Billings, Montana market

[louise17]

Anyone have any advice about the Billings, MT market? I just had a phone interview with a station there, but I don't know a lot about the area.

Also, what are your thoughts about stations that don't fly you out for interviews?

Thanks!

[SpxGrunt]

If a station is too "thrifty" to refuse a flight out, I would stay away unless you're looking for your first gig or you're really desperate to get out of your current situation. If they can't spring for a plane ticket, I'd be surprised if they're going to pay you above minimum wage to work there.

[WalMartNation]

Having worked in this market for a few years I can tell you that; 1) There are only 2 stations who even do news, and 2) Both are well known for not flying people out. It might happen for a main anchor job.. but most main anchors either come from other Montana stations, get promoted from within, or are already living in the area.

A few times, reporters have been flown in, but when they are, their contract have said that if the employee fails to honor all of the contract, the employee will pay the station back for the cost of moving expenses and in some cases, the cost of flying out for the interview.

I went there as a weekend anchor and I wasn't flown out... I just did about 7 phone interviews and was asked to send more tapes with more recent examples of my work. This could be done instead of me coming in there and doing a mock show.

Also, flying into and out of Billings-Logan airport is quite spendy, even worse on short notice.

Put it this way... the station I went to in the Midwest when I left Billings wasn't sure about spending the money to fly me out for an interview because flights to-and-from Billings were so expensive.

The midwest station actually waited until I went to Seattle on vacation and flew me out from there since the price was 1/4 of what it would've been from Billings.

Also, check you personal mail in your medialine profile.

[The Mockingbird]

What I wanna know is:

Have we finally solved the mystery of teh anchor job opening in Montana?

graemlins/icon_kidra.gif

[s'news]

There has always been an anchor opening somewhere in Montana.

[SpxGrunt]

My favorite Montana reporter had an extreme makeover!

http://www.ktvh.com/graphics/staff/REveringham-R_195x260.jpg

[ISTHISTHINGON?]

I think the bottom line here is this....if this is your first on-air job and need to get in the door....it's Billings, Montana....probably lots of Pro's to even out the Con's to build you as a newsey. If it's off cam, Hell NO, too many options in a city near you. Expect just above mininum wage.

[louise17]

I'm actually looking for my second job...so that's why I'm having a hard time deciding if I should pursue this or wait for another offer.

thanks for the comments.

[Ferrycrossthemersey]

My second job was Idaho (not Boise); I wasn't flown out. My third job? Network. Ya never know. If it sounds good, go for it.

[thepowerproducer]

ok.. pm me. I am all knowing at this point.

[WalMartNation]

Originally posted by louise17:
I'm actually looking for my second job...so that's why I'm having a hard time deciding if I should pursue this or wait for another offer.

thanks for the comments.Billings was actually my 2nd shop too.. but my first as a regular "on-air" person.. I had only filled in as an anchor in a 120's market.

If you hate the place you're at... give Billings a thought or at least ask the ND a hell of a lot of questions.

[stpeterdontyacallme]

email me at GrizGuy@gmail.com and I can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the town and the station where you interviewed.