That's A Wrap!
We made it! Yesterday's newscast marked the end of my semester working as a producer for ATVN.
These past few months have really gone by in the blink of an eye. Looking back, my producing team and I have accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. As the first producers in the new Annenberg Media Center, there were definitely a lot of challenges to overcome. Working with new technology can be a struggle, and there were times when things just didn't seem to want to go our way. But over time, we really got a handle on everything and took control of our shows.
One thing I am extremely grateful for is the amount of genuine camaraderie between everyone who was a part of team Monday this semester. I loved the fact that many of our MJs and volunteers gradually began to come into the Media Center on their own time (outside of their scheduled shifts) to gain even more experience or lend a helping hand during moments of chaos. This is something I would definitely recommend future ATVN members do. Your producers will notice when you're there ahead of time or if you stay later than your assigned shift. You'll be given extra opportunities to work or just to be around other teammates who may have a job you didn't even know existed.
A piece of advice I would give to any future producers of ATVN would be to never take things personally. As a sensitive person, I often find myself struggling when tensions rise in the newsroom. But people are just trying to do their jobs, and it's important to remain level-headed throughout it all. I would also suggest getting to know your staff and tech supervisors. Tom and John are two ATVN staff members who can really help when it comes time to start creating your reel. Little editing tips and tricks can be the things that make you stand above other people who might be interviewing for the same positions you are.
I learned so much as a producer this semester and feel like I am ready to tackle my next challenge in life: finding a real job! I am very grateful to have had the experience to produce a real, live 30-minute broadcast. I know that having these newscasts to show potential future employers will be a great advantage.
