Landing a job in television news can be a challenging task. With a limited amount of networks and cable stations and only a handful of local stations in each city, the opportunities are limited. Couple that with the fact that television news recruiters receive resumes from hundreds more applicants then they can ever hire, and the prospects can seem down right impossible. But, armed with a little advice and a strong desire to work long hours on the overnight, weekend shift , you too can join the ranks of entry-level
Television journalists nationwide.

When I went in for my first interview at ABC News almost five years ago, I was a bit in over my head. Fresh out of Georgetown with a degree in English and a minor in government but absolutely zero internships and not a single college newspaper article under my belt, I knew my chances were slim. But, I had one thing going for me -- a fellow Georgetown alum currently working at ABC. We had never met before I contacted him through the Georgetown networking site but he quickly became my best shot at an interview with a major news network. We met only for 15 minutes or so, he gave me a quick tour of the newsroom and World News Tonight offices, and promised to pass on my resume. Two weeks later I received an e-mail from an ABC News recruiter asking me to set up an interview.

Be Willing to Do the Very Unglamorous

Luckily, the recruiter and I hit it off. Despite my lack of experience and limited knowledge of the industry, she lined me up with a second interview that eventually landed me a job – not the entry level, news production job I craved, but a very promising executive assistant job working in the talent and recruiting office. No matter, I was in. A couple months later, after we’d become co-workers and friends, the recruiter told me the reason she pushed my resume along was because I told her I’d work in the mail room if I had to. A degree from Georgetown, a solid GPA, and three glowing recommendations, and it was that one, off the cuff comment that landed me the job.

Get Started Early

I credit my entrance into the news business primarily to luck and the kindness of strangers, but there are some lessons to be learned from my story if you are interested in a career in television news. The first one can be stated in one word: Internship. Busy with school work and a spot on the college swim team, I never did one and regretted it from the moment I sent out my first resume. Just as it is in many fields, breaking into the television news business isn’t all about what you know but who you know as well. And fortunately, interning provides opportunities on both these fronts. An internship gives you hands-on experience, teaches you the language of television news, and introduces you to people who may someday have the power to hire you, or at least write you a good recommendation. They also allow you a line on your resume that doesn’t involve working at your local pool club, ice cream shop, or Blockbuster and earn you a little extra confidence when you go in for your first interview.

Lastly and most importantly, internships give you an opportunity to decide if a career in television news is right for you. Working at a major network or reporting for your local station can be an exciting and gratifying experience. But the realities of the job can also include some significant sacrifices-- namely long hours, inevitable night and weekend shifts and last minute vacation cancellations due to breaking news. If these sacrifices aren’t worth the thrill of working in the industry, interning is a good way to find out.

Investigate Your Networking Leads

If you’ve already missed the internship boat, your shot as a career in television news is not completely lost. Again, as in many careers, networking should be your number one tool. Georgetown’s career networking site and GEMA are great resources available to help you get in touch with people currently working in the industry, even if you don’t know anyone personally. But simply asking around to friends, neighbors or relatives can also uncover some surprising leads. Television news recruiters are contacted by hundreds more applicants than they can ever interview. If your resume lands on their desk with even just a simple note attached that attests to your winning personality and unrivaled intelligence, your chances of securing a meeting increase substantially.

If networking proves unsuccessful, websites such as journalismjobs.com, tvjobs.com, www.tvrundown.com and www.nab.org (National Association of Broadcasters) offer more focused job searching tools and insights into the industry than generic job searching sites. You can also call a station directly and ask for the contact information of their recruitment coordinator but, be concise. Newsrooms are busy places and most people you talk to will not have the time to listen to your full list of qualifications.

Prepare for the Interview

Once you secure an interview, take some time to properly prepare. Use the days leading up to the interview to read up on the station or network you are interviewing with and catch up on the current news stories. Interviewers may ask you about the news of day, what kind of stories you typically follow, or where you get your news – be advised, Extra, US Weekly or The Daily Show with Jon Stewart may be highly entertaining, but they are not good responses to this question. Watch a few of the stations’ newscasts so you are able discuss some of their recent coverage. And, if you’ve written for your local or college paper or produced anything for a local or college television station, bring a few samples with you to showcase your talents.

If it is a production job you are after, you will most likely be interviewing for a job as a production assistant or desk assistant. These jobs are similar to any other typical entry-level jobs except that your duties are carried out in a newsroom or television studio. Filling fax machines with paper, answering phone calls from viewers or reporters in the field, logging video tape, running scripts (and I mean running literally), and helping the producers and assignment editors in any way possible will most likely be your main responsibilities. While this sounds easy, I assure you it is not. Newsrooms are fast paced, deadline driven, stress inducing environments where even some of the most simple tasks can become exceedingly difficult. But, they are also exciting places to work and usually filled with a smart, diverse, and interesting group of people. You may also find your duties and hours change day to day. When I finally made it to the ranks of a desk assistant at ABC, I worked in a variety of departments, at the network assignment desk, World News Tonight, abcnews.com and in the breaking news department. While being in a constant state of “learning the ropes” can be difficult, this was an extremely valuable experience because it allowed me opportunity to learn all the different aspects of television news and gain further insight into the specific career path I was interested in.

What Recruiters Are Looking For

The qualities recruiters are looking for in potential employees can vary widely depending on the needs of a station. Small, local stations are most likely not looking for the exact same candidates that a major network is. But, there are some generalizations that can be made. Most recruiters and industry veterans I’ve talked to at ABC are in agreement that a degree in communications or journalism is not a requirement for a career in television news, which is a good thing since Georgetown does not offer those disciplines. News organizations rely on their employees for diverse perspectives and are therefore open to candidates with various educations and backgrounds. Those who have spent time abroad, worked for international volunteer organizations such as the Peace Corps or had otherwise interesting and unique life experiences are considered good candidates because they bring unique perspectives to the job. Similarly, recruiters look for people who show strong interest in the news and a genuine curiosity about the world around them.

The same recruiter who interviewed me also mentioned that experience working with digital cameras and/or editing systems is a big draw these days. Television news is going through a technical revolution that is drastically changing the way the news is covered. The emergence of more user-friendly, digital technology is beginning to blur the boundaries between producers, editors, and cameramen. Candidates who have experience using this new equipment are considered valuable in an industry that is still trying to catch up itself with all the new advancements.

But, if there are two skills that are valued above all else in world of journalism they are persistence and determination. So, put them to work early in your job hunt and perhaps you will impress a future boss. And, if all else fails, tell them you are willing to work in the mail room.



Christine Gibadlo graduated from Georgetown College in 2000 and started working at ABC News in New York City a few months later, first as an Executive Assistant then as a Desk Assistant on the NY assignment desk and at World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. During her time as a Desk Assistant, she worked with ABC's Special Events Unit during the coverage of the September 11th terrorism attacks and the beginning of the war in Iraq. She is now on full-time assignment in the Special Events Unit as an Associate Producer, covering stories like the 2004 presidential election and the recent death of Pope John Paul II.