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Old Shooter
May 18th 2009, 10:47 AM
There is so much negativity from those of us who started shooting 3/4 or worse yet film I just wanted to offer an encouraging word for new grads.

I encourage you to get a job in TV news. Just know what you are getting into.

In my 19 years of TV news I've witnessed history a couple of times and shot stories on 5 continents. It was a great ride. Full disclosure I've spent about 1392 hours sitting outside of crime scenes waiting to do a useless live shot about an event that happened 17 hour ago.

If you're 21 years old, graduating this May andcan afford it, go and get a local news job. It's the worst job you'll ever love.

In your first year enjoy the adrenalin and the call outs and your first homicide and the first time you cover the President of the United States. I don't think there is a person here who will tell you it's not a rush to break your first big story or ride with the Blue Angels.

On day 366 start planning your escape. You've now got a year of real experience dealing with people and the media you will be in a much better position to assess what you want to do for the rest of your life.

I now work outside the industry full time and freelance video production planning on the side. I make 3 times what I made in TV. In reality I work more hours and have more stress but there is A LOT less BS and waste.

I'd love to be 22 again and hauling a BVU110 and Saticon camera again.

Mighty Dyckerson
May 18th 2009, 11:05 AM
What a lame speech. I thought we were getting Cosby this year.

wx or not
May 18th 2009, 11:22 AM
An encouraging word for new grads:

Ramen...;)

The Mockingbird
May 18th 2009, 11:48 AM
The entire reason you want a job in TV news is so that when you get a real job, you'll have entertaining stories about the time you had to have the live truck towed to the live shot, or the time the power went off for the entire state 12 minutes before your show.

ISTHISTHINGON?
May 18th 2009, 02:56 PM
An encouraging word for new grads:

Ramen...;)
With cut up hot dogs mixed in! Ahhhh, sweet sweet sodium packed meals:)

News Is Broken
May 18th 2009, 03:07 PM
But if you waste the hotdogs on the ramen there's none left for the mac-n-cheese dinner!

Calvin
May 18th 2009, 03:14 PM
... and the big jar of peanut butter.

The Mockingbird
May 19th 2009, 05:09 AM
CNN says just 20 percent of recent college graduates are getting jobs:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/business/2009/05/18/dcl.levs.grads.jobs.cnn

BadgerWXman
May 19th 2009, 07:08 AM
CNN says just 20 percent of recent college graduates are getting jobs:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/business/2009/05/18/dcl.levs.grads.jobs.cnn


I opened this, saw the header "breaking news video," and promptly closed it before it loaded.

The Mockingbird
May 19th 2009, 08:01 AM
I'll just link some safe-for-work faux porn next time.

ISTHISTHINGON?
May 19th 2009, 09:27 AM
I still have to say...granted I don't have another 'first' job experience to compare it to, but that 14,000 a year(Salaried) was the best Hell I've ever witnessed. Man do you learn a lot about yourself...and meet some interesting folks too.
I wouldn't take it back....I would have liked to have overtime though.:cheers:

isentropic upglide
May 20th 2009, 03:41 AM
It is amazing how you feel that first year. I remember the excitement and adrenaline of covering my first severe weather event. I felt like I was on top of the world. Boy, how things change. You expect everyone to know who you are after being on air just a few times. Well, we know how that goes. That first year in this business is an interesting feeling.