Sports career advice requested

[Randy Steinman]

I received this PM the other day. With the writer's permission, I am posting it here in hopes some of you might have some sound advice.

Thanks,

RPS

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Greetings!

I am an associate producer at the *** affiliate in ****, and I am trying to find a job in sports. So far, I have graduated from **** and I have been shooting high school football until I was moved over from photojournalist to associate producer.

I'm trying to put a tape together and am coming in to shoot on weekends, whenever there's a camera available. Although my shooting and editing is on the right track, I do not know where to begin as far as sports standups and packages are concerned.

Since you are well-experienced, I figured I could take this time and ask what news directors are looking for from potential sports reporters.

Your time and input is greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,

****

[Clever Login Name]

Avoid the temptation to insert yourself into the story. If something is interesting, it will draw the viewer in whether you're involved or not. Personalities are nice ... egos are bad. If you've got the shooting and editing down, work on your writing ... and don't use ESPN and the 'catch phrase' style as your guide.

That's about all I have.

[Todd W.]

Avoid the temptation to insert yourself into the story. If something is interesting, it will draw the viewer in whether you're involved or not. Personalities are nice ... egos are bad. If you've got the shooting and editing down, work on your writing ... and don't use ESPN and the 'catch phrase' style as your guide.

That's about all I have.

Our new search engine can actually find things, unlike the old one.

Searching for "sports packages" turned up a few older threads which may be useful, too:

http://openline.medialine.com/search.php?searchid=1424

[John M.]

The fact that you can shoot helps. It will almost certainly be required in your first job.

As far as getting started with packages, get beyond simple game recaps (who won and how) and look for stories about the players behind the plays. Here's the test: Could the story run outside the sports segment as a feature? That's a story a news director wants to see. Keep in mind that a team's best players are often not its best story subjects.

If you are limited to shooting games, make sure you get shots of your subject when he's not involved in game action. Watch a televised football game and you'll notice that many of the most telling shots are the reaction shots rather than the action shots. Including a variety saves your package from looking like a series of plays. It also gives you something to show when you're talking about things not directly related to game action.

Say I'm doing a story about a high school football running back. When I'm talking about what he's thinking, I'd rather show a shot of him on the sideline or walking back to the huddle than one of him carrying the ball. The action shot would distract the viewer from what I was saying.

For standups, you're going to have to learn to shoot your own. Until then, does your sports department have a one-man-band who would appreciate the help shooting his standup? You can shoot them for each other. Maybe a sports intern can go with you and help.

[Randy Steinman]

As a follow-up to Todd's post, I should point out that all those great old threads on the Best of Open Line (http://www.medialine.com/medialineUBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=2;DaysPrune=30) are still alive and well.

RPS

[WalMartNation]

This is always the hardest question to answer because nowdays so many different ND's are looking for different kinds of sports reporters and anchors. This is long but here we go...

The advice given here as far as packages is good, I would add that your tape needs to show range. By that I mean, (I'll pretend I'm working at a shop where I'm involved in the hiring process, it's been a while) I need to see at least 2 standups, and maybe 1 or 2 show lead-ins at the front of the tape, just so I know what you come across like. Follow that with 2 or maybe even 3 good features, not postgame recaps, features.... if you have a good standup from a game recap, put it as one of the standups at the front of the tape. I need to see good features... recaps are a dime a dozen. Also, put an entire sportscast on your tape. It sounds like you're trying to get in, so obviously you don't have much to choose from, do a mock cast and do it well. Put the whole 3-5 minute cast after the standups and the features. I have to see that you can make it through a cast smoothly.

Now, in your standups or show lead-ins at the top of the tape DO NOT use material that I'm going to see later on the tape. I realize you're starting and material might be light, but when I see that I think you're trying to bu!!sh!t me with a tape because you haven't done enough good work to put a complete tape together. Nothing pi$$es me off than seeing the same thing twice on a tape.

You mention you're shooting sports now. Good, that's paramount, get used to it, learn to love it, get good at it, you'll be doing it for more than a few years chances are. I've worked sports in 6 shops and shooting has been the thing that has put me over the top in front of other finalists because I; A) would shoot, B) could shoot, C) would/could shoot well. Put some video shooting examples toward the end of your tape.... it could make the difference as it did for me.

If you get to a big enough market, they'll be union photogs and you won't be shooting anymore. Unless everyone adopts KRON-TV and Rosenblum's idiotic VJ-backpack format. In that case, we're all screwed.

Hope this helps.