Whether you’re an aspiring anchor, a mid-career meteorologist, or a seasoned sports reporter, you should be getting the exposure you need to stay relevant. So here’s the big question:
Are you settling for less with your TV news talent agent?
If you’ve been working with the same agent for a long time, perhaps you’ve fallen into a rut. Or if you’re relatively new to having an agent, you may not even be aware of what job duties your agent should be performing. So to ensure you’re getting the best agent possible, ask yourself the following:
Does Your Agent Have the ‘Right’ Experience?
Sure, there are plenty of agents out there that will try to dazzle you with their laundry list of experiences and achievements.
But are they the right sort of experiences and achievements? Of course, you want an agent with experience in the newsroom so they understand the world you’re navigating. But you also want an agent with direct experience as a major market news director, assistant news director, investigative producer, managing editor, and/or assignment editor.
Bonus points for someone who has ALL of these, because he or she will not only have an edge in experience, but it also means that they will have connections that others won’t. And this is crucial.
Speaking of connections…
How Often Does Your Agent Network?
Does your agent regularly attend industry events and conferences? If the answer is ‘not often,’ then you can bet they aren’t making crucial connections with top network, large broadcast, and even local executives.
Don’t settle for a TV news talent agent who’s not going the extra mile to put themselves out there. Those who do are going to be more in the know about what decision-makers want when they set out to hire talent.
What’s more, they should be attending as many conferences and events as possible. Not just the ones where they want to ‘be seen’. 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 Convention on your behalf – regardless of his or her race.
Does Your Agent Disappear After You’ve Been Placed?
This is a big one.
A truly good TV news talent agent is not one who merely gets you the best placement in the market you desire. Yeah, obviously that’s important! But once you land the job you want (or the one that’s going to help you get that one), he or she should continue to be engaged with you.
This means that he or she is interested in nurturing your continued growth as a reporter/anchor/meteorologist. They stay connected and help you to grow faster in your job or, in cases where you might be faltering, even SAVE your job.
They regularly ask you to send your work so that they can critique it and make you a more well-rounded reporter, anchor, or meteorologist. Finally, they regularly follow up with your employer to inquire as to how you can do better and how they can help you with that.
There are plenty of agents that don’t put in this extra work. Your current agent may be one of them. They may even tell you it’s above and beyond their pay grade. And perhaps it is. But, frankly, you deserve more.
Are You Settling for Less With Your TV News Talent Agent?
If you suspect that the answer to the question, are you settling for less with your TV news talent agent is YES, then Mort Meisner wants to talk to you.
A highly connected agent with over 30 years of experience, Mort’s clients know they’re cared for before, during, and after the search. His priority is their continued growth and success.
So if you want to see what getting the most from your TV news talent agent looks like, then contact Mort Meisner today. And stop settling for less.
