Class of
2009
Bio: Jamie is thrilled to be WKOW’s first multimedia journalist. She loves being back in the Midwest and living only a short drive from her hometown in Minneapolis.
Awards: Jamie was a semi-finalist in the 2009 National Hearst Foundation Journalism Awards Program for her work at ATVN.
ATVN positions and duties: News Anchor, Reporter, Producer, Weather Anchor, Sports reporter
How did ATVN prepare you for your current job?
ATVN was like my first job. Because of the experience I got at ATVN through day-of-air reporting, anchoring, live-shots, and web training, I was able to jump right into my first job feeling much more prepared than the “average college grad.”
I convinced my boss that while I was young, I had three years of experience working with programs like iNews and Avid Newscutter, all because of ATVN.
I felt comfortable jumping into a one-man band position with lots of blogging and posting to the web primarily because I had so much experience under my belt from ATVN.
What is your advice to aspiring journalists?
As Arnold Schwarzenegger advised during the 2009 commencement speech, “Work your butt off.” And don’t wait to do so until after you’ve graduated. Soak up all the experience you can at ATVN, and network with alumni early on in your job search.
Know that when you land your first job, you will have a lot to prove. Be excited to work hard, and you will earn people’s respect.
Also, never underestimate the power of having a positive attitude. It makes others want to work with you, and it’s more difficult for your co-workers to think badly of you when you are relentlessly positive and upbeat.
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. You should know how to write well, and if you don’t, pick the brains of your broadcast professors. One wise professor once assured me that as long as I could write, I would always have a job. I believe that’s true.
2) Day-of-air reporting. Having the intense stress of a deadline and learning how to manage your time is essential to feeling prepared for your first reporting job. Make sure if you want to be a reporter that you volunteer to report for ATVN at least one semester. You’ll need to know that you can do an entire story by yourself in an 8-hour shift, because once you get to your first job, you’ll have far less time to produce MORE content!
3) Be a story-hunter. Learn how to come up with story ideas in new and different ways. One of the biggest pressures I face in my job is coming up with good, fresh story ideas every day. If you can get into the habit of being a story-hunter now, making the transition into your first job will be easier.
What is the most important thing a college journalist should know when he or she is trying to negotiate his or her first job?
You have to believe in yourself and your abilities, or the person who’s looking to hire you could take advantage of you. Know your talents and skills and be able to rattle them off to your potential boss. Exude confidence and you’ll convince them that you’re worth an investment.
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