Class of
2006
Bio: The ATVN newsroom was a second home for Felix. He fulfilled almost every role in the newsroom, including singing Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra classics over the intercom and organizing impromptu games of Celebrities. He claimed a regional SPJ award for his reporting in 2006. In addition to ATVN, Felix worked as a radio commentator for usctrojans.com and KSCR radio, covering several different USC sports. He also interned at KNBC in the summer of 2005.
ATVN positions and duties: Executive Producer, News and Sports Reporter, News Anchor, Weather Anchor, Producer, WSE, Floor Manager, Camera Operator
How did ATVN prepare you for your current job?
I firmly believe ATVN alums come out of school so much more prepared than alums from any other school in the country. Few universities can say they have a LIVE daily newscast, and ATVN is the only one in a major market. Being on the front lines of major stories in the number 2 market gives you instant credibility when you go into smaller markets in the job search. And that’s a credit to what USC preaches about being a leading urban university.
What is your advice to aspiring journalists?
Find the thing that makes you different from any other job candidate, and sell yourself accordingly. Maybe it’s being bilingual. Maybe it’s a unique experience like studying abroad. Maybe you have a lot of live shot experience from an internship. Whatever it is, know how to sell yourself. Also, go into each new experience being fully conscious that someday you’ll need to put together a resume tape. By always thinking about this, you hold yourself to a higher standard and as a result, you’ll have much more to choose from when you finally put it together. Finally, don’t let skeptics say you can’t get in this business. If you believe in yourself and do good work, I think you’ll be fine.
What are the top three skills college journalism students should be working on in order to be prepared for their first broadcasting job?
1. Writing: It all starts with knowing how to write. Good video and sound help out a lot, but if you don’t know how to write, viewers won’t hesitate to change the channel. I am forever indebted to Serena and Willa for helping me improve my writing over the years.
2. Know your technology: You have an advantage if you know how to shoot and edit your own material. Especially with industry-level equipment at ATVN like the big camera or Avid, or even linear editing, knowing how to use these things is so crucial. Talk to John, Tom and Chuck. They know so much about the equipment we work with and are such a crucial asset to ATVN.
3. People skills: It’s very important in any field to be able to deal with people. Not just those you interview, but also other people in the newsroom since you’re working for the same team. Also, make a lot of contacts. Those are the people who can vouch for you and make the difference because they’re industry professionals and news directors value their judgment.
What is the most important thing a college journalist should know when he or she is trying to negotiate his or her first job?
Don’t sell yourself short, and know what you bring to the table. Also, don’t get caught up on petty details. Unless if there are deal-breakers in the contract they want you to sign, get the deal done. And talk to your contacts in the biz and your teachers. They can help you figure this out also.
What prepared you most for your current job?
Easy question. Annenberg TV News.
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