A World Without Broadcasting...

This week we’re writing about what we could offer to a career not in broadcasting. It’s actually a very thought-provoking question and maybe a good one to keep in the back of our minds, as I think many broadcast majors tend to be a bit obsessed with broadcasting (me included.) So what could I bring to a non-broadcasting career? Here’s a breakdown of a few things:

• I have good communication skills. I can comfortably speak in front of crowds or one-on-one.
• I’m a problem solver and a leader. If something needs done, I can figure out how to do it and get it done.
• When I worked with the Weekend Today show, the news producer, Don Ennis, always complimented me on my ability to stay calm and think clearly under stressful situations. This could be an asset to any deadline-driven job.
• I’m committed and hard-working and don’t believe in doing things half way.
• Finally, I’m respectful to those I work with and those in authority positions. This is something I think is often overlooked. I am a firm believer that if you’re pleasant to work with, the workplace will be a nicer place to be, and everyone will get more done.

I'm not sure what specific jobs I would look for, but in an ideal world, it wouldn't be stagnant, and it would include people, traveling, and fun. And maybe some warm weather thrown in there, too.

Capstone Stress

I've realized that I am always so much more stressed out when I leave capstone class then when it first begins. So, when I was venting to a fellow capstoner, he gave me some of the best words of wisdom I've heard in a long time. I thought it might be useful to the others who are stressing about life after college too.

"You'll do whatever you have to do to be happy, and what you think you want to do now might not be what you end up doing 10 years from now. But you're good at adapting, so whatever you want to do you can do it." --Mike Wolenski

So wise!

Me + 5 years

Our assignment for capstone this week was to write a letter as ourselves 5 years from now. It took me a long to even attempt to write this letter because I really have no clue what I'll be doing or what path I'll take. Although, I have kind of narrowed it down to two different paths (the on-air or the behind the scenes to work to on-air). I wasn't able to decide which to do, so I did both. Here they are (in absolutely NO particular order!):

Plan A
Hi Mr. Weaver!

I can’t believe it’s been 5 years since I graduated WC! I was finally able to afford a place in New York City with my friend from Westminster. Right now I’m still working with NBC as a researcher. I’m getting to do a lot more segment planning and interviews and stuff, but it’s tough with the crazy hours. I’m trying to keep up with my connections because I’m still hoping to transition to on-camera work. I’ve been going out with producers and shooting stand-ups and such whenever I can, but I’m generally too bogged down with other things. All in all, it’s great to work for NBC. I’ve gotten to go to so many amazing events and meet some really cool people. So for now, this is good.

Sincerely, Liz Farry


Plan B
Hi Mr. Weaver!

I’ve been reporting for NewsChannel12 for some time now, and I’ve just been offered a job at WNBC as a weekend reporter! Hopefully with a few years in that position I’ll be able to work up to weekdays or maybe a weekend anchor position at some point. I’ll keep you updated on the new job!

Sincerely, Liz Farry


I didn't expect these letters to do anything for me, but in actuality, they did. I realized how exciting and good it felt to write about Plan B, even though it was such a short letter and I'm not even sure if it's possible to hope for that. But while writing Plan A, I just kind of felt the stress and time-consuming-ness that I know that job brings. Maybe it's just because I haven't experienced the reporting side of it and the other side I've seen first hand. Or maybe it's a bit of a hint as to which direction would make me happiest.

Interesting assignment....

Back in the Bubble

First of all, I am so glad to be back at school! The transition from the real world to the Westminster bubble is a little bit odd, but working out okay so far.

For this week, our capstone class is revisiting a past assignment where we write a letter from our future, 5 years from now, selves. Thinking about what's going to happen in the future and what I have to prepare for tends to get my heart rate up a lot (in complete fear!) so this letter is proving harder to write than I thought. So, that will have to come a bit later.

For now, I want to do a quick update on my senior project. I was going to put together a sort of Intern How To presentation. I think I'll probably still do that, since it's fairly simple and I already have some of it done, but I don't really want to use that for my senior project anymore. Here's what I'm thinking I'll do instead:

I want do a little trip through time with my on-air work. I could start out showing some of my first packages and anchoring shows, in all their ridiculous messiness. Then I could juxtapose them with my most recent work, which (hopefully!) shows lots of improvement. I could even throw in some of how my time with the Today Show helped me to improve. This way, maybe it could be a little more entertaining, because we could all watch and laugh at how terrible I was in the beginning!

This could all also help me build up and fix my resume tape, which is something else I want to do. I also want to have a polished, ready-to-send-out paper resume, with my recommendation letters all organized. And the other thing I have to do is my e-portfolio, but first I have to figure out how. Eventually, I'd like to have a few different resume (tape & paper) and e-portfolios, some for TV new reporting, some for TV producing?, and maybe even some for radio news, so I'm prepared for anything.

Always be prepared. The boy scouts stole that from me.

:)

That's all she wrote...for now.

My time as a PA is over. Sunday was my last day. I was actually pretty sad about it, but I did feel like it was time. It was getting to a point where I really couldn't do all that much more since I was leaving anyway. All good things must come to an end!

I think I got everything out of the job that I could have. I made contacts, not to mention friends, got feedback on my resume tape, got career tips from people who have been through it all. I hope I used to for all that I could.

The main thing I have to figure out this semester is what route I want to take. The way I see it, there are two main roads: go to some random place in the middle of nowhere to start on-air, then work my way up, or stick with network level and be behind the scenes since I have the contacts in place already. It seems like every week I decide to choose a different route. At this point I have no clue what the right answer is because there are definite pros and cons to both of them. So that decision will have to be made slowly throughout the next few months.

Right now I'm just getting excited to go back to WC! I'm ready to be a college kid again, even if only for a little while. I was definitely thrown into the real world these past few months, so it'll be great to go back to the security of the college bubble for a few months. I think the hardest thing about it, though, will be adjusting from the morning news sleep schedule (go to bed at 9, wake up at 2) to the college sleep schedule (go to bed at 1 wake up.....whenever!).

But I'm definitely up for that challenge.

What a way to end 2006...

I had a great New Year's last weekend at work. It was a little bit crazy since so many people were on vacation and there was some major news happening! It was great to see the steps taken behind the scenes to prepare for impending news stories (like Saddam's hanging). And I have to say, I am really learning from the best. Our senior producers are just so good. They're professional and prepared and so hard working.

I was also very interested in how the networks handled the video of Saddam's hanging. I really admire the networks that chose not to air the entire thing. It's definitly a topic that is up for debate, but in my opinion, there is absolutely no need to show that much (especially since everyone knew it would be all over the internet anyway.)

Another exciting part of last weekend was that I got to be right in Times Square on Sunday for the show! I was right there where the ball dropped, only hours before.



Lester is so great! Such a pro and a really nice guy.






This is my last weekend of work, then I'm back out to WC next week! I'm excited to go back to school, but I think it'll be a little weird going from the real world back to the college bubble. I've nailed down a few more contacts and added some places to my list of possible future jobs. But really, all that's done is made me more and more confused about what I'm going to do after graduation. Yikes!