producing – Page 13 – Survive Your Job In Television News

Why you need your own continuous coverage plan, before something happens.

When the police chase happened in Phoenix that resulted in a suicide airing live on FOX News Channel, journalists hopped on Twitter right away discussing their shock at what they had seen. As we began to talk about it, one wise reporter said, “It could happen to any of us.” So true, in so many ways.

Throughout my career as a producer, I was shocked at how few local television stations have continuous coverage plans and training to pull it off. Yes, I said training. You can discuss scenarios ahead of time. You can “practice” how you would handle different scenarios. There are some telltale signs of trouble. Early in my career, I was blessed to have an AND out of Miami, who had a lot of experience with continuous coverage. He sat all of us green producers down and laid out rules we needed to follow. These rules, helped me excel at continuous coverage everywhere else I went, regardless of the station’s policies (or lack thereof in most cases). So here are a few of them in case you are in a newsroom where continuous coverage is always a cluster because no one knows their roles.

Continuous coverage must dos:

Two sets of eyes in the booth AT ALL TIMES
Assign roles in the booth
Always have a wide shot available
Clear point person to make ethical calls
Know your personal ethical limits

The single most important thing you need when boothing continuous coverage, is a second set of eyes watching content at all times. (This is the rule, that the majority of stations fought me on later in my career.) With all due respect though, this should not be the role of the director. That person is also extremely busy in the booth. Producers and directors need some sort of backup. If my EP or AND could not do it, I would pull a producer from a later or earlier show. I even used associate producers and editors. I needed someone to tell me if any of the live images changed, while I was talking to management or the anchors. I kept a notebook by my side, so the person could write down notes while I was in the middle of giving instructions. I needed instant access to that information no matter what.

Any managers reading this, your producer must have this. Make it happen!

Which leads to my next point, if there are two people in the booth, clearly define the roles. One person is the only producer that talks to the anchors and director, the other is in charge of figuring out what’s next. Both watch the live images coming in at all times and do not assume the other has seen any of it. Every time an image changes, write down which monitor it changed on in the notebook. The anchors and production crew need one clear, calm voice. This is easy to accomplish with two people in the booth.

Always have a wide shot available to take. Do not be afraid to go to the shot if your gut is telling you that what you are watching is about to go horribly wrong. Remember, there are other cameras getting the “money shot.” You can always show the video even a few seconds later. However, you cannot take it back if you show a man shooting himself in the head on live TV. Most local channels do not have 5 second delays. So, you really do have to be on top of it.

You also need to know what manager is the point person to make ethical calls. There is nothing worse than covering a standoff or police chase, getting hinky about the information you hear a reporter saying and then not being able to get a manager to pick up the #%@! phone. Before you walk into the booth, demand to know the point person. Make it clear, if things go south, you will know where to point the finger. I have even done this with NDs by the way.

Which leads to my last point: Know your personal ethical limits. There is always a fall guy/gal for a big screw up like the airing of a suicide during the police chase that happened live on FOX Friday. Know what you can live with while making decisions in the booth. One time I was told to take a live tight shot of a SWAT team during a standoff. The shot would’ve clearly made it easy to figure out where they were setting up. The ethical call was made by the ND: “Do it because it’s great TV.” There was no worry about the risk to those SWAT officers. I handed my headset to the ND, and said “It’s on you.” I was not going to put lives in jeopardy. That was not something I wanted to live with throughout my life and career. These were real people, with real families. You can’t take it back, if you make a horrid ethical call. Every journalist must remember that, from reporters and photojournalists on the scene, to producers in the booth, to the ND or GM making the ultimate calls. Know what your limits are and be true to yourself. Make sure your managers know what those limits are ahead of time. Have your personal continuous coverage plan, even if your station does not.

What survivetvnewsjobs has taught me. A note from the founder.

Survivetvnewsjobs was born in February of 2011. In that short amount of time, it has become a place where journalists find practical advice to situations they face in newsrooms each day. It also has become a place to hop online using Twitter and Facebook to share ideas, network and mentor.

