TVLifer

The Baltimore Sun is reporting on WMAR's decision to shrink its newsroom and have its remaining reporters, photographers and selected other personnel double and even triple their responsibilities - in some cases writing, reporting, photographing and editing stories themselves instead of handing them off to others - might prove to be the wave of the future for all of Baltimore's TV news operations.

Although WMAR is the first Baltimore station to focus on what is known in the industry as MMJs (multimedia journalists), they have become the norm in many cities as local TV stations struggle with declining budgets and ad revenue as well as increasing competition from other media. And while officials at Baltimore's other TV news operations say they do not intend to follow WMAR's lead exactly, industry experts see such journalistic multitasking as practically inevitable.

"It's sort of the destination of the present," says Deborah Potter, director of NewsLab, a nonprofit TV journalism resource center in Washington. "We've already seen a lot of local television stations go in this direction."

For the full article from the Baltimore Sun click here.

TVLifer strives to give you access inside newsrooms across the country, in this case we take you along on a Friday Night with WSOC photographer Bryan Allman in Charlotte, NC.

The playoffs are underway and that means stations are sending their sports staff and photographers all over the state to get the best possible highlights.  We hope you you pick some pointers or at least a few good laughs with this sideline pass to Asheville vs. West Rowan.

WSOC Scouting Report:

Coverage Area: 112 high schools in North and South Carolina

Games: 14-16

Staff: 8 shooters hit the sidelines every week

Secret Weapon: Chopper 9 Skyzoom gets 2 games a week for the show in places it might take a photographer quite some time to reach.

Show Title: High School Football Extra

Length: 30 minutes every week

This is Part II of a three part series with Fox News Anchor Bret Baier.  Baier, the host of "Special Report w/ Bret Baier", sat down exclusively with TVLifer to discuss his career in television news.  Part II focuses on Bret's rise from the Southeast Bureau to the host of Special Report.

Well before his arrival at Fox News, Bret Baier's passion was covering politics.  As the cable network's Southeast Bureau reporter in November 2000 Baier would find himself at the center of one of the most historic political stories in American history: Gore v. Bush and the Florida recount.  "It was incredibly challenging," recalled Baier.  "This was a political and legal story that would change seven times a day.  By the time our morning meeting was over the story had taken a different turn and we did a great job at adapting to the twists and turns."

To read the full interview including Bret's reaction in becoming the host of "Special Report" click here or on the TVLifer Spotlight icon above.

Not a member yet? Sign up for FREE and access all of TVL's stories with the industry's biggest players and local anchors & reporters in newsrooms across the country.

The TVL Network is growing fast as we finally take the news hiring process online!

Every TVLifer out there has worked the Thanksgiving holiday in their career. What are your most memorable moments? Was it covering breaking news or the Black Friday rush? Maybe it came during a Thanksgiving feast with colleagues in the newsroom?

Here's your chance to relive your Turkey Day memories - both good & bad - in this week's Off the Record conversation.

Don't have an account? TVLifer is FREE. Just click the sign up icon on the left to join the web's fastest growing site dedicated to local television news.

Wednesday TVL will post Part II of our exclusive interview with Fox News Channel's Bret Baier.  Click here if you missed Part I on Bret's career path from college to cable's highest rated news network.

TVLifer kicked off their campus tour with a stop in Chestnut Hill, MA to spend some time with students at Boston College.  It was obvious from the discussion that there are a lot of people out there looking for answers on how to get into television and that's where TVLifer steps in.  We strive to offer a source for research and insight, while connecting you to some of the biggest names in the industry.

Co-founder Adam Shub enjoyed sharing his experiences from his time in Bangor, Maine and then Charlotte, NC as a reporter/anchor.  But most importantly it was the questions the students asked that gave him hope for the future of this business. 

TVLiferU has been designed to share first-hand experiences in small market television, to let those contemplating a career in tv what to expect.  If you think your college or university would be a good stop on the tour just email us at tvlifer@tvlifer.com. 

Sometimes you can’t teach and old “Dawg” new tricks. However, Rick Snow from WTOC in Savannah, GA is a crafty veteran who welcomes the changes in covering High School football. Snow has been on the sidelines for over 20 years as apart of the WTOC staff. In that time he has seen everything from the big bulky three-quarter cams to the digital revolution.

