If you left TV, what do you do?

[The Invisible Swordsman]

Thanks to the thread about being out of TV and missing it, I wondered what everyone is doing now that they are out. So?

Communications Manager, Non-profit. Write press releases, newsletters, coordinate fundraising events, ask people for money.

[NoOneInParticular]

Technical Writer.

[MichaelPS]

I own a small production company that will, in time, get bigger.

[News Is Broken]

I collect cans and bottles on the side of the road. It isn't as glamorous as TV news, but the pay is better and I can set my own hours.

[ August 15, 2007, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: News Is Broken ]

[Clever Login Name]

You can also build your own house.

http://folklore.uh.edu/art/photos/beer1%20copy.jpg

[foxravens]

No clue, and it scares me to death.

[Bandit '07]

Communications director for a state trade association. I write press releases, update the web site, administer two blogs, lick the boots and stroke the egos of people the association serves, and take pictures of national and state politicians after listening to their BS.

[What the ?]

Communications Specialist (Read PR man), major utility in the South. No regrets about leaving. My media experience helped me land the job I have now.

I handle media calls, do internal and emergency communications. I enjoy it and don't regret leaving the tee-vee business for one day. I wouldn't trade it for any tee-vee job (except for ESPN College Gameday. Come on, everyone has their price).

It was my own choice to leave after 12+ years in the media business. I've anchored, I've reported, I've done radio. I've had my fun. Now I enjoy my life much more than I ever did while I was "a member of the media".

Would you look at that...it's about time to head home for the day.

[ August 15, 2007, 12:53 PM: Message edited by: What the ? ]

[Another side]

Bail Bondsman.

I meet interesting people and reunite them with their families and probation officers.

[Vulcan]

Communications Director, non-profit. Occasional media coaching and crisis communications consulting. Host a couple of websites. I make no money from my blog.

[Wise Old Producer]

First, Marketing Director for a major non-profit, where I learned a TON...

Now, PR/Media Specialist for a Corporation. Awesome job, having a blast, making more $ than I ever would have in tv.

You too-- can do this. Check out the thread on "beefing up your resume for non-tv jobs".

[Ranger Bob]

Marketing Director for Non-Profit. I do their marketing and "media handling". I work with and for a wonderful, loving, SANE bunch of folks who actually help people. And oh yes, even though they're non-profit....they pay me much more than I was making in the TV Biz. You'd be surprised how many of your reporting, producing, presentation skills transfer over to marketing, advertising and PR quite nicely! I was amazed at how easily I made the transition! My only regret is that I didn't do it years earlier!

[Buck T. Trend]

Public information officer for county government. I write news releases, produce a monthly newsletter, answer media calls, keep the website updated, and assist the video production department when they need it. In addition, I'm responsible for crisis and emergency risk communications, and I deliver public presentations on disaster preparedness.

Like What the ?, I enjoy my life outside TV and wouldn't trade it for anything... well, except maybe $10 million and my own tropical island. I spent nearly 13 years in "the biz," and I was at the end of my rope when I left a year ago. Now, I'm much happier, less stressed, and get to enjoy MUCH more time with my family.

TV was good to me... it helped me get the job I have now... but I'm glad I left.

[Focker]

Video Production Manager for a local wine distributor. I travel around the world interviewing the winemakers of the wineries that we sell. Tough stuff, eh?

[newz2me]

While it's great to hear what people are doing now.I think it would be informative to know how you went about getting that job. How did you even know what type of job you could translate into. What a PR/Media Specialist in a Corporate Communications department(for example)does, what companies need one, how to find out, where to start looking, if you were quailfied and how you discovered this position? Or did you just wake up with this great idea of what to do outside the biz? How tough was it to take that leap of faith?
As much as I love what I do, I always wonder if there's something better with better pay, but I can't figure out how on Earth how to even find a starting place to look.

[ August 15, 2007, 09:43 PM: Message edited by: newz2me ]

[ewink]

Swordsman - check your PMs.

[Wise Old Producer]

Originally posted by newz2me:
While it's great to hear what people are doing now.I think it would be informative to know how you went about getting that job. How did you even know what type of job you could translate into. What a PR/Media Specialist in a Corporate Communications department(for example)does, what companies need one, how to find out, where to start looking, if you were quailfied and how you discovered this position? Or did you just wake up with this great idea of what to do outside the biz? How tough was it to take that leap of faith?
As much as I love what I do, I always wonder if there's something better with better pay, but I can't figure out how on Earth how to even find a starting place to look.See the post on "Beefing up your resume for non-tv jobs"...

