Being a television journalist is an exciting and hectic profession. However, if it is only the aura of glamor and glory that surrounds her that draws you, it would be best to rethink your priorities. Not only does being a TV reporter require a lot of hard work, tight deadlines and the ability to speak to the toughest people, but chances are you'll be called upon to deal with situations such as waiting below zero hours for a hostage to be released.. If you think you have the guts, stamina, and commitment to become a good TV reporter, then follow these steps.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Having the Right Qualities
Step 1. Be good at speaking
Your voice will be your main tool. You will need to focus on pronunciation and free it as much as possible from dialect inflections. By doing this you will be able to read your article to the final audience in the best possible way and your services will be more credible. Read newspapers and magazines aloud. Listen to the best journalists in the industry and try to emulate their way of speaking.
Learn to speak aloud: Slowly, to allow people to understand you, but fast enough to cover all the key points of your speech in a limited amount of time
Step 2. Being telegenic
It doesn't mean you have to be as handsome as a movie star or Intimissimi model. You don't have to have classic beauty. However, being attractive in front of the cameras is key because people will have more pleasure in seeing and hearing you. It is not about simple physical beauty, but a mix of charisma, self-confidence and that little bit more that will allow you to attract audiences regardless of the type of service you are going to present, even the most boring ones.
The opposite can also happen: you may be incredibly attractive, but not very glamorous in front of the cameras. In this profession, beauty is not an automatic let-through
Step 3. Possess excellent social skills
If you want to be successful in the world of television journalism, you need to be able to talk to anyone about any topic. If you are doing a shoot you may have to talk to local people and interview them in front of the cameras, even if they don't feel comfortable: your job will be to make them relax and push them to open up with you. If you are a presenter you will need to be able to introduce guests to your audience and talk to them using your interpersonal skills to make them feel comfortable.
Even if you've never thought about it, many reporters and presenters have to write their stories themselves - it will be a fundamental part of your job. You will need to be able to talk to many different people so that you have access to the information you want
Step 4. Be free from prejudice
Difficult, huh? If you want to be an honest journalist, you have to learn to put aside your prejudices. Even if you have certain political views or think a certain way about certain professions, people or regions, you need to learn to report the facts as objectively as possible. You don't have to let your personal ideas out with the people you interview, or you won't be able to offer listeners the kind of honest and unbiased information they want.
If you have prejudices about certain people, they will be less likely to open up to you
Step 5. Be great at writing
While being a great storyteller is crucial, being a great writer is no different. Whether you have to read from a hunchback and improvise as you go, or you have to write your reports yourself, great writing skills will get you going. Knowing how to write will help you communicate with others in order to better develop your services: your writing should be as professional as possible.
Step 6. Have great stamina
If you are the type of person who needs to take a nap after working for a couple of hours, the life of a TV reporter is not for you. You may find yourself covering 12-hour shifts, getting up at 2 a.m. and spending hours standing still in the same place in the cold or in the heat, waiting for news to unfold. You must be able to work for 10 consecutive hours; You may find that a bombshell has just arrived and you will have to work another 5 hours to deal with it, maybe just when you were about to leave home.
You have to be flexible. It is not a job for people who want to work during office hours, go home and relax. Do you think you can do it?
Part 2 of 4: Getting Experience
Step 1. Get a degree
Having a degree is not strictly necessary to be a journalist, but it is certainly preferable. A degree in Communications or Humanities is definitely a point in your favor. You can also consider attending a postgraduate master's degree.
During your university studies, you will certainly be at an advantage if you choose to take courses as diverse as art, political science and history, as you will be able to gain experience on different topics and cover a variety of topics that will help you to become a professional and complete journalist
Step 2. Start getting busy as early as your college years
Try to get as much experience as possible even while you study. It is not enough to study and take exams: participate in your university newspaper, if there is one: try to understand what it takes to build a good story to present to the public. If your university has a radio station, try to participate and, if you can, get some experience in hosting some shows.
Step 3. Attend a postgraduate master's degree in television journalism
They are expensive, but they are a great way to gain industry experience, learn the basics of the trade, and get a chance to practice. Many of these masters, in fact, offer the possibility of internships in real television studios and are held by well-known journalists, from whose experience it is always possible to learn something useful.
In addition to the masters, there are several high schools of journalism that offer lessons and seminars to learn the trade. A bachelor's degree is generally required to gain access to these types of courses
Step 4. Learn to write for TV
Forget what you learned in high school: of course, grammar is not only important, but fundamental: knowing how to write without errors should be an obvious skill for any journalist. Writing an article, however, is very different from writing an essay: you'll need to learn how to condense the core news into a short two-minute report (if that's okay). You have to be specific and get straight to the point, while conveying the message in a form that is pleasant and appealing to the listener.
While many presenters read from a hunchback (and improvise, much of the time), most reporters will need to be able to write their own pieces
Step 5. Take an internship
The path to becoming a professional is long and complex. There are two registers that regulate the profession: the register of freelance journalists and the register of professionals. First you have to start writing regularly paid articles for a total period of 24 months. At the end of this period you will have to prove that you have written at least 700-800 articles and have earned at least 5000 euros. In this way you will be able to subscribe to the register of freelance journalists.
- Enrolling in the professional register is even more complex: you will have to carry out a regulated internship for 18 months with a publisher and pass a state exam at the end of this period.
- Gaining experience and enrolling in a register is a fundamental requirement, not only to enrich your resume.