All this time, most of you had no idea where the information was coming from. I was never trying to hide my identity. I simply wanted the focus to be on the content of the site. But now, I want to formally introduce myself. My name is Beth Johnson. I’m a former EP and producer and the founder of survivetvnewsjobs.com.

Why now? For several reasons. The website has gained enough exposure that I am getting called out a bit from college professors and industry leaders. I am also starting to be asked to speak on behalf of TV journalists about issues we face. And I have also just accepted a job offer, with MediaStars to do something no other agency has tried: Represent producers and managers, with an ambitious goal, to raise pay, especially for producers and EP’s. (On air people are welcome to call me also by the way.) Survivetvnewsjobs will not be used to convince you to get representation. That is not, never was and never will be the goal.

From day one, this website has been all about sharing practical advice. It was designed to let journalists have a voice about the industry they love. Initially, I had contributors who were afraid to put their names on articles for fear of possible conflicts with their employers. That’s why the website began with no bio.

Then something awesome happened! Journalists began writing for the website, and were able to safely sign their names. Newsroom managers started passing out some of the articles and talking about them with staff members. Professors began passing out articles to discuss with soon to be journos. The overwhelmingly positive feedback is humbling and inspiring. I appreciate it immensely, and I respect the trust you have put in this site and in the discussions we have had.

So today, I am sharing what this site has taught me so far. Just like when I was in the daily grind, journalists need to connect with each other and share ideas. They need to raise a flag if their pay doesn’t seem to match up to their peers. Journalists need training and support. Many believe this biz is great and has the potential to be even better. Newsies are looking for ways to network, so they can help each other grow and make the most of the jobs they love. This website fulfills an important need.

Survivetvnewsjob will remain, just that: A place for you to connect, grow and compare notes. What all of you have created with me is too important to give up. I will still offer just as many articles and discussions on Twitter and FB. You will hear about MediaStars in occasional fashion articles, because frankly, so many of you responded, and liked the advice and debates. You will also see a MediaStars ad banner, but that’s about it.

I am asking for one thing in return. If you have a topic you are passionate about and can offer positive solutions, submit an article for review or send me your idea. This website was not designed to be just one person’s voice all the time. Help keep the discussion going and allow this website to be what it’s always been intended for: Helping journalists survive their TV news jobs.

Why Producers Should Be Active on Twitter (In Much More Than 140 Characters)

A news producer’s job is never done. Trust me, I am one. How do we both engage the anchors and keep our newscasts looking fresh and relevant to an audience who has had access to the internet all day long? I’m about to suggest a method that will initially make many of you cringe.

Add Twitter to your repertoire. It will make you a better producer who can come up with story ideas faster and have a better grasp on what people in the “real world” are talking about at any given time.

Ok, now that you’ve read that twice, done the gratuitous spit take, and asked the screen (or your fellow producers, for that matter) how on Earth you will have time for that in an already slammed day, I’ll explain. Again, trust me: I jumped into the Twitterverse about 3 years ago now. I have no on-screen presence, so no one knows me. Yet, as of this writing, I have 2100+ followers – more than any of the on-air talent at our station – and it has helped me come up with stories, angles, sources, and scoops that have eluded reporters assigned to those beats. Believe me yet? Then let’s get started.

Step One: Get on Twitter

For some reason, most TV producers are technophobes. We may work with computers all day, but few of us know how they work, and I believe that lack of knowledge leads us to be late adopters of any new technology. In my shop, I’m the Go-To-Girl (outside our online department, that is) when it comes to social media. For anyone reading this, I will direct you to this very readable article from Mashable to set yourself up accordingly. Instead of reinventing the wheel; we take someone else’s wheel and put some shiny new spinners on it!

Step Two: Start with the familiar

As with anything new, I’m going to suggest that you start with something familiar. For a producer, that’s a press release. A number of government organizations, non-profits, and other groups use Twitter as just another venue to distribute the traditional press releases. Not ideal for them, but their lost opportunity is still our gain. Recognizing this is one of the first steps toward using Twitter to make your day more efficient.

