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!

Filed Under: Blog

Why You Need a TV News Agent With Connections

May 20, 2024 by

Are you a TV news anchor, reporter, or meteorologist seeking great representation? When you start vetting agents, it can be confusing and even overwhelming.

There is a wealth of people calling themselves agents and will happily flash their “qualifications” to get you on board. Many of them are not legitimate, however. So if you’re looking for TV news jobs in the industry, where do you begin?

One of the single most important qualifications you want is a TV news agent with connections.

It’s All About Experience

When you’re looking for an agent, you want someone who knows not only where the jobs are, but where they’re going to be and whether they’re appropriate for you. Any TV news personality is going to have the upper hand with an agent who knows people in the industry.

Unfortunately, the bulk of TV news agents are either attorneys with little to no television experience, or individuals that have an interest in the news (and perhaps even a little experience) but have never been in the trenches. They haven’t worked with the important people who can help you get the upper hand.

While searching for a TV news agent, you want someone who has worked in the industry – ideally someone who has served in management, such as a news director or managing editor. Someone who was in the industry in this way likely knows vice presidents of news, news directors, executive producers, and general managers in a way that others will not.

The Internet Doesn’t Cut It

You might be thinking you can just skip getting an agent. Why bother? Why not just go to the internet and search for job postings? They’re definitely out there.

The fact is, anyone could check a website once a job is posted. Often though, the job is already taken. This is because a well-connected TV news agent knows about job openings weeks or even months before they’re posted. And news management trusts these agents because they’ve come from the same side of the desk.

Thus, their clients get dibs.

When you rely solely on the internet to get TV news jobs, you’re going at it alone. Whether you’re a TV news sports reporter, anchor, or meteorologist, working with an experienced TV news agent with connections means you have a knowledgeable ally. It’s an actual human who has your best interest at heart and will tell you not what you want to hear, but what you NEED to hear to get to the next level.

It’s impossible to put a price on that.

Ready to Consult with a TV News Agent with Connections?

Whether you’re in the early or middle stages of your career, in a middle market looking for another middle market location, or in a middle market and looking to get to a major market or network, you need a TV news agent with connections.

Mort Meisner is that agent. Having worked his way up to the highest levels of TV news management from an entry-level position, he is BEYOND well-connected in the industry.

So if you’re ready to make this crucial step in your career, contact him today. Having him in your lane will be a true game-changer for your career.

Filed Under: Blog

When Is It Time to Hire a TV News Agent?

May 6, 2024 by

If you’re a TV news anchor, reporter, or meteorologist, you may be pondering whether it’s time to hire a TV news agent.

This is a big decision and shouldn’t be made lightly.

There are many factors that you need to consider when setting out to boost your career with an experienced TV news agent. Ask yourself the following questions:

How Long Have I Been in TV News?

If you’re brand new to the industry and right out of school, chances are you don’t need an agent. This isn’t a given though.

An agent will happily take on brand new talent if they show real promise and are willing to do the work. In some cases, these newbies have heralded from a school with a broadcast journalism school that produced daily live and professional-looking newscasts so they have a solid reel. But even in cases where there isn’t a reel, agents can use their connections to help promising new talent build one.

Furthermore, when a TV news agent recognizes genuine talent, they are willing to coach such individuals to help them find the best first job for the most money, while also helping them help themselves so they can attain a great second job.

Meanwhile, candidates who have already gotten their feet wet working their first TV news job should definitely consider an agent. S/he can offer you so many advantages that you just won’t find out there on your own – regardless of how well you navigate the internet.

What Is My Life Plan?

Wow. That’s a heavy question! But what we’re referring to here is whether you want to work for a large network vs. the local level.

Many young up-and-coming TV news reporters or anchors are shooting for the big time. They envision themselves on the larger networks and want the lifestyle that goes with that.

Then there are those who know they want to stick closer to home. They may be starting a family and have a significant other who is rooted in his/her job, family, and friends in their current location. Plus, there is power in local news.

