Are you in the early years of being a broadcast news anchor, reporter, broadcast meteorologist, or sports reporter?
If so, you likely possess the ability to deliver an interesting story in a concise and compelling way. And you probably have the personality and the flair to resonate with your audience. After all, these are obvious requirements to succeed in the world of TV broadcasting.
Yet, many folks who are newer to the broadcast news business find themselves stalled out and wondering why they’re not progressing. It doesn’t take long before they’re seeking advice from long-time TV news talent agent, Mort Meisner. Below are just four nuggets of wisdom he often shares:
Your Demo Reel Should Reflect YOU
A lot goes into coming up with a great demo reel for TV news talent. And your current demo reel may not be highlighting your talents in the best light.
Mort frequently reminds TV news talent that while there are guidelines for making demos, there are no steadfast rules. He does have certain recommendations he offers news talent depending on their career goals.
For example, for an anchor reporter, the reel should be in the 13- to 15-minute range. Mort advises a montage that’s about 50% stand-ups in the field and 50% shots at the anchor desk. After that, the talent should lead the demo with two blocks showcasing his or her area of reporting.
Meanwhile, the average demo for a reporter should be a little shorter at about 9-10 minutes. It should begin with a very dynamic 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 that the reporter be in the story. Hard news reporters should also include a super feature story.
Don’t Resort to Clickbait Journalism
Discouraged by the withdrawal of viewers, there’s an appeal to draw them back with clickbait headlines or overly in-depth reporting. Mort tells aspiring talent that this is a guaranteed way to get noticed by TV news talent agents. But for all the WRONG reasons. And he assures them they’ll have a hard time getting placed with any respectable news outlet.
Good broadcast journalists with integrity prioritize facts over sensationalism and provide analysis and context that go beyond the headlines. They focus on stories that are of interest to the public and hold powerful entities accountable.
Demand Integrity and Truth
In the same vein as not resorting to clickbait journalism, Mort stresses to his clients the importance of uncovering the facts and presenting them with integrity and truth. He often recalls one of the biggest stories he would cover – the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan attack in 1994.
Incredibly well-connected, Mort knew Detroit Police Chief Ike McKinnon and used him as a source on every aspect of the story. With McKinnon’s intelligence and the skills of investigative reporter Scott Lewis, Mort’s CBS affiliate station in Detroit was uncovering the whole bizarre and twisted plot while national and international media circles couldn’t figure out how they were getting the story before everyone else.
When the CBS network questioned the veracity of the crazy story and asked Mort for his sources, he refused. They threatened not to broadcast the story, to which Mort responded, “Fine. Don’t use the story.” So they didn’t. And even they they were the competition, Mort gave it to NBC instead. He knew the facts needed to be presented.
Be Patient!
There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious and aiming to be the best.
But the news industry can be brutal. And for novice TV news reporters and meteorologists, it can be especially daunting. The inclination to grab whatever opportunity comes their way can be very tempting.
And this is understandable. They want to get ahead, make a name for themselves, and, of course, enjoy the financial benefits that come with a higher-paying job. As Mort has witnessed, however, such impatience can result in career issues and even disaster. He calls this “short-term gain in long-term pain.”
He’s watched as many truly talented people blow up their careers because they simply weren’t ready for the job(s) they landed. So he always advises talent to be patient and stay somewhere an extra year on an extension or even two years on a new contract if it’s going to benefit them in the long run.
Because, well, that’s his job.
Seeking More Advice from Long-Time TV News Talent Agent Mort Meisner?
Moving forward in your career should never be only about making more money. A great agent will ask you to consider whether your next career move is the best choice for you on many different levels. And then he or she will be there to guide you every step of the way.
In addition, an excellent agent is unafraid to tell the talent what they need to hear versus what they want to hear because he or she knows it will benefit the talent in the long run.
So if you want that sort of guidance and caring advice from long-time TV news talent agent Mort Meisner, then contact him today. He’s always eager to help in any way he can.
