Tag, You're It
Wow. I can’t believe this is it! The last week of the final show is now over. Through the highs and the lows, it’s been an exciting, crazy, roller coaster ride. And now, it’s time for you, the soon to be producers of ATVN, to get on board. Here’s a few tips to help you along your journey:
Breathe. Yeah, that’s right. Producing an entire newscast for the first time can be stressful. But, that’s okay. We’ve all been through it. At first, the amount of information that you will need to know may seem a little daunting like learning about iNews, story lists, cutlines, formats, etc. But, by the end of the semester, you will have (nearly) mastered it. So, don’t throw in the towel. Do the best that you can, learn as much as you can, and you will get it down soon enough. Exciting or stressful, it's worth it!
Communicate. This is one thing that you will learn how to do very well. Whether you’re communicating to your fellow producers, reporters, or your multimedia journalists (MJs), you have to keep track of what’s going on in and out of the newsroom. Remember, this is your show and it’s important that you stay in close contact with all that’s going on around you. Also, because this is news, things change on a dime (aka very quickly) and you don’t want to report the wrong information.
Help out. As a producer, you have to do more than your assigned tasks for the day. This job requires teamwork. So if you’re ahead on what you’re working on, see how you can help those around you. Another producer may need help copyediting or you can assist an MJ in writing a story. There’s always something that needs to be done.
Have fun. You’re here to learn, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while you’re doing it. You will have a much better experience as a producer, if you take the time to get to know the people you’re working with. As much as it’s about producing a show, it’s about building a community. You’re energy is infectious. So if you’re excited, it’s likely that the people around you will be too.
Tag, You’re it!
