PRESENTATION OUTLINE
PAY
- Small DMA: $20,000 (poverty level) or sometimes less
- Larger Affiliate Stations(Ex: K-2 News) $100,000 ( must be popular/well known to get position
- Prime Time News Magazine ( Ex: David Mure for ABC News): $1 Million
EDUCATION
- Basic: Bachelor Degree: Communication, journalism or Radio/TV/Film
- Advanced: Masters Degree ( helps with entry level position)
- Cover Politics: Political Science Degree
WHAT THEY DO
- Cover events that are impotant
- Inform the public on different events in the state, nation and/or city
1) What does an average day look like for a TV Reporter?
I get to work at 10:30 in the morning, I meet with my news director and producers and we go through the list of possible stories for the day. We decided which ones are most important and then each reporter is assigned two stories to cover. We pair up with a photographer for the day, load our camera gear into a live truck and head out into the field to shoot video and get interviews. Sometimes our shoots are set up at certain times - like a press conference at the mayor's office. Other times we are on our own schedule to visit people, knock on doors and talk to people on the street or at the scene of an incident.
2) What is the work environment like? Is it intense or at ease?
Being a news reporter can be very intense. We live and die by deadlines, so we have to move fast and work fast every day. The intensity also comes from the subject matter we have to cover. I deal with and see a lot of crimes and tragedies so that can be very emotional and intense. But of course, some days can be really fun! A couple weeks ago I got to cover President Obama's visit to Portland and his speech at the Nike campus. It's always exciting to be just feet away from the big man himself! I also love that my work environment is not sitting at a desk, inside all day. I get to be out and about in the field and working with really fun photographers. We try to make each other laugh all day!
3) What are some essential silks to becoming an TV Reporter?
Knowing how to write in a simple yet effective way is the best skill a reporter can have. Viewers are often doing 10 different things while they watch the news, like cooking dinner, taking care of kids or working out. Our stories have to be easy to understand and get to the point. Other essential skills include being able to work fast, talk to a lot of different kinds of people and be compassionate yet assertive.
4) What are the average cases/story's that you get to deal with day to day?
I am what we call a General Assignment Reporter - meaning I cover anything and everything. I do stories on school issues, politics, extreme weather, the Rose Festival, murder cases, gang shootings, missing children, airplane crashes, etc. You name it, I've covered it!!
5) Are there different kinds of TV Repoters?
As I mentioned above, I do general assignment reporting. But yes, some reporters have a specific focus like consumer reporting, investigative, environmental, financial...etc.
6) Are you only allowed to take certain case/story? If so what are they?
Nope. We cover everything! I've never been told not to cover something.
7) What is the biggest case/story that you've gotten?
By far the biggest story of my career has been Kyron Horman's disappearance in 2010. You probably know his name, but he's the little boy who disappeared from Skyline Elementary School in Portland. I've interviewed his parents and investigators numerous times and they still haven't found him. In fact, next week is the 5-year anniversary of his disappearance.
8) What college would you recommend for best preparing to become a TV Repoter?
Some people say that Washington State University or the University of Oregon are best if you want to get into journalism. But I majored in Mass Communications at Linfield College and I've done just fine! The skills you'll need to be a successful reporter are learned with on the job experience. So start in a small town, learn to write, produce and shoot video. Learn a little bit of a lot of things and the gradually focus in on what you love. Internships are a great way to sample the business!
I think that researching information about being a TV reporter was a really interesting topic to learn about. Some of the facts I learned, informed me on the different topics that gave detail on being a TV reporter. When it comes to getting paid it depends on the amount of experience that you have because the price ranges range drastically for different TV reporters. A starting point for a TV reporter would be $20,000 or less. The next step up would be $100,000 if you became well-known and/or popular. The highest amount you would get paid would be up to $1 million. An example of a $20,000 TV reporter is a kid fresh out of college in a small town news anchor. An example of 100,000 TV reporter is Jamie Wilson from Fox 12 who is well known and popular. An example of $1 million TV reporter is David Muir from World News/2020/etc. on ABC.
Another topic is the education you have to get to become a TV reporter. Basic degree you need to get is a bachelors degree in communications, journalism and/or radio/TV/film. If you want a hire entry-level then you would stay for a Masters degree. If you wanted to cover politics then you would get a degree in political science with your bachelor or masters degrees. Those were the degrees that would help you qualify into becoming a TV reporter. I also interviewed Jamie Wilson from Fox 12 and learned that the work environment is different every day. Also some TV reporters take certain pieces of news, but Miss Wilson takes all kinds of cases and stories out her work. Biggest case was Kiel Norman, the boy who was kidnapped from his elementary school. Is what my whole career project was all about and the key points of it to.
~Bethel Sishu 250-word summary
