Few on the air, are content with what they earn for a myriad of reasons. However, you might be able to change all that and become happier about your income, getting things where you want them.
I propose you conduct a career review, which I recommend everyone does at least one a quarter. Opportunities are available now, regardless if you are looking to move up or renewing your current gig. If are good to go with your demo and written materials, this is the best time to move up in the Station News business.
Not only that, any potential employer can go on your station’s website and check your real work, as often as they want. So, everything you do on the air is an audition, in a way.
You can contribute to what they are trying to accomplish with their brand, while developing your career, no matter if you want to move or stay put. The idea is to make yourself attractive to another company or the one you work for now.
Are you working within the prescribed brand? Does no good to Fight City Hall. You will loose and your frustration possibly will manifest itself in your work. Worse. I propose you objectively, as much as possible, park your ego and take stock of where things stand with your career now.
- What is in your Contract?
Do you have market outs? If so, which ones are you interested in? Would moving affect your personal life? - What is the mutual notification timeline between you and your employer? Update your resume, making sure it is factual, to the point and one page. No clever fonts or any other paper color than white, otherwise you may stand out for the wrong reasons. No self flattery about yourself.
- You can update your resume DVD and build a library of links. Your work can be stored on YouTube and the settings can be set to either public or not. You are able to control who sees what on YouTube.
- You really need to update your content on YouTube, as well. It’s not helpful if you are outdoors in winter clothes, pitching a job in April, May or June….Unless it is some of your best work.
- Keep in mind that this is now a links driven business. Potential employers often want to see links, first. So, be ready for that.
- Have three ready to email, all the time. Remember too, they can usually get on your station website and see what you did today, yesterday, last week……whatever. I advise to treat as many work days as possible, as an audition. You never know when a possible employer is checking your work.
Your Look —Wardrobe
- Take a look at your wardrobe. I usually encourage clients to stay away from plaids and stripes because patterns too frequently clash with graphics add pounds. Also, viewers might be looking at the patterns you are wearing and miss your lead. The eye can work that way.
- Anyone familiar with my philosophies will tell you I am adamant that black is no one’s color. Dark complexions blend into black and lighter complected people usually look like ghosts, against black.
- It’s about colors that flatter your skin tone and hair color. End of the day solids are your best friend, as long as they are not Gothic. Greys and lighter colors, even pastels will work better for you.
Your Hair
- How about your hair? It is important you personally, as well as to the audience, plus those viewers who look at your work for professional/hiring purposes.
- Don't post any Hip pictures of yourself anywhere. All your pictures must look professional, reflecting what you do.
- Generally speaking shoulder length hair or a bit longer, with sweeping bangs, seems to still be The Look. It depends on the shape of your face and build how far you go, in terms of length.
- I see this look all the time with TV/Film Talent here in the land of endless beauty queens. (The Philippines) You may not know it, but The Philippines is one of the fashion world’s trend setters. One reason is the Filipino wardrobe approach is understated elegance.
- Lastly if you color your hair, make sure no dark roots are showing and try to use as little spray as possible.
- Your performance is affected by your dietary practices. There are plenty of easy to do diets like the Mediterranean one. Can’t go wrong with it.
- End of the day, stay away from packaged or fast foods. They will mess with your energy, complexion, hair, and your attitude.
- Be yourself. Don’t try to be what you think viewers want. Conjuring up a presentation style, which isn’t the real you, will make you look unsure or a phony.
- Your on camera work should be as if you are talking with some one across a table, which half the time you are, when you think about it.
- How is your voice? Not everyone was born with an anchor/reporters voice. Do mike-checks so you are comfortable with your audio decibel.
- If you have a regional accent, practice managing it. If you have to lower it, no big deal. Practice dropping and projecting.
- Don’t over annunciate or stretch out words.
- You should report or anchor using your normal communication style that you do with friends and family.
- If you get breathless, use shorter sentences, which are better for communicating information with, anyhow.
- You are a unique brand which is comprised of look, journalism, presentation and personality.
- Be the brand, you are comfortable with.
- The above will enhance what you do on air.
- Defining or even redefining your brand takes a little patience and a plan. Redefining or freshening you brand is good for you and the viewers. They will notice.
30+ Years Providing Winning Strategies for Television Networks, Stations, Producers And Talent.
Millennium Media Entertainment is a Television News, Programming Development and Marketing Consulting Firm, continuing to do business in the United States. The Company is actively involved with Television Talent Performance, Career Consultation and Representation, on a select basis.
Below is a service outline. This list is designed around individuals and isn’t a Consultation Template, because no two clients are the same.
- Anchoring and Reporting Performance Consultation: Pace, Delivery, Voice Tonality, Voice Overs and developing a Conversational Presentation Style or Brand. Your Brand is your unique presentation signature and how viewers identify with you/your work.
- Daily Performance critiques based on Client provided Links. Feedback via email and/or Skype. At least one status review per week, via Skype.
- Appearance... i.e.…Clothing, Colors, Makeup and Hair
- Health/dietary programs to improve overall health, look and increase performance energy
- Producing, writing and packaging
- Performance Training that fits with Station or Network Brands, industry trends and Strategic Career Planning
- Provide leads, posted job openings and job hunting focusing on the quality companies like Hearst and NBC, avoiding the problematic companies, as I explained yesterday.
