to get the placement you want, contact Mort today. He’s so well-connected that even his clients are referencing him on air to one another!

Filed Under: Blog

Are You Getting the Most From Your TV News Talent Agent?

September 19, 2024 by

Whether you’re an aspiring sports reporter or a seasoned anchor, you should be getting the most from your TV news talent agent. But how do you know if that’s happening?

If you’re brand new to having an agent, you may not even be aware of what job duties your agent should be performing.

And if you’re been working with the same agent for a very long time, you may have fallen into an established rut where you’ve lowered your expectations. This is a mistake.

What Does the Most from Your TV News Agent Look Like?

Being a TV news talent agent is multifaceted.

Yes, you want an agent with experience in the newsroom so they understand the world you’re navigating. Ideally, an agent with direct experience as a major market news director, assistant news director, investigative producer, managing editor, and/or assignment editor is a great place to start.

(Bonus points for someone who has ALL of the above!)

Not only does this give your agent an edge as far as experience, but it also means that they will have connections that others won’t. And this is crucial.

How Often Does Your Agent Network?

Does your agent regularly attend industry events and conferences? How familiar are they with the top network, large broadcast, and even local executives?

An agent who’s making the extra effort to put themselves out there is going to be more in the know about what decision-makers want when they set out to hire talent.

This means that they should be attending as many conferences and events as possible. Not just the ones that make them look good or are specific to them. For example, if you’re Black and your agent is not, he or she should be attending major events such as the National Association of Black Journalists conference on your behalf – regardless of his or her race.

But connections are just the beginning.

The Job Doesn’t End with the Placement

The single most important aspect of a good agent is not one who merely gets you the best placement in the market you desire. Sure. That’s a big deal and we don’t mean to diminish it. But once you land the job you want (or the one that’s going to help you get that one), how engaged is your agent?

Does your agent regularly ask you to send your work so that they can critique it and make you a more well-rounded reporter, anchor, or meteorologist? If not, they should be.

And if your agent isn’t regularly following up with your employer and asking how you can do better and how they can help you with that, then you’re definitely not getting the most from your TV news talent agent.

A dedicated and serious TV news talent agent is interested in nurturing your continued growth as a reporter/anchor/meteorologist. That means that they stay connected and help you to grow faster in your job or, in cases where you might be faltering, even SAVE your job.

There are plenty of agents that don’t put in this extra work. They’ll even tell you it’s above and beyond their pay grade. And maybe it is. But don’t you still deserve it? (The answer is yes, yes you do.)

And you can have it.

Don’t Settle for Less

If you want to see what getting the most from your TV news talent agent looks like, then contact us today.

You need someone who cares about you before the search, during the search, and after the search to help you stay successful and foster growth as you advance.

As one of our prized clients, you’ll get exactly that.

Filed Under: Blog

How Is Your TV News Talent Agent Accessibility?

September 13, 2024 by

Whether you’re an anchor for a national network or a meteorologist in the smallest market in the country, you should be able to easily access your TV news talent agent. What’s more, he or she should be getting right back to you.

Yet, as the industry grows and expands, an emphasis on TV news talent agent accessibility seems to be less and less of a concern. Especially with newer agents.

This is why it’s important to hire an agent with decades of experience who grasps the importance of being your support system every step of the way and helping you grow your career.

Talent Placement Is Only Just the Beginning

An increasing number of agents feel that once they place talent, their work is done. This is the case regardless of whether the talent is in a major, medium, or small market.

In reality, it’s at this point where they should be going into the next phase. And a good TV news talent agent is going to foster a creative relationship at this juncture. If your agent isn’t asking you to send him or her your work at least once per week (preferably twice) and offering written critiques, then you should start looking for another agent.

Additionally, if your agent insists on communicating only via email and never takes a phone call, this is also a red flag. It is impossible for an agent to properly coach you on your work and go over what needs to be done to make you better through an email.

Your Agent Should Be Telling You What You NEED to Hear

There are those in the news business who believe that their agent should be kissing butt while telling them everything they want to hear. And if you’re not interested in forwarding your career, you can certainly have that. But a good agent will tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear.