Take 30 minutes or so per day for a week or two and find the Twitter feeds of all the major newsmakers in your area. For example, I’m in North Carolina. My governor has a Twitter account. So does my DOT, where I can get all the info on closed roads, and upcoming road hearings and construction projects. That’s news your viewers want to use. All the major universities near me Tweet their news, and so do a number of state agencies. All of a sudden, some of that stuff that’s cluttering up my inbox, I can read while I’m on Twitter. There’s one major difference, though: The press release in your inbox is a static document. The Tweet is dynamic – people highlight the parts they find pertinent, they comment upon it, and the forward it to friends. This gives you insight into what’s really important in a news release, instead of just the headline.

Once you start collecting a number of similar sources, create lists. That makes it easy to check the updates without them getting lost in your information stream. That may seem pointless now, but the more successful at this you become, the more you’ll need these tools to sift through the information so nothing important slips through the cracks. I use HootSuite to make that happen, but some of my co-workers swear by TweetDeck as well. Others use the original Twitter interface. Bottom line, get organized now before the data overwhelms you.

One more thing before we leave this step – follow your competition! It’s just like watching their newscast or reading their website, and I guarantee they’ll follow you when they see you becoming active online. Get their main account, then look for their individuals, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. Think twice before interacting, though. Take commenting slowly, and with a grain of salt, unless you know them personally. Also be aware, your management may frown upon actual interaction with the “Other Guys” beyond just following them.

Step Three: Start the conversation

Now, Tweet something. It’s that simple. When you go to a Meet up group, the only guaranteed way to get people to start talking to you is to start conversation with them. So begin. Start small – after all, you’re still looking for your voice. Tweeting a tease for your newscast is a good start, but make sure you’re not all news, all the time. Have a conversation with the general public. Ask open-ended questions that people are encouraged to answer. Post random musings or some of those funny things you overhear in a newsroom. Don’t do anything stupid, like posting where your spare key is hidden or that Fido the Guard Dog is all alone at your house tonight.

For the numbers-based producers among us, when starting out, I’d try to go 60%-40% news-non news tweets. As you start to develop an audience, drop back to 40% news (including news organization retweets) 30% non-news, 30% interacting with people and retweets of actual people. These are just guidelines, though, for people who feel better with rules to follow. In the end, let your gut reaction be your guide.

A few examples from my last few days:

My boyfriend asked me, could haiku fit in a tweet? Yes, with space to spare. This falls into random… Doesn’t require an answer, but people will anyway.

The National Honesty Index says redheads are more honest than blondes or brunettes! Woo hoo Gingers! (I am one – I can say that!) This is part of me being me online… not quite random but not overly informative either

Read @jgravleyWRAL to get the developments on Butch Davis releasing his personal cell records This tweet doubles as relating news AND relationship-building… SCORE!
Get your whooping cough vaccine! A baby in Forsyth County is now the first 2012 pertussis death in NC – @WRAL at noon to find out where the shots are Blatant news tease, but it doesn’t read like one. You get something out of it even if you don’t watch the news

Which brings me to something to watch out for – when you do tweet news teases, be sure to offer substance in the tweet itself. Don’t make the whole thing a tease, or people will stop reading your stream. I’ve read many a news station tweet that is aiming solely for the gratuitous click-through, so they say something to the effect of

“Let us know if this is the way you think the logo should look” followed by a link to their website.

That makes me, as a reader, feel a little used. I would suggest changing it to something like this to make readers feel engaged:

“The state DOT has three options for the new construction zone sign. You can vote for your favorite on our website (same link here)

See – don’t you feel better knowing what you’re clicking? More satisfied? Thought you might. On to step 4 – the other half of the conversation.
Step Four: Find some listeners

So far, we’ve followed institutions, and we’ve started talking. Now it’s time to make sure people are listening. Some of the organizational accounts you’ve followed have probably followed you back, and that’s a start. However, taking Twitter to the next level means finding humans and acting human online. This is where real life interactions come in. If you know someone in your area who is big into Twitter, ask them for a few people to follow. Once you get to know them, ask those people for more suggestions.

