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How can I get a job working at a TV station in NYC?

D

dgendvil

Hello. I'm 25, I'm very smart, & I read every book, magazine, newspaper, that I can think of. But there's one ultimate place that I want to work at; the big apple. But unfortunately, I can't drive, I don't have a girlfriend, & I'm on a low income, too. I know almost every personality (in either radio & television), including personalities from New York. My famous newscasters are Chuck Scarborough, Jim Jensen, Gabe Pressman, Ralph Penza, Rolland Smith, Tony Guida, Mary Civiello, John Roland, Marvin Scott & more, even I don't live in the Big Apple, & that I never lived there. I would like to be either a assistant to the newscaster, the producer of a newscast, news director, or a vice president/general manager of either the big 5 television stations in New York. Is there anyway that you could do that? I know you would have to go to college first, go to some english & journalism classes, fill out resumes, & all that, etc. I know it's going to be tough working in New York, but it's worth it. Thank you.
 
dgendvil said:
Hello. I'm 25, I'm very smart, & I read every book, magazine, newspaper, that I can think of. But there's one ultimate place that I want to work at; the big apple. But unfortunately, I can't drive, I don't have a girlfriend, & I'm on a low income, too. I know almost every personality (in either radio & television), including personalities from New York. My famous newscasters are Chuck Scarborough, Jim Jensen, Gabe Pressman, Ralph Penza, Rolland Smith, Tony Guida, Mary Civiello, John Roland, Marvin Scott & more, even I don't live in the Big Apple, & that I never lived there. I would like to be either a assistant to the newscaster, the producer of a newscast, news director, or a vice president/general manager of either the big 5 television stations in New York. Is there anyway that you could do that? I know you would have to go to college first, go to some english & journalism classes, fill out resumes, & all that, etc. I know it's going to be tough working in New York, but it's worth it. Thank you.
Click to expand...

This has to be some sort of a weird joke, right?
 
Maybe not. But all of started on the outside looking in. Most of us didn't have the brass to ask "how do I get in."

I agree. Go to college. DO NOT be a broadcasting major. Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Learn to learn. Learn to think. Learn to communicate. If you want to do news, work for the campus newspaper. Otherwise, go to the student radio station. Don't be an intern. Go to a college in a small or medium market. After a couple of year's at the school paper or station, you can get a real part-time job that pays money. Work weekends and summers at a local station as a real employee doing real work, including real on-air work.

When you graduate, start in a medium market. There are some markets and some stations that seem to have a disproportionate share of former employees who made it nationally or in major markets. Go to a good minor league station for seasoning.

The way to New York is the same as the way to Carnegie Hall.

Some people find a short-cut because they know somebody or are very lucky or extremely talented (usually some combination). More often than not they fall flat on their faces. Some people win the lottery but that doesn't make it a good investment.
 
Go to their web sites. Click on Jobs. Find one you'd like. Apply for that position. OR go to each station and fill out an emplyoment application.

Hope that helps.
 
Geb said:
If you have to ask you're not qualified.
Click to expand...

Which opens the inevitable questions: "Is everyone on TV qualified?" and "Is everyone qualified to be on TV actually employed?" IMO, "no" on both counts. Although I agree w/ most of Fred's suggestions, I vote w/ the intern route.

About 10 years ago, a single mom of teenagers called me up out of the phone book to ask how to break into broadcasting (I work for an information agency). So I chatted w/ her for about 15 minutes about the good & bad I had experienced, & suggested that she intern locally by calling News Director _____ @ a local radio station... half-jokingly telling her to remember me when she made it big. Once they figured out they were getting free help (not even for college credit), they gave her a break assisting the morning show, which led to jobs at various places, which opened up doors on LI & in NYC. Now, she's fulltime in a major market on TV. I, on the other hand, find myself doing the exact same thing I was doing 10 years ago. Mom always said I'd regret quitting piano lessons & not studying computers. :-[
 
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