Sure, there will always be TV news talent who have been in the ‘biz’ for seemingly ever. It’s the woman whom viewers have watched go from a young upstart to an established anchor. Or maybe it’s the well-known meteorologist whom viewers can barely remember as that shy guy at the beginning of his career.
This isn’t how it works for everyone though.
So if you’re a TV news reporter, anchor, meteorologist, or sports reporter looking to get back into the news business after some time away, you’re definitely not alone. And the most important thing you can provide to potential employers is an up-to-date demo reel.
Is a Demo Reel Really That Important?
Yes! As they say in the business, no demo, no job. That’s just a cold, hard fact. No matter how long or in what capacity you were previously working as TV news talent.
And your demo should be as current as possible. In other words, it should reflect the most recent material you did from your previous station as well as anything new that you shoot.
Now, if you’ve been out for a year or less and you updated your reel while you were still working, you can use your current reel. (Regularly updating your reel is important so that you have a reel ready in the event you are suddenly let out of a contract, you’re let go, or if you quit for personal reasons.)
If, however, you’ve been out for several years, you’ll need to cut a new demo. That means you’ll need to hire a service to help you and possibly use some old videos along with any new material you create.
The reason is simple. You may look different, and your skills may not be the same. And at the end of the day, nobody wants to see material that is outdated when applying for a job. It does not give an accurate representation of who you are now.
Are There Rules for Making a Demo Reel?
There are guidelines, but not steadfast rules for making demo reels. Experienced TV news talent agents typically offer certain recommendations to talent based on their career goals.
If you’re an anchor reporter, your reel should be in the 13- to 15-minute range. While montages are usually ill-advised for actors, this is not the case for news talent demo reels. As such, a montage that’s about 50% stand-ups in the field and 50% shots at the anchor desk is often advised. You should lead the demo after that with two blocks that showcase your area of reporting.
For a reporter, the average demo reel should be a little shorter, at about 9-10 minutes. It should begin with a very active minute and a half to two minutes of montage with active, engaging stand-ups demonstrating shots of walking and talking. This should be followed by three or four packages, preferably with live wraps. It’s critical you are in the story. If you’re a hard news reporter, you should also include a super feature story.
Are You Looking to Get Back into the News Business?
If you’re looking to get back into the news business, having a TV news talent agent can be incredibly helpful in opening doors for you.
A responsible agent can advise you on best practices for your reel. Furthermore, if you went on hiatus for important personal reasons, your agent can vouch for you, making potential bosses more sympathetic to your plight.
So if you’re ready to dive back in, contact longtime TV news talent agent Mort Meisner today. With over 30 years of experience, he has the skills and the connections to get you back on the broadcast news track.
