How To Become a TV Reporter
- Get a Journalism or Communications Degree
- Gain Practical Experience in College
- Become an Intern at a Broadcaster
- Start Out at Small Stations
- Join a Professional Organization
Becoming a television reporter can be an exciting and rewarding career. Some reporters investigate stories and cover them live on the air while others report them from a station’s anchor desk. Those wanting to become a TV reporter need the right combination of skills, experience, and connections. Here are 5 tips for becoming one:
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1. Get a Journalism or Communications Degree
Usually, television reporters have a Bachelor’s Degree in either Communications or Journalism, as these degrees provide the written and oral communication skills necessary for TV reporters to properly perform their jobs. Students typically focus on broadcasting courses when taking upper-level classes. Courses they often take include Journalism Law and Ethics, Public Affairs Journalism, Broadcast Reporting, International Communications, and Video Editing.
2. Gain Practical Experience in College
College offers aspiring TV reporters with opportunities that go well beyond just coursework. Some schools have their own television and/or radio stations. Others have broadcast clubs, broadcast groups and an assortment of newspapers and publications. These types of experiences show potential employers that not only does a person have the practical skills necessary to become a TV reporter, but also that they have the drive to succeed in what is a very competitive environment.
3. Become an Intern at a Broadcaster
While in school, students will also often have the opportunity to complete an internship at a local broadcaster. These jobs typically offer little or no pay and can require lots of work, but they also offer an invaluable opportunity for students to gain practical experience in a real-world news setting. Internships further allow students to make important connections that can help them after they graduate. It is not uncommon for an internship to lead to a full-time job.
According to Monster.com, employers consider internship experiences as one of the most important factors in hiring college graduates.
4. Start Out at Small Stations
Nobody starts out at the top of the mountain. TV reporters often start their careers at small local stations. They also often start out at entry-level positions, where they can earn valuable experience as they gain more and more responsibilities. They then parlay these experiences into better jobs at larger broadcasters. In it is in these jobs that they develop a focus as either a correspondent or an anchor.
5. Join a Professional Organization
Television reporters often join professional organizations to help them boost their careers. In broadcast journalism, one of the top professional organizations is the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). Membership in the RTDNA provides TV reporters with a variety of networking opportunities, career development resources and up-to-date information about trends in the industry. It further demonstrates to employers that someone is a serious professional and committed to the industry.
In conclusion, there are many ways for someone to develop a career in broadcast journalism. Through proper education, experience and networking, becoming a television reporter can become a reality for just about anyone with sufficient drive to succeed.