Pay attention to the #FF (follow Friday) recommendations that go by – a number of people will qualify their posts so you know what you’re getting. For example, #FF TV Edition, #FF Raleigh Socialites, #FF Coworkers, et cetera. Check out the ones that are in areas you’re interested in learning more about – if you don’t like them or they aren’t useful, it’s okay to unfollow them later.

Resist the urge to follow anyone and everyone in an attempt to “collect” followers – try to stick to people who are saying things you find interesting, whether it’s about work or your hobbies or a celebrity who interests you. Once you find these people, actually read their tweets. Respond. Interact. Soon you’ll be someone who is on their radar screen, and you’ll move from feeling like you’re “talking at” people to actually “conversing with” them.

There’s even something to learn from all those organizational account I asked you to follow. Some of them use Twitter as a press release clearinghouse, others actually get it. They use their 140 characters wisely to draw you into their organization or the story they’re selling that day. One of our local universities does a stellar job with this – They send out their typical press releases via email, but when they boil it down to put on Twitter, they find the “why you should care” element and sell it well. While I am honored they believe journalists can make sense of some of the highly academic language, we often skip interesting things farther down the release because we miss or just can’t find the “Why we care” factor. Twitter can help you tease that out, both in picking stories and in writing them.
These are the steps that just make Twitter an enjoyable experience. Now, it’s time to step up and get your news cred out there too.

Step Five: Before you click that Retweet button…

As you start reading posts, you’ll find a few things you want to share. Twitter makes that so easy – a few clicks and boom – retweeted to all your followers. Before you make that set of clicks, though, pause and ask yourself:

1) is it really interesting or really funny? Or are you just putting another LOLcat out there?

2) Where does it come from? My rule of thumb is that any news organization that my station respects enough to call by name on the air, I’ll retweet without worries. So just like we would say “A Washington Post investigation reports…” I have no problem retweeting content from the Washington Post. Same for AP, CNN, BBC, and NPR – add to the list as you see fit for your area. On the flip side, I’d stay away from retweeting any other content from major media in your own market. Independents organizations are ok in my book – they may even thank you for it – but no helping out the local newspaper.

3) Is it on my site already, or can I get it on my site so the link I post drives the traffic there? If you see a funny story on the wires and want to tweet a link, check your station’s site first. If it’s not there, ask your web folks if they’ll put it up. If your station is serious about social media, they’ll appreciate the fact that you thought of driving the traffic to your own site rather than MSNBC or Yahoo News.

Step Six: Adding a Link

It’s worth a paragraph or two here to talk about link shorteners. Links can take up valuable real estate in a tweet, and the shorter they are, the better. I’m lucky enough not to have to worry about it – our company’s dedication to social media included unique URLs that can be shortened so that all that appears in the tweet is www.wral.com/{unique story ID number here} . Talk to your online division to see if you have anything similar.

If you don’t, this is the argument for using a management website such as HootSuite or TweetDeck for your interface. Both have link shorteners built into their tweet page – just copy, paste, click “shorten” and voila – an owl.ly or a bit.ly link takes the place of the mumbo jumbo you started with.
Step Seven: Live Tweet something

Next time you have breaking news, start live tweeting it. If you can, use a hash tag that makes it obvious you’re local, such as #ncwx or #RaleighTraffic. Each situation calls for a different approach, but here are a few I’ve found to be most common:

In a weather situation, send out updates on where the storm is, who needs to watch out, and when viewers share, retweet their descriptions and images! Put out the all-call on the broadcast for people to send information via Facebook and Twitter, then use that information liberally (once it’s confirmed!). I would also recommend reminding people to do so WHEN IT IS SAFE. You’d be surprised what some people will do to get their 10 seconds of cell phone video on TV.

