Get ready to move away from friends and family, because most jobs are not in Southern California. In the meantime practice writing. Learn from the pros. Everyone learns from experience, but mentors will open your mind so much more.

Sometimes newswriter… if I can even take that title. I barely got my feet wet at ATVN, but it was the first time I set foot in a newsroom and I loved it! 

It taught me the big difference between print and on-air writing… though some of my print-like scripts made it into ATVN newscasts!

If you really want to be on-air, just go for it. Lots of people encouraged me to be a producer while I was in school, telling me there are so many unfilled producer jobs and so few on-air positions. In the end, go for your dream, not someone else’s idea of what it should be.

When I was hired for my first news job as web producer at KNBC, I didn’t focus on the fact I was a new graduate. I focused on the strengths I learned at USC… the latest developments in online journalism, my knowledge of new programs and styles, I showed my boss I was up on the latest technology and would bring a fresh view to the job. I beat other people with much more experience than me. Plus, there’s always a little luck if you ask me.