- Access to O & O’s, Major Groups and Networks. (Representation Only)
- Demo Development and Consultation.
- Provide Marketing Material Templates...i.e. Stationary, Generic Cover Letters and Bios.
- Consultation Pertaining to New Employment Opportunities.
- Advice for Negotiating New Employment Deals and Contracts. (Consultation Only)
- Contract Negotiations (Representation Clients Only)
- Suggested Tax Write Offs...Such as all Costs Associated with MME Services. (Also cable and computer, phone...Etc.)
- MME will provide receipts for payment for Tax Purposes
President and Chief Executive Officer John Sheehan has over 30 years of Senior Television Management Experience, Consulting Television Station Group Heads, Network Executives, Syndication Presidents, Chief Financial Officers, General Managers, Sales Managers, News Directors and Creative Services Managers about almost every aspect of the Television Business.
Sheehan was Chief News Consultant for Group W Television, later The CBS Owned and Operated Stations in 12 Major US Markets, from 1991 to 1999, responsible for News Content Development, Station Branding and Talent Development.
Besides News, Sheehan consulted several Nationally Syndicated TV Shows including: Win, Lose or Draw, with Burt Reynolds, A Current Affair, The Gail King Show, and Evening Magazine.
Sheehan started Millennium Media Entertainment as a News Program Syndication and Consulting Company in 1999, after being President of the Clemensen Sheehan Rovitto & Company since 1991.
While with CSR, Sheehan worked closely with the CEOs and managements of Allbritton Communications, Anchor Media, CBS Owned and Operated Television Stations, Group W Television (Westinghouse), New World, 20th TELEVISION, Group W Productions, Granite Broadcasting, and CBS’s EYEMARK ENTERTAINMENT.
Sheehan was President and General Manager of Audience Research & Development, from 1988 to 1991. As president, he directed a staff of nearly 60 highly skilled television professionals, providing broadcast research and consulting services to over 120 stations, broadcast and cable networks and syndication clients.
Prior to that, he managed AR&D’s sales and marketing from 1985 to 1988, as Vice President of Client Development. During his time with AR&D, Sheehan increased revenues by over 100%, quadrupling the company’s client base.
Before joining AR&D in 1985, Sheehan was Executive Vice President of SRI Research Center, now The Gallup Organization. He started as Production Manager for SRI in 1978 and within two years, was named Executive Vice President, overseeing all market research and financial operations with a staff of more than 80 people.
Prior to SRI, Sheehan served in the Peace Corps from 1974 to 1978 in the South Pacific. He spent his first year in the region as Director of the Solomon Islands’ Information and Broadcasting Department overseeing a weekly newspaper and the national radio station. He was responsible for each medium’s content, staff development and sales.
In 1974 he was assigned to Kingdom of Tonga as general manager of Tonga Feeds the country’s only source of livestock feed. Sheehan managed all aspects of the company including accounting, inventory, pricing, importing/exporting products, new product development, a farm, government relations, staff development and negotiating foreign aid packages.
When Sheehan left Tonga Feeds, nearly bankrupt when he arrived, the company was earning a 30% profit and influenced 25% of the Kingdom’s economy. Sheehan was offered senior management positions by both the New Zealand and Kingdom of Tonga Governments. He returned to the US in 1978.
Sheehan earned a BA in Journalism from Creighton University. He fluently speaks Tongan, Melanesian Pidgin, with a working knowledge of Cebuano and Tagalo.
Sheehan also served in The United States Marine Corps.
Below is a partial list of the stations and companies that Sheehan has had working relationships, during his 35 plus year career:
Station Groups, Production,
and
Programming Syndication Companies
Allbritton Communications
Anchor Media
ABC News
Belo
Buena Vista Television
CBS News
CBS Television Stations
Cox Communications
EYEMARK Entertainment
Gannett Television
Group W Productions
Group W Television
Granite Broadcasting
Guy Gannet Broadcasting
Hearst Argyle Television
NBC Universal
New World Television
Storer Television
20th TELEVISION (FOX)
United/Cris-Craft Television
Television Stations
Waga Atlanta
Wjz Baltimore
Wbz Boston
Wsbk Boston
Wbbm Chicago
Wjw Cleveland
Koaa Colorado Springs
Wdtn Dayton
Whio Dayton
Kdfw Dallas
Kcnc Denver
Kcci Des Moines
Wdiv Detroit
Wjbk Detroit
Wtvx Ft. Pierce
Wlbt Jackson
Kctv Kansas City
Wdaf Kansas City
Kcbs Los Angeles
Kcop Los Angeles
Wfor Miami
Wtvj Miami
Witi Milwaukee
Wcco Minneapolis
Wsmv Nashville
Wcbs New York
Wesh Orlando
Week Peoria
Kyw Philadelphia
Kpho Phoenix
Ksaz Phoenix
Kdka Pittsburgh
WTAE Pittsburgh
Katu Portland, OR
Wgme Portland, MA
Wtvr Richmond
Wset Roanoke
Wrex Rockford
Kovr Sacramento
Kutv Salt Lake City
Ksbw Salinas
King Seattle
Kmol San Antonio (Woai)
Knsd San Diego
Kpix San Francisco
Wggb Springfield
Wtvt Tampa
Wtsp St. Petersburg
Skype: John.Sheehan67
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