For a developing situation, a verdict being read in court, anything with background or multiple layers, try to keep the tweets coming. You don’t have to send an update every 30 seconds, but as developments come into the newsroom and get confirmed, send ’em out. Keep your writing to a headline-style – it’s easier for people to see that you’re in “news” mode. Have your station’s hash tag on things where you can, and always wrap it up with a recap, a drive to the full story, and if possible, what you’ll have on TV in your next newscast. An example:

Jury finds Jason Young guilty of first-degree murder in death of pregnant wife #YoungTrial
Young convicted of beating his pregnant wife, Michelle, to death in their Wake County home in Nov 2006, leaving 2 yr old daughter at scene
Young could face death penalty, sentencing phase starts after lunch recess #YoungTrial
Young’s mother crying in courtroom as judge polls jurors on murder conviction #YoungTrial
Jury convicts Jason Young of murdering his wife. Full recap on @WRAL.com, Amanda Lamb talks live to his wife’s sister @ 5p on @wral

If there’s a bad accident, tweet the crash then the detour route. If there’s a big announcement, tweet the highlights. In most scenarios, be sure to take the time to sound a little more human when you send these out. If your news copy would say “breaking news in West Raleigh where an accident involving a tractor trailer and two cars has blocked Hillsborough street” then the tweets should say:
Wreck blocking eastbound Hillsborough Street at Dan Allen Drive – avoid the area for a half hour or so.
If you need to miss the Hillsborough/Dan Allen trouble spot, try 440 to Western Blvd, turn rt on Pullen to get back on track
Tractor trailer rolled over a car on Hillsborough Street, and everyone survived – check the pics on wral.com (put a real link here to the pictures instead of a generic website tease if you can)

Overall, live tweeting an event is the fastest way to get your news chops out there and have people recognize you as a conduit to the TV news. This usually ends in new followers and builds your personal online brand as a go-to person for news in your area. Which leads me to my last step:

Step Eight: I’m gleaning info – now what?

Twitter can be a veritable gold mine of information, story ideas, tips, and filler stories. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t address the challenges of what to do with that information.

First, do not report anything that comes from Twitter as fact! Treat it as scanner traffic or something you got from a dispatcher. Best case scenario, in the case of viewer pictures of weather or car accidents, be SURE to say in your copy “We received this picture from a viewer via Twitter- they say this is the scene right now in blah-blah-blah.” It doesn’t absolve you from legal responsibility, but it does protect you in some cases. Otherwise, treat it as background knowledge that you can use for questioning authorities but do not run with it to air unless you have a second source.

There’s really only one exception to that rule: authorized, official Twitter accounts. I mentioned above that our state’s Governor has a Twitter account. So do both of our state Senators. We have had the discussion as a station, and decided to consider anything tweeted on those accounts to be official statements from those offices, we just write it into the script that instead of issuing a statement, the officials tweeted. So in the midst of the Rep. Todd Akin controversy, even though we never received a press release with the statement, I had a script in my 5pm newscast that read:

North Carolina’s Senior Senator has joined a growing number of Republicans calling for Rep. Todd Akin to remove himself from the Missouri Senate race. This afternoon, Senator Richard Burr tweeted: “Congressman Akin’s comments were offensive, outrageous, & wrong. I urge him to do the right thing & withdraw from MO Senate race now.”

Neat, eh?

This new community is also ripe for helping reporters find story contacts – just tweet what you need! Or for getting an idea what they think is news-worthy. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sent the tweet “slow morning meeting today – anybody got a story idea for me?” People are usually quick to respond, but I don’t recommend sending that one out until you have a significant following. Finally, your newsroom management may be on board with the idea of social media, but when you make the argument “This is trending on Twitter” or “It’s hot online, tomorrow it’ll be old news,” you may get some strange looks, or even pshaw’d at times. It happens to all of us. Keep trying to make your case. Eventually, you’ll break a story or build up enough times when you were right that they will start to listen. Cut them a break – chances are you were a bit of a Luddite too before you started this process.