Part 3 of 4: Finding a Job
Step 1. Create a video resume
A brilliant and original idea for looking for a job could be to create not only a paper curriculum vitae, but also a video in which to concretely show your skills. Start with a slide presenting your personal data, like in any CV; then edit short video segments from your services and past work experience (if you have any). Good editing is essential for an attractive end product that earns you points with a prospective employer.
Making a video resume can be expensive - try getting help from a friend with some industry knowledge
Step 2. Submit your application
When applying for a job, you will need to submit both a regular resume and any video resume. It is important to include relevant work experience and your education - volunteering or part-time jobs are also fine, as long as they are related to the position you are applying for. Also include any technical experience and ability to use computer and digital communication devices.
Don't just apply to broadcasters looking for new employees. Send your resume everywhere. You never know when a position will be available - having your resume found on the right person's desk at the right time could increase your chances of getting a job
Step 3. Prepare to move to find work
It will be difficult to find it in your neighborhood. It's a competitive profession, you can't be too selective in looking for your first job. Be prepared for a possible move - the important thing is to start working. Send your resume everywhere and be ready and willing to leave the comforts of your home should the possibility of a new adventure arise.
Remember that more experience means having more say in choosing your place of work and residence. While it is generally advisable to be flexible and ready for change in early jobs, once you have a good reputation you will have a better chance of finding work with the broadcasters of your choice
Step 4. Start looking for work with local broadcasters
Of course, the Rai 1 news program has more visibility, but remember that most of the people who choose to do this job will never reach certain levels. It is advisable to start working with a local broadcaster to learn about all aspects of the profession. At first they'll make you do everything: write reports, shoot videos or hold up the hunchback!
You will have the opportunity to learn from your mistakes. The audience of the local news of Canicattì is certainly more inclined to overlook a possible mistake than that of TG1 at 20
Step 5. Prepare to get paid little in the beginning
A novice journalist can earn as little as 1000 euros a month. Didn't you expect it? Contrary to popular belief, this profession does not automatically make you rich. The journalism market, in fact, is saturated: for each vacant position there are at least 2 or 3 new applications. This is another reason why wages in this sector are not competitive.
- If you start working at a small local broadcaster, don't expect a princely salary. That's the way the world goes. If you want to make a lot of money, don't try this route!
- The journalists of the main national broadcasters, on the other hand, have literally terrific salaries, which even reach almost 500,000 euros a year.
Step 6. Try to find work with major broadcasters
After working successfully for 3-5 years at a small local broadcaster, he tries to make a career. Apply for national broadcasters, or at least try to switch between city and regional news. Apply everywhere, not just at broadcasters looking for new employees - use your experience to show that you would be perfect for the job.
Don't fool yourself: working for major broadcasters doesn't mean having a more flexible life and being able to cut down on your working hours. In reverse. The more prestigious the position, the more demanding the job will be
Part 4 of 4: Succeed in Your Career
Step 1. Find a niche that's right for you
In the beginning you will need to work as a presenter or reporter in any sector available. As you advance in your career, however, you may have more say in your field of work. For example, you could choose to work as a news reporter, or take care of the world of health or cooking. It depends on your personality and what you prefer to do. If you are a fun and relaxed type, human stories could give you the right boost; if you are a more serious type, however, you may also be comfortable covering intense topics such as crime stories.
If you don't want to be negatively influenced by the news you cover, you could work in social and medical, medical or culinary columns. Some find them unexciting areas, but they will certainly wear you less emotionally
Step 2. Forget about vacationing at home
It will be difficult for you to take leave on vacation days: the more likely you will be forced to work. Successful presenters from various television networks can take holidays on holidays, which means that you will have to work for them. If you change jobs often to increase your salary and experience, you will always be the newest employee and will have no seniority rights. So get ready to say goodbye to Christmas, New Year, Easter, May Day, Republic Day and All Saints' weekend.
Step 3. Be prepared for grueling working hours
You may have to do the morning shift, the evening shift, a separate shift, and the weekend shift - all without the slightest warning. TV reporters have little freedom of choice over their working hours. Working overtime is the order of the day and very few television networks pay them.
Not only will your daily schedule be very busy - it could change at any time. You will not only have to be available, but also flexible
Step 4. Make a career
There are several avenues to a career and it does not necessarily mean trying to get hired by increasingly popular television networks. You can switch between networks to earn new responsibilities and build a name for yourself in the industry. If, on the other hand, you have had enough of this lifestyle and you have already gained a certain reputation, you could think about making your way into the world of talk shows or working as a columnist for one of the main newspapers, or even becoming an author, a public relations specialist., a publisher or a university professor.
But remember that it could take you years to get out of the traditional path of a TV reporter
Step 5. Behave professionally
Unlike other professions, if you make a serious mistake in reporting a news you will be branded for life. You don't want to be remembered as the journalist who became famous for saying a bad word on national networks or who mumbled offensive words in front of hundreds of viewers. Such a mistake may never be forgiven.
If you are famous for your public scenes, you should learn to maintain self-control before you can appear on television
Step 6. Insist
Persevering is a fundamental skill for any journalist. Not only will you need it to land your first job, it is needed to advance your career and work hard to land your dream job. Insistence is also essential when you go hunting for news: you will have to do everything possible to follow every clue and look for new ones when you are in a dead end: in short, you must do everything possible to successfully complete your mission.
Advice
Join one of the many professional journalism associations. There are really a lot of them, divided by sector and area of interest
Warnings
- The world of television journalism is small. Everyone knows each other and gossip is on the agenda.
- Television journalism is not for the faint of heart. If you have trouble working under stress and meeting deadlines, try another profession. If you are the sensitive type it may not be the right field for you.
