Life in the Shoe's of an MJ

Once upon a time, a little over a year ago, I was a multimedia journalist (MJ) for ATVN. And yes, I too was one of those MJ's who dreaded coming into my shift at ATVN. To keep it simple, I made a list of some of the main reasons I felt this way: 

• I had no idea what TRT's (total run times), CG's (character generators), or RUNS (total length of package) were and remained confused about them for the duration of my time as an MJ.  
• Man-on-the street interviews were the bane of my existence. 
• I was simply afraid of the producers.  
• Basically, I didn't understand what was going on- EVER. 

To all the MJ's out there that dread coming to their weekly shift at ATVN, please realize the majority of us have been in your shoes and completely understand what it is like to be an MJ. That being said, here is a list of some things to help you out: 

• Take Notes: I know how hard it can be to remember all the small details about editing, writing, or shooting. It is especially difficult to remember these things when working under deadline pressure or out in the field reporting. This is why it is absolutely critical to have a check list or notes to refer back to, that outline the "To-do's" and "Not To-do's." 
• Speak Up: Don't hesitate to ask the people around your for help or guidance. Producers, writing coaches, and supervisors are all in the Media Center in order to help with the show.  
• Get Creative: If a producer assigns you to a story, take control of your assignment! Think of different ways to make it interesting or other elements you would like to see incorporated into it. 
• Have Fun: At the end of the day, we are all students and we are all here to learn. I realized that no matter how bad of an MJ I thought I was, focusing on the negative would only make things that much worse. Once I stopped focusing on how bad I thought I was at my job, and instead turned my attention towards trying to enjoy my time at ATVN, everything seemed to get better instantly. 

As a producer, I have come to realize how important MJ's are to everyone in the newsroom. So thank you MJ's for all your hard work and for helping to make it possible to put on a show every Thursday!