Is it better to be from the market you want to work in??

[kreporter]

I'm a young reporter just getting into the business. My ultimate goal is to make it to the Cleveland market (#17). I've been looking around at the talent bios on the WKYC News Channel 3 website, and I've noticed that mostly everyone grew up in or around the Cleveland area. My family is from Cleveland, but I grew up in the south (though it hurts to say it).
I'm wondering if I have a disadvantage trying to get into that market one day, if I'm not from that region. I figure that they would want a little more diversity than people all from the same area. I am a black male, so that's a plus.
Tell me what you think. Thanks!

[adam & doctor drew]

if I were an ND, I would ABSOLUTELY try to hire people from the city or area.

but then again, I'd also hire a lot more people who cared about news and a lot less who just wanted to be on TV.

so what do I know?
:doh:

[Gil]

It helps if you have ties to the area. It isn't necessary that you grew up in the area.

[SureFireWeather]

Many - (40% maybe?) - of my on-air co-workers are from this DMA.

In general, management wants to hire talent with ties to the area because "local" talent is more likely to stay. Viewers like being familiar with the people at their station ... and stations with local talent are less likely to have high turnover.

[Gail sirens]

Some do - some don't.
Some are akin to sports drafts: they want the best available.
for the least amount of money, of course

[Obewon]

I had one ND who would give the nod to ANYONE from the area, even if they were knuckle-walking boobs.

Then I had another who had a policy of NEVER hiring from the area because he thought the gene pool was tainted.

[Jimmy Conway]

Its a lot like college coaching...especially football. Coaches usually have a tie to the area, and AD's/Presidents like that for specific reasons (familiarity with the school, recruiting, etc).

It's the same with news, management usually likes its staff to have a sense of familiarity with the area.

[kreporter]

What about since I've spent a good amount of time in Cleveland visiting family? I love the place, and know probably just as much as many people living there know about it. But how would I go about convincing the ND that through my cover letter and resume?

[Gil]

Close enough. You're hired.

[s'news]

I'm watching some Cleveland TV news this week. Be careful what you ask for.

[Roy Hobbs]

Close enough. You're hired.

Eh, you're just trying to save on buying the guy some lunch.

[LAWEATHER]

Why does being a black male help? Is that the main demographic in Cleveland or are you just guessing that being a minority will get you in the door faster?. As to being from the area it always helps, but if your good your good and most ND's do not really care that much.

[TokenWhiteGirl]

For what it's worth..

To echo what others have said, it almost always helps to be from the area. I imagine very few NDs would NOT want someone from the area. You'll be able to relate to viewers better.

To respond to the above comment, IMHO, you probably DO have an edge being an African-American man applying for a job in Cleveland. For one, you'll help represent a good part of the DMA. Two, token white girls like me (and white boys for that matter) are a dime a dozen in this business. Any good looking person who can read thinks they can report (mostly because they want to be on t.v.). If you're hispanic, african-american, asian, etc., I think you're more likely to be considered over someone of equal talent who is white. Look at the networks - they're trying to hire a wider range of talent who can represent the demographic makeup of the USA.

Anyway, you mentioned you're just getting started in this business -- Call me cynical, but I wouldn't have my heart set on #17 just yet. While you may be good now, are you top-25 good? And are you good enough to beat-out people with years of experience, some of whom have agents? If I were you I would start smaller for several reasons - the largest of which being you can learn at a smaller market. So many people breaking into the business want to start out right at the top without learning anything. I would strongly advise against this. I'm at a top-100 now, but I started at 150+. I see these kids starting at my station, and they make mistakes left and right yet are too proud to learn from them. I'm not saying move to Montana, not that there's anything wrong with that, but start a little smaller to get your feet wet. If you learn nothing else from my $.02, learn that mistakes you'll make in a smaller market will likely NOT get you fired like they would in market 17.

At any rate...good luck!

[Gil]

Eh, you're just trying to save on buying the guy some lunch.

Not true. If it's a business lunch I can expense it or deduct it on my tax return. What do they eat for lunch in Cleveland? In Toledo we'd have to go to Tony Packo's.

[Roy Hobbs]

Not true. If it's a business lunch I can expense it or deduct it on my tax return. What do they eat for lunch in Cleveland? In Toledo we'd have to go to Tony Packo's.

