Class of
2003
Bio: Well, at the age of 22 my long, storied career path has led me to where else, but Kalispell, Montana! Hey, Phil Jackson, Connie Chung, Ted Turner, and Mary Hart all have places up here, so it’s legit! I was hired in mid-July after graduation, and I’ll be honest in saying that around late June I was getting both nervous and frustrated. Had I not known someone up here, along with a successful anchor in Chicago who had started here, I would’ve definitely been more hesitant about taking the job. But it has worked out better than I could’ve ever imagined. I was at home in Chicago working at Wrigley Field, and was prepared to go on a road trip to Wisconsin and Iowa to drop tapes off at stations during an upcoming Cubs road trip when that call arrived. After about 3 missed heartbeats, I told my news director that I’d be there in 2 weeks. I was very lucky - I knew someone up here (networking is SO important), and I only sent out 21 tapes before getting hired. Of all the sports jobs I saw on tvjobs.com that I qualified for, I think I sent tapes to all but 3 stations (I really didn’t feel like living in the bayou of Lake Charles, Louisiana). As for what’s next, I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. I’m under contract until July 2005, and I’ll probably start looking for new jobs in March of that year. My dream job would be Madison, WI due to its proximity to Chicago, but I’ll go anywhere closer to the Midwestern part of the country. I want to end up back in Chicago, unless New York or ESPN come calling. But I’m having fun here, and that’s the most important part.
ATVN positions and duties: If it had something to do with sports, I did it! I started out by helping sports anchors with graphics, editing, and shooting of various events. I later became a reporter and anchor, covering USC sports from head to toe. I also had a few cameos in news, mostly for class-related assignments, but they too were a fun challenge.
How did ATVN prepare you for your current job?
There is NO better preparation for the real world than ATVN, which offers an experience unmatched by other schools. From the ability to report and anchor in an actual setting, to learning about deadline pressure (which is SO important to fully understand and appreciate), ATVN provided me with the tools needed to succeed in my first job.
What is your advice to aspiring journalists?
First, if you don’t absolutely love it, don’t waste your time. I work with people that can’t wait for their contracts to come up so they can get out of the business - it’s gut-wrenching, pressure-filled, and thankless. But if you are serious about it, do EVERYTHING you can at ATVN and anywhere else. I, along with many news directors I’ve spoken with, value an opportunity like ATVN much higher than any internship you might have in LA. If USC was in a smaller market and you could do more in an internship, that wouldn’t be the case; save the internships for the summer. But if you know this is the career you want to live out, GO FOR IT!
What are the top three skills college journalism students should be working on in order to be prepared for their first broadcasting job?
1. Be ready to do more with less - I am the only person in our sports department, which means I put together four minutes a day on my own. You will write, report, edit, and more than likely shoot all of your own work. 2. Escape the idea that things need to be perfect - At ATVN, we are lucky to have two dedicated professors that can guide us and offer constant editorial advice. That, coupled with a much larger newsroom, allows you to expect top-notch work. Not that my work here isn’t top-notch, but when push comes to shove, if it’s five minutes before air and it’s not perfect, so what? It’s got to air, and that’s the most important part. 3. Expect the unexpected - In your first job, you will probably be assigned to a number of beats. Being a part of a news team is kind of like sports in that you’ve really got to get along with everyone because you never know how someone will come to you with a great idea. You need to be able to do the same, and think outside the box.
What prepared you most for your current job?
My experience in front of the camera both as anchor and reporter was essential. At ATVN there’s always an opportunity to shoot a standup when you’re out on assignment. TAKE ADVANTAGE! An anchor in L.A. once told me that anchoring and reporting on-cam is like golf: the more times you swing the club, the better you’ll become. Plus, you have instant feedback - critique yourself often, and ask others you trust for their honest opinions.
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