For example, your ideal agent should be doing preliminary coaching on writing your voice and tracking your elocution. He or she will also stress the importance of on-camera presence and what you may need to change in regard to hair, make-up, and clothing.

That may sound harsh. But an agent with experience and connections knows that a vice president, news director, or general manager at a station doesn’t want to see someone out covering a tornado in a designer dress or a two-piece suit with a tie. They would encourage you to get out those high boots instead and show a willingness to get your hands dirty and your feet wet.

And while your agent should be willing to offer this level of coaching, he or she should also be transparent enough to tell you if you could benefit from a TV talent coach to help you hone areas where you may be struggling. Again, this is not an indictment. Rather, it’s an indication of how much your agent cares and wants to see you succeed.

Anything less just isn’t worth it.

Yes, TV News Agent Accessibility Is Crucial

When seeking representation, TV news talent agent accessibility and willingness to coach you should be at the top of your list.

And be sure to look into their retention rate too. Agents who truly care about the success of their clients are going to have higher retention rates than those who don’t. So it’s a tell-tale sign.

To get a sense of what such a caring and highly experienced agent looks and sounds like, contact us today. We promise you won’t regret it.

Filed Under: Blog

Sharing Goals with Your TV News Talent Agent

July 29, 2024 by

As a TV news anchor, reporter, meteorologist, or sports reporter, you’ve done all the necessary footwork to find the perfect TV news talent agent.

But just how perfect is he or she?

Do you feel that sharing goals with your TV news talent agent is something you can do? Or is your agent more interested in getting you a showy placement than listening to what you really want?

You Want to Be In a Place That Fits You

It’s not unusual for you, as a talented TV news personality, to be faced with the possibility of multiple job offers. When this happens, you can lose sight of what you truly want. Especially because for so long, big markets like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago were the benchmarks of success.

But perhaps you don’t want to live in these cities. They’re just not places where you, for whatever reason, would thrive. If you’re working with an unscrupulous news talent agent, they may try to convince you that you do want to live in these big market cities because it looks better on his or her resume to place you there.

The problem is, if you’re not feeling connected with the place where you live, you could be the top TV news personality in New York City and wonder why you feel so alone.

You’re entitled to your goals and dreams. Regardless of how they may go up against old-school notions of what it means to ‘make it.’ And if your agent doesn’t understand that, you may want to start considering a new one.

The Importance of Sharing Goals with Your TV News Talent Agent

You should feel free to share your goals with your agent so that they can work to help you achieve that goal. Regardless of their opinion of your goal. General assignment reporter Shawnte Passmore can attest to this.

Passmore is a native of Southern California who graduated in 2010 with a degree in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach.

Around nine years ago, she went to Detroit for the National Association of Black Journalists convention. At the time, she was a general assignment reporter at KMTV in Omaha, Nebraska – after several years of working as a reporter and journalist in southern California.

It was at this convention that Passmore met her agent for the first time. After having dinner at a local sushi spot, she shared with him that she thought Detroit would be a great place to live – which was an unusual thing to say back then. But there was something about the city that moved her.

Her agent never forgot those words.

Making the Dream a Reality

Of course, her agent wasn’t able to land her a job in Detroit right away. But with her talent and his connections, she was able to keep moving up the ranks. She spent three years as a reporter/anchor desk fill-in at WFSB-TV in Hartford, followed by two years at CBS-owned and operated KOVR-TV in Sacramento, California.

All that time, her agent worked diligently to get her to the place where she really wanted to be. Today, she is one of the newest members of WDIV-TV in Detroit. By sharing her dream, she’d planted that seed in her agent’s mind. And now she’s working in the 13th largest market in the country.

Which suits her perfectly.

Ready for a TV News Talent Agent Who Cares?

If sharing goals with your TV news talent agent seems a ridiculous idea, it’s time to hit the ‘refresh’ button.

Contact us today to switch to a highly experienced and connected agent whose priority is your happiness.

It’s your life. You deserve to be listened to and honored.