“Friday Nights are hectic for all of us here in Savannah,” said Snow. The complexion of the way we do it has changed. All the other stations in the area pitch in and we all trade games. We don’t use satellites anymore because they cost money. We use FTP’s and a system that we use within our Raycom Media group to trade games as well.”

To find out more about WTOC's High School football coverage just click on Station of the Week, you'll need to become a TVLifer, but don't worry it is FREE.
 

With 8 more stops after Friday, the Sarah Palin bus tour is just beginning.  The former Vice Presidential candidate is travelling the country signing copies of her new book and it all kicked off in Grand Rapids, MI on Wednesday night.

WWMT's David Bailey was there to report on it and shares his insights of the hoopla surrounding the event and how one should consider covering it.

And even if Palin isn't your cup of tea, check out what Bailey has to say about the prospects for new talent entering the business in the coming years.  He should know, he's a teaches journalism at Grand Valley State University on the side.  And if that's not enough, he tells you the best place to grab lunch if you are ever in "furniture city."

To read the Q&A with David Bailey just click on TVLifer Spotlight, you will need to become a TVLifer first, but don't worry it is FREE.  Sign up here.

I am not a dating expert. In fact, I’ve only dated four women seriously in my 30 years. A few other short term casual dates were thrown in here and there, but I was always scared to ask girls out. I went to bars to drink beer and hang out with my friends, not pick up chicks. Thank Jesus someone married me and I don’t have to worry about that any more! 

Television is an incestuous business. For many years I saw good friends of mine try their best to score with the new reporter, the new producer or (GASP!!!) the new intern. I always thought that was a bad idea. One night you’re at the local bar with your colleagues drinking cold beverages until closing time and you make your way to a parking lot with one who has had four too many.  You take a look at this person and you think it’s a great idea to offer a ride home, or perhaps at the very least, make a move in the parking lot. What could possibly go wrong?

Are you kidding?!!?? TONS could go wrong. You could get rejected which provides endless gossip in the newsroom when the other person tells their friends about it. Maybe the person you’re hooking up with is actually dating someone else at work you don’t know about. You could start making out in the parking lot when one person realizes it’s weird and stops causing endless future bouts of awkwardness, though I suppose that could actually be entertaining. Or, things could actually go well regardless of the sobriety status of both parties. Either way, that endless gossip in the newsroom is only part of the problem. 

This is Part I of a three part series with Fox News Anchor Bret Baier. Baier, the host of "Special Report w/ Bret Baier," sat down exclusively with TVLifer to discuss his career in television news. Part I chronicles Bret's path from a student journalist to Fox News.

He has delivered exclusive interviews with the world's top news makers including President George W. Bush and General David Petraeus. He has served as Chief White House Correspondent and National Security Correspondent. And, oh, did we also mention that he has the number show at 6 o'clock in all of cable news with the ratings and Facebook fans to prove it.

Baier is now among the elite news broadcasters in the nation. But, Baier's climb to the top was marked by many of the same challenges that face aspiring anchors and reporters today. Not the least of which is where and how to start. "I was always interested in journalism. I had interned at WSB in Atlanta and became fascinated with the business," said Baier from his office in the Fox News Washington Bureau.

Today's students live at a time where competition for jobs after graduation will be higher than ever before.  When you narrow that down to the television news industry, the number of opportunities shrinks tremendously.  Taking advantage of every tool, tip or connection you have will help you make that next step toward the career of your choice.

TVLifer will be making a series of college visits over the coming months to help students understand the process of getting a job in this industry.  Actual broadcast journalists, who have sat in their seats before and know how overwhelming it can be, will share their expereinces. 

During these talks, TVLifer will demonstrate the value of a strong resume tape and what news directors are looking for in these changing times. 

The first campus visit will take place Monday, November 23rd at Boston College.  BC alum ('01) and TVLifer Co-founder Adam Shub will take time to share his journey in television news.  His career path as a news anchor in Bangor, Maine and then reporter in Charlotte, NC make him uniquely qualified to answer questions as these students contemplate a career in telelvision news.

If your College or University is interested in having TVLifer on campus, just contact us at tvlifer@tvlifer.com.  Future TVLiferU dates will be announced soon.