There you have it – a brief overview of what I’ve done over the last few years to cultivate the community of followers and leads that I have on Twitter. It’s a community that has brought me story ideas, direct tips, interviews, and ideas from seeing what other people are talking about. It has given me that extra story to fill the 5 o’clock news, or a glimpse into what’s going viral so we can be on the front edge of the wave and show it to you now, instead of tomorrow when it feels old. It’s a place for an exchange of ideas that will help you think a little faster the next time you need a plan C for a story that falls through. It’s how playing on the Internet can actually make you a better producer, if you put in the work. I’m @sbeckwral – let me know if you see results.

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Stephanie Beck is a producer at WRAL in Raleigh. Has been there since 2001. She spends her free time traveling to dance West Coast Swing (like in her Twitter profile picture) with her boyfriend and watching Dr. Who and anything Sorkin. Stephanie has been known to contribute to the number of cat photos on the net, but Calypso and Fritz do not have their own accounts. She attended UNC for BA and MA. She is always looking for the next way to engage her audience. Stephanie is one of the most followed local TV news producers on Twitter.

I got my first gig, and can’t pay my bills…

To be honest, I think J-schools should offer personal finance seminars on this subject. You are warned that money will be tight at first, but it doesn’t prepare you for the grim reality. Even with a roommate, I struggled badly. I had student loans and a car payment. (My car engine blew up on the way home from the interview for my first job… got stranded on the interstate… fun story!) Dealing with that and the stress of figuring out the job entailed was tough. From what I’m hearing from some of you, this hasn’t changed. Sometimes even after the first job!

Recently I asked for input on ways to help save money during that first gig. Many savings pro’s sent great ideas. Here they are.

Coupon

There are great websites that spell out how to do this (Southernsavers.com is a great example). The key: match up coupons with items that are also on sale at a store.

Consign

As in buy clothes at a consignment shop. Speaking of clothes, remember you can get great clothes without spending a bundle. If you plan to splurge, do it to have the clothes you buy fitted (see Dress for success). I actually was surprised at the deals some of you mentioned finding.

Drive an old car

As I mentioned earlier, my engine blew up on the way home from the interview. Having to lease a car was debilitating for me. It frankly forced me to move to another job more quickly because I needed money desperately. If you have an older car that still runs and the repairs cost less than a car payment, run that baby into the ground. The savings truly is worth the trouble.

Pack lunch

This may sound silly, but it makes a huge difference. Huge! The other great part, you probably will eat healthier and take fewer sick days and that will be a great reason to ask for a raise in a year or so.

Happy Hour

Many people mentioned this as a great way to blow off steam without spending a bundle. Cheap drinks are often paired with cheap or free food. Bottom line, you are young and need/deserve to have some fun. Why not go for it when you can spend less?

Now a few more ideas that may take a little more research, but could really pay off.

Save up for first job

Yes, this is for interns, college students. If at all possible work summer jobs or a part time gig and save the money while you are in school. Use it to supplement once you get that first gig. This is where I wish J-schools provided an elective course on personal finance. By the time many realize how little you truly make, you are a summer away from working. So please, tell any underclassmen you know who want to work in news: Save now.

See if you can defer student loans

Check this idea out. Some people have had luck at this. Call Sallie Mae and see if you qualify. Just know it can take 10 years to pay loans off, so don’t hold off too long.

Avoid credit cards

This may seem obvious to great journalistic minds, but I know many who are still desperately trying to pay off the debts from those first few years working. Credit card debt is a beast! You write stories about it. Remember them.

Go in with a financial plan

How do you plan with no money? There are ways. If your family has a great financial planner, go in and ask what you can do with your earnings. If you don’t have a planner you trust, start by reading “Automatic Millionaire.” Don’t chuckle. Some of the examples in there are from people who likely never earned what you will. They were smart with their money from day one, and ended up very secure. If you can take a financial planning course of some sort, do it. Because starting salaries are low, we have less of a chance to make it right. So start off on a smart path if you possibly can.

Finally, remember it does get better. The sacrifices should pay off, even nowadays with salaries on the down side.