Filed Under: Blog

The Top 6 Questions to Ask A TV News Talent Agent

July 21, 2024 by

If you’re a TV news anchor, reporter, meteorologist, or sports reporter and you’re in the market for hiring an agent, you may be wondering where to start.

To find the best fit when vetting an agent, it’s important to do due diligence. Because anyone in the industry can TELL you they’re an agent.

So we’ll offer up what we deem as the most relevant and hardest-hitting questions to ask a TV news talent agent.

The Best Questions to Ask a TV News Talent Agent

Maybe you’re brand new to finding a TV news talent agent. Or perhaps you’re not happy with the one you have now and want to be sure you do it right this time around.

Whatever the case, here are six of the most important questions you should present to a prospective TV news talent agent.

  1. Where Have You Made Placements in the Past Year?

Any agent you’re considering should be able to provide you with a list of markets and stations where he/she has made placements over the last year. An agent with a more extensive list of placements is going to have important connections and clout in a wide variety of cities and markets.

Keep in mind that placements historically tend to happen in clusters. So an agent with farther reach is going to have the inside scoop as to what’s coming up and where. This is especially key when the market is not as active. A savvy agent will be playing it smart by thinking ahead.

  1. What Is Your Ratio of Male/Female/Minorities New Talent?

How well-balanced is the agent’s representation roster? Be wary of an agent whose “portfolio” is too homogenous. Regardless of your own race or gender identity, you want an agent who knows how to represent everyone. He or she is always on the lookout for where you’re going to be in the most demand.

As a woman or minority, it’s especially important to ask your potential agent if he or she attends conferences that represent these groups. For example, an agent who attends the National Association of Black Journalists convention is going to have more insights and connections than one who avoids such gatherings.

  1. Do You Represent Many Others with My Specific Job?

It’s a good idea to know how many reporters, anchors, sports reporters, or meteorologists your prospective agent represents. Because if, for example, you’re a meteorologist looking at an agent who hasn’t repped any other meteorologists, that’s a red flag.

Sure, you might think that that gives you the upper hand because you’d have no competition. But in reality, decision-makers at stations are going to seek out agents whom they know represent a good volume of people working in multiple capacities.

  1. How Many Of Your Clients Are Currently Seeking Work?

It’s fine to ask, “How many clients do you represent?” Most people seeking a TV news talent agent do. But what’s really more important is how many of an agent’s clients are looking at any given time. You want an agent who can tell you flat out that it’s never more than 15%. This indicates that the agent is going to go the extra mile to be very specific and pointed in his/her searches for the perfect placement.

  1. Do You Have Relationships in the Region(s) I’m Seeking?

This seems like an obvious question, but many clients forget to ask this. The simple fact is, but working with an agent who has relationships in whatever region you’re seeking is going to give you a distinct advantage. Sure, it might seem old school. But sometimes old school is the best school.

  1. What Are Your Connections with Those in the Know?

Similar to question #5, this one takes it a little deeper. You want to know what kind of relationships the agent has with news vice presidents, directors, and general managers. In other words, how connected they are with the decision-makers. When these folks trust an agent, they’re going to be very transparent about their specific needs.

Be Sure to Vet Carefully

By knowing the above six questions to ask a TV news talent agent, you’re already a step ahead of the game.

So if you’re ready to try them out on some of the most experienced and well-connected TV news talent agents in the country, contact us today!

We’ll help you get your dream placement.

Filed Under: Blog

Is Your TV News Talent Agent Negotiating the Best Deal?

July 10, 2024 by

TV news talent, including anchors, reporters, sports reporters, and meteorologists, are no strangers to having multiple offers from various stations.

So what to do?

Unfortunately, too many of these folks don’t have a reliable agent negotiating the best deal for them. Thus, their first order of business should be to hire an experienced TV news talent agent who has an intimate understanding of how the industry works.

Reasons to Hire a TV News Talent Agent

In a nutshell, an experienced TV news talent agent will have connections with station news directors and general managers that give him or her backdoor access to information that could affect your decision.

