Advice To Aspiring Entertainment Journalists

Throughout the year, I receive emails from broadcast journalism students and young reporters early in their career seeking advice and support in this industry.  It is a tough field that has become even tougher.  The explosion of internet media has quadrupled the talent pool in Los Angeles alone.  I used to audition with the same 30 people only a decade ago.  So, with more opportunities comes more competition and it is important to stand out in a field that is overcrowded with wannabe Giuliana Rancics and Ryan Seacrests.  

Ashley Woodrum from Z-TV contacted me via Twitter awhile back regarding her host reel.  I offered her some feedback and then she asked if I could answer a few questions for her.  I asked for her permission to use her name and her questions here on my blog because I think it is helpful for so many to hear the responses to what she is asking. So, thank you, Ashley, for inspiring this post! 


1. What made you want to be in the entertainment broadcasting industry?

Originally, I set out to work in musical theatre, so working in the broadcasting industry was never on my radar.  In 1997, I was hired to host a children's dance video on how to Electric Slide and Hokey Pokey based on my dance background.  The video (Yes, it was on VHS!) was a success and I received a few other host offers.  My work is really, really raw in that video, so I sought training with Larry Conroy in NYC to go along with my on-camera enthusiasm. I made the big move to Los Angles in 2000 to make my mark in the industry.  

So, my path was not a traditional one, but if you want to work in the entertainment broadcasting in 2012, here are a few recommendations:
     -Broadcast Journalism degree
     -Know how to write, produce, shoot, and edit your own pieces.
     -Be social media savvy:  this includes a Twitter, public Facebook, and Instagram account.
     -Intern anywhere you can to meet and network with people in the industry.
     -Find a mentor whom you can go to for advice and guidance.

2. If you don't mind me asking, how long did it take to really get your first full time job?

My first full-time job came in 2002 when I was hired as a network host for ShopNBC.  It was about 5 years into my career and 2 years into my time in Los Angeles and it required a move to Minneapolis.  While home shopping was not my dream job, it became such a valuable tool in terms of working with an IFB on live TV with a cue card only giving you 5 bullet points on each product you were selling.  My ad-lib skills are so strong as a result of this job.  


3.  What did you do to reach that goal of yours?

The person that changed my career was Marki Costello.  I began taking her host boot camp weekend in the Spring of 2001 and then I continued with ongoing classes throughout the year.  She is a tough teacher, but coming from a dance background, I was used to that type of teaching format:  perform, get constructive feedback, and then do it again the RIGHT way.  Now, Marki is an empire with multiple classes and boot camps all over the US, so I am not sure the focused individual attention from her is on the curriculum as much.  However, there are other great media trainers out in LA that I would probably recommend more now, yet I owe my career to Marki Costello.


4. Could you offer me any other advice in regards to employment? I know this field takes patience, but like I said I'm still looking for that one person to notice me! Sometimes I get a little disheartened because I work so hard, and have yet to have someone pick me up if you know what I mean.

All of the clichés are true here:  "Don't ever give up", "Believe in your dreams", and "Success is when opportunity meets preparation."  You have to know what makes you unique in a very crowded field.  What is the one thing that you get complimented on in regards to your on-camera work?  What do you have to offer an employer that no one else can bring to the table?  If you know what that is, you can work on enhancing that even more on your reel, your blog, and most importantly, your brand.  Even though this is a creative field, it is still a business, so think like an MBA student when it comes to your career.

Also, I find that creating a vision board with personal and professional hopes and dreams helps make my goals a reality.  I keep it in my walk-in closet where I can see my everything I want right in front of me several times a day.  It keeps me accountable for continuing to grow my career.  

5. Also lastly, I was wondering if you could look over my resume and maybe offer me some tips or advice on that? I understand you must be very busy but any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Yes!  Send it on over.  I am happy to help.  You have my email.  If anyone else wants to contact me with more questions, feel free to use the tab above, hit me up on Twitter or Facebook, or comment below. I would be happy to continue this discussion with you and other hosts/entertainment reporters.    

I also do coaching/mentoring sessions that run $75/hour.  If you mention this article, I will give you 20% off.  I am available for in-person consulting in the LA area or via Skype for those who are out of town.  

Oscar Round-Up

With only twenty days until the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, I am furiously gathering dresses, shoes, clutches, and hair styles together so I look somewhat assembled on the big day.  If I am worried about my ensemble, can you imagine being a nominee?  The pressure is on!  Here are some great articles, photos, and news floating around the interwebs to catch up on:

Photo:  Ruven Afanador, Los Angeles Times Magazine

1.  Mila Kunis:  She has looked divine all season long on the red carpet.  It's hard to even believe she is only 5'3" tall because that girl looks downright statuesque in each outfit she adorns.  Check out this fantastic LA Times Magazine article on her and the equally stunning photos by Ruven Afanador.  

Photo:  National Photo Group, People Magazine

2.  Oscar:  Okay, I am not a mama, but don't tell me Natalie Portman is four months along in her pregnancy.  I know a third trimester when I see one. I think we are seeing what I call "Oscar Math". Let's pretend the front runner for the Oscar is only four months along lest the voters do the real math and realize that her fiancé might have overlapped with the ladies.  Yes, it is gossip, but Natalie is not giving birth this summer, it is going to be much sooner than that.  Or, as my friend, Ali, says, "The baby will be 8 lbs. and two months premature."

Photo:  MFL/ZUMAPRESS.com for US Weekly

3. Red Carpet Dress Etiquette:  I've taken some heat for my red carpet dress opinions for The Golden Globes and The SAG Awards, but I still stand by what I said.  The Hollywood Reporter wrote a great article about "The Psychology of The Golden Globes Dress".  Also, Giuliana Rancic, host of E! News, runs down what it is like to prep for the red carpet as a TV host.  It isn't as simple as hopping in a gown and showing up to work.  A lot of thought and consideration goes into choosing a dress even for the red carpet presenters.  I hope this gives you some more insight on what I am talking about in my other articles.

Okay, so now it is your turn.  What are your thoughts on Mila Kunis, Natalie's sketchy math, and all of that darn wardrobe etiquette?  Chime in below.  I am on my way to the Nominees Luncheon today, so I will have all of the scoop from inside the pressroom tomorrow.

Variety is the Spice of Life

If you want to know how varied my career is, take a look at these three videos that all came out this week.  From fitness to technology to the red carpet, I think I have covered it all:

The Rhythm Rocker Infomercial:  See me co-host a fitness video with Giuliana Rancic's personal trainer, Jennifer Galardi.  It was a long day on set, but a really enjoyable one.  Jenn and I got along fabulously and I loved my Lulu Lemon yoga pants.  Any day your butt looks good in tight pants, especially on TV, is a good one!  I hop onto the screen at about the 1:58 mark:

Broadcom: This is the first in a ten-week series delivering a the basics of Bluetooth. Although most of you are well-schooled in hooking up your Bluetooth technology, this video is for your aunt who is just getting rid of her flip cell phone with an antenna and joining the rest of us with Smart Phones.

Summer Festival of Short Films at The Egyptian: Back to my comfort zone, I hop on the red carpet 

to interview the cast and crew of several short films participating in the festival. The red carpet was 

pretty disorganized with actors running IN FRONT of the camera and ruining many interviews. Trust 

me, I have another red carpet post coming your way on this topic soon. It happens more than you think.

Reporting for Mingle Media TV, here's one of the interviews with the cast of Skip Listening:

P.S. I love this screen capture. What the heck am I doing with my hand?