No such thing as a free lunch Gil...but next time you're in Chicago...
http://www.iccos.net/images/Drake_Hotel.jpg

[The Thrill]

Dang...I stayed at The Westin right by the John Hancock this past weekend, and didn't even think of going there. D'oh!

Or catching you, Hobbs. Sorry! :doh:

Then again, it was COLD AS ALL GET-OUT.

[Roy Hobbs]

Hey you snooze, you lose...

[NewsguyMark]

It makes sense to hire someone from the local area. You know the history, the players, where the skeletons are buried, how to pronounce those tricky names. You were there 15 years ago when (insert name) event happened and remember more details about that event than your news director forgot. One of your high school classmates is a local city manager. Another played in a Super Bowl. You have their cell numbers and can get them on a weekend because you've kept in touch. Three have been arrested and convicted of crimes, one of which was a high-profile crime. They will talk to you first for a story-because you hung out together in HS. You know the attidudes of different neighborhoods. You remember when Joe's Bar and Grill was Cecil's after it was called Mac's. It's YOUR town, you know about it and you care about it. So it makes sense to hire you.

But who says news directors make sense?

They're more worried about budget, or, God forbid, they don't want to hire someone that knows more about the market-THAN THEM!

[Santos L. Halper]

You're sent to cover a house fire. You pull up, cameras rolling...and the victim turns out to be a guy you and your friends used to pick on in high school. Now you have to ask him for an interview so you can broadcast the worst moment of his life on TV.

A viewer calls, claiming your friend who's a local city manager embezzling money. Are you ready to make that phone call?

A man who's lived in your neighborhood since before you and your family moved in is arrested for molesting a child. This guy let you swim in his pool when you were a kid and shovels you parents' driveway when they're on vacation. Your parents are begging you to ask your station not to do the story. Are you ready for this?

The big factory in your hometown 20 miles away shuts down, leaving hundreds out of work. All the other stations are live at 5:00...but you knew nothing about this. What do you tell the news director when you're hauled into his office?

Still want to work in your home market?

[Hard_reign2004]

You're sent to cover a house fire. You pull up, cameras rolling...and the victim turns out to be a guy you and your friends used to pick on in high school. Now you have to ask him for an interview so you can broadcast the worst moment of his life on TV.

A viewer calls, claiming your friend who's a local city manager embezzling money. Are you ready to make that phone call?

A man who's lived in your neighborhood since before you and your family moved in is arrested for molesting a child. This guy let you swim in his pool when you were a kid and shovels you parents' driveway when they're on vacation. Your parents are begging you to ask your station not to do the story. Are you ready for this?

The big factory in your hometown 20 miles away shuts down, leaving hundreds out of work. All the other stations are live at 5:00...but you knew nothing about this. What do you tell the news director when you're hauled into his office?

Still want to work in your home market?

Obviously this home market ^ has at most 3000 people in it....Are you ready for that? Usually being from a market is a help. Make sure you are ready to work in your home market though. You could only get one shot! You want to make darn sure you are going to stick. I think it is easy to hire a home town kid to come to your shop. The difficult part is being the talent and making sure this is a job you want for the rest of your life. I am terrified about trying to go home to my home market.

[RoyMcAvoy]

It may be a plus to be from a certain market and target it but, also, if you rely too heavily on it during the application process and you are from a substantially smaller market...be ready for a low-ball offer.

"He's from here!" they'll think. "And he's in Bumbleranch Woods, Wyoming. We could probably get him as a GA reporter for, oh, 25 grand. He's not going to turn down (Market 20) to stay in Wyoming."

I've seen far too many of my friends finally get that call (all from different Top 25 markets), only to be really disappointed in the offer. Happened to me a few years back as well in my hometown. I didn't go because the money just wasn't there.

[adam & doctor drew]

Roy's right, stations will absolutely use that against you in negotiations, figuring "he/she's from here and dying to come home, let's lowball!"

[lbvp]

Not true. If it's a business lunch I can expense it or deduct it on my tax return. What do they eat for lunch in Cleveland? In Toledo we'd have to go to Tony Packo's.

I love Slyman's on 31st and St. Clair Yum :>)

[Sigonfile]

Always work in a market where you can use a fake "on air" name. If you don't, you'll be surprised at how many people will try to hack your computer or steal your identity because they think you have "the big bucks".