Furthermore, when a TV news talent agent recognizes true potential, he or she is willing to coach such individuals to help them find the best job for the most money. That said, having an agent will likely get you at least 15-20% more than you would get on your own.

Bottom line, with an agent, you have so many advantages that you just won’t don’t on your own. Because of their vast knowledge of the industry (and, more importantly, the people in it), they can help you home in on the best deal when you have multiple offers.

Common Mistakes Talent Make When Choosing a Job

So often, when a talented TV news personality is faced with several offers, they can become overwhelmed and tend to focus on the wrong things when considering which position to take. The following are just some examples:

  1. Going Where the Climate Suits Them

The first big mistake is choosing a job for its climate, which happens more than you would think. While it may be appealing to live in a place that’s warm and sunny all year, any good agent will tell you that this should not be the driving force behind deciding which offer to accept.

For example, many people are thrilled when offered a position in a city like San Diego. It’s one of the sunniest cities in the country. Yet, once they arrive, they’re befuddled as to why the pay isn’t consistent with the cost of living. That’s because management knows there are plenty of talented people willing to take the position and sacrifice the best deal for good weather.

  1. Not Knowing How Far to Push An Offer

When an offer comes, folks without an agent (or with an inexperienced one) are tempted to accept it flat out. Rarely, however, is the first offer the final offer.

A TV new talent agent has an implicit understanding of how far an offer can be pushed. They won’t automatically assume that hair, clothing, and makeup are part of the offer – as they often aren’t anymore. The same can be said for relocation costs. While companies may hedge on paying them, an agent knows how to negotiate to get them to shell out compensation for at least part of these expenses.

Finally, they’d advise most talent under the age of 30 to secure a deal that’s no longer than two years in duration. This is because by the time the third year comes around, the salary will no longer be enough – at which point, the agent would set up a renegotiation for more. An exception is for a frontline Anchor who is being offered significant money and terms.

  1. Allowing Their Agent to Accept a Deal on Their Behalf

Talent that’s somewhat inexperienced might be eager to allow their agent to accept a deal on their behalf without fully understanding all the tenets of the deal. This should never happen and a morally upstanding agent would not allow this. Every deal should be in writing before the agent AND the talent sign off on it.

What a TV News Talent Agent Negotiating the Best Deal Looks Like

At the end of the day, a TV news talent agent negotiating the best deal will come down to some important questions posed to the talent by the agent.

Among the considerations are whether the job will set them up well for the next job, what kind of environment has management created, and if it’s somewhere they’ll want to stay for a long time. And these are just a few.

So if you’re an anchor, reporter, sports reporter, or meteorologist trying to decide between multiple offers and your agent isn’t working hard on your behalf, contact us today. As long-standing professionals in the industry, we will ALWAYS have your back.

Filed Under: Blog

TV News Talent Agents Who Thrive While Industry Falters

June 23, 2024 by

Times are tough in the media industry. There’s no denying it. If you’re seeking TV news jobs, this fact may be enough to discourage you from finding an agent.

After all, the stock prices of major firms are in free fall. And more than a handful of companies are buying people out, laying people off, and/or instituting hiring freezes.

How in the world, you think, will you ever find TV news talent agents who thrive while the industry is crumbling?

You Don’t Need to Look Far

The good news is, even in the midst of collapse, Mort Meisner Associates continues to perform and succeed in placing talent at a phenomenal rate.

Maybe you’re a TV news meteorologist or sports reporter looking to go from your first or second job to your second or third job. Or perhaps you’re a news reporter or anchor looking to make the leap to a major market. Whatever the case, Mort Meisner Associates has your back.

They’ve recently done deals for TV news anchors, reporters, and sports reporters in markets of all sizes. They’ve placed talent in major markets including New York, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Charlotte, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, and Portland, Oregon. In addition, medium/smaller markets such as Tucson, Arizona; South Bend, Indiana; Springfield, Missouri; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina have benefitted from new talent they placed there.

Lean times in the media industry are simply not an issue for Mort Meisner Associates.

How Do TV News Agents Thrive When Times Are Tough?