[guesswhoiam]

Government PR. Press releases, newsletters, speeches, editorials. I'm supposed to field calls from the press, but they rarely call. I'm supposed to organize press conferences and events, but the lawmakers I work for aren't the most active bunch.

I'm looking for something different. Something I can be passionate about, because state gov ain't doin' it for me. I'm not even sure I want to continue doing PR-type work. I'm trying to leave my options open and see what I can find.

[Crash Davis]

Law-talkin-guy, wannabe real estate and/or website mogul, book writer, and/or professional poker player.

[Clever Login Name]

Here's a question for those who have transitioned from t-v news to corporate p-r ...
did you find it difficult to shed your 'question everything cynicism' and essentially become salesmen for the business or government entity that hired you? Do you ever have moments where you know the biz or government is doing/saying something that isn't quite right, and how do you handle any internal conflict you might feel presenting just the one side of a story? I probably haven't worded this very well, but hopefully you understand what I mean.

[Wise Old Producer]

Originally posted by Clever Login Name:
Here's a question for those who have transitioned from t-v news to corporate p-r ...
did you find it difficult to shed your 'question everything cynicism' and essentially become salesmen for the business or government entity that hired you? Do you ever have moments where you know the biz or government is doing/saying something that isn't quite right, and how do you handle any internal conflict you might feel presenting just the one side of a story? I probably haven't worded this very well, but hopefully you understand what I mean.No-- not really. But then again, I always felt I'd be a pretty good cheerleader for somebody. It's kind of nice to be able to take a side for a change. smile.gif

Additionally, as you learn more about the PR profession, you find there's a written code of ethics that most people work within. It calls for dealing as honestly and completely with the media as you possibly can, while still guarding your company's reputation. All of those years in a newsroom pay off because it makes it easier to understand what a reporter really needs to finish his story. PR folks who don't get that tend to panic if a reporter starts asking hard questions.

[morning guy]

As a former co-worker with Old Wise Producer I KNOW you are alot happier now. But here's my question for you folks who got out and "make a lot more money than I ever did in TV." How much are you making? We know TV salaries are small compared to every profession known to mankind. So give us some numbers, at least a ballpark idea.

Thanks

[The Mockingbird]

Mockingbird: Government Contractor.
Director: Testing, Training, and Special Projects division.

Salary: 425% of crappy journalist salary.

[Wise Old Producer]

Originally posted by morning guy:
As a former co-worker with Old Wise Producer I KNOW you are alot happier now. But here's my question for you folks who got out and "make a lot more money than I ever did in TV." How much are you making? We know TV salaries are small compared to every profession known to mankind. So give us some numbers, at least a ballpark idea.

ThanksHi Morning Guy! You're one of the ones I do miss working with... smile.gif

Just go to www.salary.com, (http://www.salary.com,) and plug in the zip code. That's pretty dead on, if even a little lower than this market pays for pr/comm positions.

[production]

Originally posted by Wise Old Producer:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by newz2me:
While it's great to hear what people are doing now.I think it would be informative to know how you went about getting that job. How did you even know what type of job you could translate into. What a PR/Media Specialist in a Corporate Communications department(for example)does, what companies need one, how to find out, where to start looking, if you were quailfied and how you discovered this position? Or did you just wake up with this great idea of what to do outside the biz? How tough was it to take that leap of faith?
As much as I love what I do, I always wonder if there's something better with better pay, but I can't figure out how on Earth how to even find a starting place to look.See the post on "Beefing up your resume for non-tv jobs"...</font>[/QUOTE]Where can you find this thread? I can't seem to locate it.

[Roy G. Biv]

What about if you work in Production.... I'm not big into PR....

[Buck T. Trend]

Originally posted by Roy G. Biv:
What about if you work in Production.... I'm not big into PR....Unfortunately Roy, the options for a "production grunt" are more limited. (I know... I used to be a director.) That said, many large companies have their own video production department.

