Q: I am a student at Northern Illinois University. I am happy with my current position as a reporter and editor at the paper, however, I know I would do well in broadcasting and after an "audition" with the director of our television center, he told me I was extremely talented for it and must pursue it. Am I foolish to pursue classes in both print journalism and broadcasting? Am I naive to believe that an anchor position may actually be obtainable for me in the future? What is the best realistic approach to achieving a dream of gaining a career in broadcasting for television?
A.H.
A: You would be foolish if you did NOT pursue opportunities and avenues while you are in college. This is what college is FOR. Try it. If you are good at broadcast journalism and love it, GO for it. If you feel you are better for print or like it more, stick with print. It will not hurt you to study both. If you do not pursue broadcast further, I think you will always regret that decision, wondering f you made a mistake. So, check it out.
Is it realistic to believe you can become an anchor? I don’t know. It is a long shot for anyone at this stage, I don’t know your abilities and I don’t know the broadcast market as well as print. The people I do know in broadcast say it is tough. Tough to break in, tough to put food on the table in those first years. For those who make it and love it, though, the rewards are big. I think you have time to pursue journalism (the root of both print and broadcast) now, but I would soon get myself into a TV station to get a look behind the scenes, and I would try to get a TV internship to test the waters and start meeting some people who can answer your questions. Increasingly, we are seeing partnerships or one-company convergence where a journalist can do both print and broadcast. You could become an ideal candidate for one of those jobs, and find it to be every rewarding.
I worked in both print and broadcast in college, because I was curious about both, but decided that print was for me. I have not had the regrets I might have had if I didn’t experience TV, and working in that medium helped my print skills. It was a benefit all the way around.