Obviously, for those who are aiming for major market 0&0s, affiliates, or network destinations and are willing to go wherever they need to go to get that, an agent is indispensable. They are well-connected and will be eager to send your tape all over the country to give you the best shot at a new job.

Yet, there is a myth that agents won’t want to work with those seeking local work. And that’s just not true. If you’re already at a local station that’s also in a major market, you’ll want an agent to negotiate your next deal at that station. S/he can also get you a meeting at another station across town if needed.

This leads us to the most important question:

So Where Can I Find a Great TV News Agent?

Sure, it might seem easy enough to resort to job searches on the internet to find work. And you can do that.

But consider this. An experienced TV news agent who has connections with station news directors and general managers is going to have backdoor access to information that no website will ever have. Plus, by the time curious applicants see job postings on the internet, they’re typically already taken. A TV news agent can share your info and reel long before that happens.

So once you feel you have some chops in the industry and are ready to explore hiring an agent, you can ask other TV news reporters or anchors for recommendations. In addition, attend conferences and take advantage of networking. Meeting your prospective agent face-to-face will give you a good feel for whether he or she is right for you.

Feeling Ready to Hire a TV News Agent?

Whether you’re a TV news meteorologist, reporter, or anchor, deciding to hire a TV news agent could be the biggest game changer in your career.

So if the above questions have left you feeling ready to take this next important step, contact us today.

With over 30 years of experience in broadcast news, TV news agents Mort Meisner and Steve Koles know the people and players that fuel this industry. We make the connections that will get you in the game.

Filed Under: Blog

Julianne Pelusi

April 19, 2024 by

Fast Facts

Name: Julianne Pelusi
Market: N/A
Current Station: N/A
Current Title: Sports Anchor/Reporter
Preferred Title: Sports Anchor/Reporter
Experience: 10 Years

Agent Name: Steve Koles
Agent Phone: (248) 545-2222
Agency: Mort Meisner Associates

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Filed Under: Anchors & Reporters, Sportscasters, Talent

Brian Ojima

November 20, 2023 by

Fast Facts

Name: Brian Ojima
Market: #66
Current Station: KITV
Current Title: Sports Anchor
Preferred Title: Sports Anchor
Experience: 20+ Years

Agent Name: Steve Koles
Agent Phone: (248) 545-2222
Agency: Mort Meisner Associates

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Filed Under: Anchors & Reporters, Sportscasters, Talent

Scott Koral

August 16, 2023 by

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Name: Scott Koral
Market: N/A
Current Station: N/A
Current Title: N/A
Preferred Title: Anchor/Reporter
Experience: 20 Years

Agent Name: Steve Koles
Agent Phone: (248) 545-2222
Agency: Mort Meisner Associates

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Filed Under: Anchors & Reporters, Talent

Sam Ali

August 8, 2023 by

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Name: Sam Ali
Market: #77
Current Station: WEYI/WSMH
Current Title: Sports Director
Preferred Title: Sports Anchor/Reporter
Experience: 10 Years

Agent Name: Steve Koles
Agent Phone: (248) 545-2222
Agency: Mort Meisner Associates

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John Lydic

March 30, 2023 by

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Name: John Lydic
Market: #152
Current Station: WICU/WSEE
Current Title: Sports Director
Preferred Title: Sports Anchor/Reporter
Experience: 7 Years

Agent Name: Mort Meisner
Agent Phone: (248) 545-2222
Agency: Mort Meisner Associates

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Ashley Howard

October 28, 2022 by

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Name: Ashley Howard
Market: #22
Current Station: KOIN
Current Title: Lifestyle Host/Anchor
Preferred Title: Lifestyle Host/Anchor
Experience: 5 Years

Agent Name: Steve Koles
Agent Phone: (614) 598-5007
Agency: Mort Meisner Associates

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Filed Under: Anchors & Reporters, Talent
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