In my experience, the vast majority of their projects are training videos, quarterly/annual reports, and the occasional VNR. In most cases, you will truly be a one-man band... shooting, writing, editing, producing, directing, graphics, EVERYTHING. Extensive knowledge of streaming video on the Web is a HUGE plus, since that's where most of your productions will end up.

If you want one of these corporate video jobs, you'll need to network heavily, since most of them are never posted. Become friends with the reporters and producers in your shop, since they will likely be the ones making the video production decisions when they "jump ship" to PR. Use tools like LinkedIn and (shudder) MySpace to look up and chat up former co-workers who now work in PR.

There's also the freelancing route... especially if you live in a city with major college or pro sports. Not only could you freelance with the various networks, many arenas and stadiums have video screens now... and they need people to run them.

[Charlie Brown]

I'd probably go back to sports business...pay and hours are similar...but the difference is after the season ends, you can go back to a 9-to-5

[cinehead]

Be careful about the grass is always greener syndrome, especially if you're looking for job in corporate production department.

First, the working will mostly likely be B-O-R-I-N-G. The hours aren't always great. Your life bends to the whim of every person in your company. That means coming in early for one person's project and staying late for someone else's. Also get ready for decisions by committee and constant revisions.

I wasn't alone. I was part of an association of with other corporate video professionals. We all had the same horror stories.

Here's how to think of it. Picture being the one video tech that serves your current station's sales department. Now imagine you work for every single sales person and must keep each of them happy.

[Newsman7]

Originally posted by What the ?:
Communications Specialist (Read PR man), major utility in the South. No regrets about leaving. My media experience helped me land the job I have now.

I handle media calls, do internal and emergency communications. I enjoy it and don't regret leaving the tee-vee business for one day. I wouldn't trade it for any tee-vee job (except for ESPN College Gameday. Come on, everyone has their price).

It was my own choice to leave after 12+ years in the media business. I've anchored, I've reported, I've done radio. I've had my fun. Now I enjoy my life much more than I ever did while I was "a member of the media".

Would you look at that...it's about time to head home for the day.Sounds like me at this very point in time (12 years in the business...contract coming up...looking to get back into the world of corporate communications for all the reasons that you state. Better pay, life, hours (not to mention no hoildays or sweeps to worry about!) I agree...I'm sure once I'm done I can go on knowing I've had the experience of doing the TV/radio thing and move on.

[Clubbeat]

Originally posted by MichaelPS:
I own a small production company that will, in time, get bigger.Same here plus, I work in a J-school with state of the art facilities and I am able to support the faculty and classroom study with my experience and expertise in broadcast news.

So I sort of get the best of both worlds as I get to stay on top of the daily newsgathering process (we produce a 30-minute news) train up and coming journalists and use my production, writing, producing and managment (especially the writing) experience to run my company.

Money is o-k right now, I can go back to school for free and the growth potential for my business is exciting. Most important, I get peace of mind, a little less stress and more time with the family.

[miss hap]

I'd learn how to lay tile and pick up small home jobs. They guy who did my tiny bathroom charged $500 - and he was cheap. He says the average job takes a full day, he works three jobs a week and by my pathetic math skills that bring him to 78-k/year gross.

So here's how the dream goes ... put up a couple of ads around ... get a portable radio and a thermos for green tea ... and bring my little tiling kit to small jobs where I gladly walk and feed the dogs.

Work Monday thru Wednesday and take care of my family the rest of the days.

That's the dream, anyway...

[ August 22, 2007, 04:43 PM: Message edited by: miss hap ]

[Wise Old Producer]

Originally posted by production:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Wise Old Producer:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by newz2me:
While it's great to hear what people are doing now.I think it would be informative to know how you went about getting that job. How did you even know what type of job you could translate into. What a PR/Media Specialist in a Corporate Communications department(for example)does, what companies need one, how to find out, where to start looking, if you were quailfied and how you discovered this position? Or did you just wake up with this great idea of what to do outside the biz? How tough was it to take that leap of faith?
As much as I love what I do, I always wonder if there's something better with better pay, but I can't figure out how on Earth how to even find a starting place to look.See the post on "Beefing up your resume for non-tv jobs"...</font>[/QUOTE]Where can you find this thread? I can't seem to locate it.</font>[/QUOTE]The last post was July 30. You'll need to change your settings (upper right corner)- to show posts from the last 45 days.