You may still fail to see the value of a TV news talent agent. You might be thinking it makes more sense to just go to the internet and search for job postings. This route isn’t likely to give you access to the jobs you truly want because it all comes down to connections. Face-to-face human connections, that is.

Yes, anyone can check a website once a job is posted. Often though, the job is already taken. How come? Because TV news agents with connections are aware of job openings weeks or even months before they’re posted.

This is precisely why you want a TV news agent who has worked in the industry. Mort Meisner Associates agents have worked as news directors, managing editors, and in other management capacities. As such, they know (and more importantly are known by) vice presidents of news, news directors, executive producers, and general managers.

News management trusts these agents because they’ve come from the same side of the desk. As such, they continue to have the inside track. They not only know where the jobs are right now, but where they are going to be. And they know this before anyone else does.

Even now, as the industry struggles, Mort Meisner Associates has the inroads necessary to get you the placement you want.

Go With the Pros

Whether you’re a TV news anchor, sports anchor, meteorologist, or reporter, you need TV news agents who thrive when the going gets tough.

You’ll find them at Mort Meisner Associates.

So contact us today. We’ve got the connections to get YOU connected.

Filed Under: Blog

Bidding a Happy Farewell to Noncompetes for News Talent

June 9, 2024 by

One of the struggles top TV news talent agents in the country face is helping their clients be more mobile in their existing markets where they often want to stay.

Part of what makes this such a challenge is the existence of noncompete agreements (NCAs).

So TV news talent agents (along with TV news anchors, reporters, meteorologists, and sportscasters) who see these noncompetes as hopelessly outdated are thrilled that the Federal Trade Commission opted to promote competition by banning noncompetes nationwide on April 23rd, 2024. While the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is challenging it, the industry is holding out hope for the FTC’s ruling.

The Faulty View of Noncompetes for News Talent

The question of the efficacy and necessity of NCAs has been a hot-button topic in the media industry.

Some still feel that noncompetes for TV news jobs are crucial for stations and media companies to protect their investment in talent onboarding, training, and other professional development. They don’t want competitors to benefit from this.

Yet, when used effectively, rivalry can actually help stations retain their talent. When there is rivalry, employees are not eager to join ranks with “the enemy” or their enemies’ allies because they have a bond with their own station.

Another argument for keeping NCAs has been that employees who sign NCAs can negotiate higher raises in return for their loyalty. But researchers from the FTC, and Duke and Ohio State Universities say this isn’t the case. Those with NCAs typically have lower salaries. This is especially true for female and Black talent.

The elimination of NCAs would likely lead to needed salary readjustments.

Moving Away from NCAs Is a Good Thing

The FTC’s ruling on noncompetes is evidence that the media industry needs to prioritize talent development, as well as employee engagement.

Noncompete agreements have, in the past, been a means for fixing management shortcomings or holding onto employees in demanding work environments. Their restrictive nature, however, often leads TV news reporters, anchors, and meteorologists to believe there are better opportunities somewhere else.

The banning of NCAs would almost certainly reshape the dynamics of acquiring talent now. NCAs require stations to hire more inexperienced people or those with less relevant skills. Without NCAs, however, talent would have more mobility. And this is a boon for TV news talent agents as well.

At the end of the day, if the FTC’s ruling stands, TV news stations and media companies will need to step up and invest in creating a more positive work environment that not only draws but retains top talent. This includes providing highly individualized incentives, opportunities for professional development, and promoting from within the company.

Once they do this, they will be able to more effectively rely on the loyalty of their top talent while also attracting previously NCA-trapped workers from other stations. This will give them an edge in the war on talent.

And yes, that IS a good thing.

It’s an Exciting Time for TV News Talent

Whether you’re a TV news reporter or anchor, a sportscaster or meteorologist, the banning of noncompetes for news talent will be good news for you. So if you’re not happy with your current position, it’s time to consider a move.

Additionally, if you’re not happy with your current agent – or you don’t yet have one – now is the ideal time to reach out to us. Our agents’ extensive and wide-spanning connections with news directors and station managers around the country will give you the competitive edge.

So let’s see what’s out there!

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