Most people who are drawn to becoming TV news talent possess certain qualities.
They’re great storytellers, have excellent communication skills, know how to handle pressure and deadlines, are able to demonstrate integrity and humanity, and live a generally well-rounded life.
But that’s just the beginning.
What to Know About Becoming TV News Talent
TV news talent refers to broadcast anchors and reporters, meteorologists, and sports reporters. And just as in any profession, there are multiple aspects to each job and certain skills and traits required to excel.
We’ll take a look.
News Reporter/Anchor
If you’re curious about becoming a reporter or anchorperson, you should know it’s much more than sitting behind a desk and reading a teleprompter. 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.
Meanwhile, when you’re not on camera, you’ll need to possess advanced research and writing skills as well as creativity and storytelling abilities. 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.
Meteorologist
If you have thoughts about becoming a broadcast meteorologist, chances are you enjoy science but also have a desire to entertain. Because this is an unusual combination, it makes you uniquely qualified to become a broadcast meteorologist.
Working as a broadcast meteorologist requires you to balance the know-how to provide essential and sometimes unpleasant information about the weather with the ability to entertain.
Working as a broadcast meteorologist is different from becoming a news anchor or reporter. As a meteorologist on the news, you’ll be responsible for more than just reporting the weather. You’ll need to provide viewers with tips to prepare for severe weather, stay abreast of any updates to conditions, and keep up with the latest scientific research and technology in your industry.
Sports Reporter
If you’re hungry to dazzle an audience with your ability to analyze how a team plays, grasping offensive and defensive lines, and reporting on a specific athlete’s wins, losses, injuries, gameplay, and strategy, you may be well cut out to become a sports reporter. You’ll also have a chance to educate viewers by interviewing players, coaches, and ancillary staff – as well as engage with sports fans and the audience themselves.
But being a TV news sports broadcaster goes beyond your on-air abilities. You’ll also need to know how to operate video and audio equipment, write articles about sports news and individual games, edit your report for conciseness and accuracy, share your analysis of a game, team, or sports industry, and possibly host radio shows or podcasts with guests.
The Importance of a Great TV News Talent Agent
Even if you’re able to fulfill all of the responsibilities of any of these jobs, you’ll go much farther much faster is you hire a skilled and talented TV news talent agent.
The single most important aspect of a great agent is not one who merely gets you the best placement in the market you desire. While that’s crucial, you want an agent who will stay engaged even after you land the job you want (or the one that’s going to help you get that one).
A dedicated and serious TV news talent agent is one who:
- Frequently asks you to send your work so that they can critique it and make you a more well-rounded reporter, anchor, or meteorologist.
- Regularly follows up with your employer, inquiring how you can do better and how they can help you with that.
- Is interested in nurturing your continued growth as a reporter/anchor/meteorologist and stays connected to help you grow faster in your job or, in cases where you might be faltering, even SAVE your job.
There are plenty of agents who don’t put in this extra work. They’ll even tell you it’s above 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’re interested in becoming TV news talent, or have already started taking steps toward doing so, feel free to contact TV news talent agent Mort Meisner with any questions.
Because to be successful, you’ll 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 Mort’s prized clients, you’ll get exactly that.
