Though there are tons of varying opinions within the broadcast journalism space, it’s fair to say that the face of journalism has truly changed over the years. Once upon a time, the journalists reported and focused solely on the facts. Now, there are still channels that solely report the facts. However, there are lots of news channels that craft programming for ratings and advertising dollars. As a result, many news shows look a lot like opinion-driven arguments that last for hours. However, if you’d like to become a broadcast journalist, you can craft a path that really works for you and the type of content you’d like to produce through a few key strategies.
Being Open to Different Career Paths
Be open to the different opportunities within journalism. If you choose to focus more on communication as an entire field, this can broaden the scope for you some more. If you’re an excellent writer (which is a helpful skill to have as a broadcast journalist), you can flex that muscle by submitting articles to different popular news outlets and blogs. If you have the perfect voice for journalism, start a podcast where you talk about different events from a professional point of view. You might start off in print journalism and work your way into broadcast through an avenue you never expected. With this understanding, it’s wise to remain versatile, flexible and multi-faceted. It also helps you to remain competitive.
Taking Time to Access the Competition
While you don’t want to spend a ton of time stressing over the competitive nature of broadcast journalism, you do want to be mindful of it. The best way to access the competition involves joining a few of the major broadcast journalism associations. As you get involved and take note of the rising stars, you can take a page from their books. Take note of the opportunities they’re taking advantage of. If anything resonates with you, find ways to adapt those strategies and customize them to your liking. No one can do a better job at being you, and that’s your competitive edge. As long as you focus on developing yourself, you’ll be able to remain at the forefront. Just don’t spend too much time assessing your competition. Find ways to intentionally develop your own brand and sense of self.
Taking Responsibility for Your Own Success
This might seem trivial to some, but it’s worth noting. You’ve got to take responsibility for your own success. Never leave it in the hands of the boss, your fellow interns or co-workers. You become responsible for your own success by learning how to pivot and forecast where things are going. If you’re in an opportunity that seems to be going south, know how to pivot and work your way out of it. There’s no sense in staying in a bad situation that has a dead end. However, it’s important to develop the keen ability to discern whether a situation is worth staying in because of the doors it can potentially open for you.
Developing a Strong Resume
One of the most promising ways to develop your resume involves the art of pitching. If you’re venturing out into the field of broadcast journalism, you can’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Whether you’re pitching yourself to a local magazine as a print journalist or developing a story for a local news station, be bold and memorable. As you seize different opportunities, leave a great impression. Do your best to turn your contacts into raving fans who will later offer recommendations whenever you’re looking for opportunities in the future. In any business, it’s not always about what you know. In fact, who you know can actually be the component that will open many doors for you. If you have the right people advocating on your behalf, this can do wonders for your career in the future. Do your best to avoid burning bridges as you develop a strong resume.
Using Digital Resources
There are a few digital resources that you can use to your advantage. When you’re developing your own brand, it’s wise to have your own website. There are so many possibilities with a website. You can choose to use it for a blog that features your thoughts and opinions on different subjects. As you develop your brand, you might decide to sell digital or physical products through your website. If this is the case, you’ll want to make decisions regarding options like big commerce enterprise vs Shopify plus. It’s also great to consider digital resources like courses that can teach you how to increase your digital footprint to make a bigger impact in the world.
Using the Power of Networking
Social media platforms are always excellent for displaying your natural talent, skills, and abilities. It’s also a great place to share your resume and network with like-minded professionals. Granted, you’ll want to use a platform like LinkedIn in order to post your resume. Be mindful of the platform and what it calls for so that you can network in an effective yet relatable way.