The Meteoric Rise of Allen Devlin

October 31, 2024 by

If you’re searching for a TV news talent agent, you certainly want one with connections. And you also want one with an impressive roster of talent.

But it’s more than just judging the numbers. Taking a look at the success of that talent is also important.

Choosing an agent who recognizes amazing talent and knows how to get him or her the best exposure is crucial. The amazing rise of Allen Devlin is the perfect example of this.

The Story of Allen Devlin

Of course, an agent cannot be solely responsible for a client’s success. There are always going to be those who have more natural talent than others. They’re just hard-wired for it. Still, no matter your level of talent, having an experienced agent can give you distinct advantages.

When Allen Devlin reached out to his current agent Mort Meisner 3 1/2 years ago, he was a reporter at the NBC affiliate in Greenville, South Carolina. Demonstrating serious natural talent, he’d already won several prestigious awards.

His goal was to get back to his hometown of Atlanta though. So he reached out to Meisner to figure out how to make that happen. Devlin had a fantastic reel that Meisner oversaw. With that, Meisner was able to take advantage of his multiple contacts at the CBS affiliate and other stations in the market. Soon enough, there was a bidding war for Devlin’s services.

Recognizing true talent, several stations in the Atlanta market and beyond were courting Devlin. He landed seventeen interviews and received nine offers. He ultimately accepted one of those offers in his hometown of Atlanta. Since that time, he has continued to grow as a reporter and has become an outstanding anchor.

The Talent Has to Do the Footwork Too

The reality is, not everyone has Devlin’s natural ability. But everyone can have his work ethic and commitment to excellence.

While Meisner and his experience as an agent have been invaluable to Devlin, it was Devlin’s commitment to being better today than yesterday and better tomorrow than today that made all the difference. He regularly sought out guidance from Meisner and used him the way a client should always use their agent. Not a week has passed in the last 3 1/2 years without Devlin and Meisner talking at least once.

And it’s paying off.

Most recently as his contract ended, they did a national search. There was significant interest for Devlin at his current station, as well as stations in Los Angeles, Boston, and New York. Ultimately, it was WCBS in New York that won out where Devlin most recently joined as anchor/reporter.

A truly meteoric rise.

You Need an Agent Who’s Got Your Back

If you’re an anchor, sports reporter, meteorologist, or reporter looking for an agent who is truly committed to your success, then contact us today.

While you may not reach the same heights as Allen Devlin, if you’re dedicated to being the best you can be, you will be given the same attention and exposure.

We guarantee it.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With:

Could You Become a News Reporter or Anchor?

October 21, 2024 by

If you find broadcast journalism exciting, you may wonder what it takes to become a news reporter or anchor.

On the surface, it may look like an easy enough job. How hard can it be to sit behind a desk and read news stories, right? Plus, you’d become something of a local celebrity.

But that’s a gross oversimplification.

What Does a News Reporter or Anchor Do?

Obviously, it’s so much more than sitting behind a desk and reading. As a news reporter, you do research and conduct interviews to investigate news stories. Then you find a way to share the information in an accurate but interesting way.

You also contribute to articles and features related to any story you’re assigned. Furthermore, you must be able to determine the accuracy of any facts you gather and work with editors and producers to create on-air reports.

News reporters and anchors often work under tight deadlines and there are times you’ll need to conduct follow-up reporting on your stories. You will also need to have some familiarity with operating the technical and recording equipment needed for covering stories live and in the field.

Even if you’re able to do all of that, becoming a top-notch news reporter ultimately comes down to skills.

The Skills You Need to Become a News Reporter or Anchor

If you’ve read this far and think, ‘Yeah, I can do this,’ the next step is to ensure you have the necessary skills.

First and foremost, you must have great communication, interviewing, and public speaking skills. Meanwhile, when you’re not on camera, you’ll need to possess advanced research and writing skills as well as creativity and storytelling abilities.

The most successful news reporters and anchors know how to work well under pressure, meet deadlines, manage their time, and pay attention to detail. The ability to problem-solve and to work well on a team are also essential skills. You’ll also need an understanding of journalistic best practices and ethics – which will become more attuned with education and time working in the field.

So Then What Does It Take to Become a News Reporter or Anchor?

Most news reporters receive a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or a related field. The programs in these degrees offer priceless knowledge and experience in reporting, writing, and broadcast practices and ethics.

While you’re still in school, you’ll want to start building a portfolio you can present to hiring managers once you graduate. As the top news talent agents can tell you, broadcast journalism is a highly competitive field. So you’ll need to create a body of work to present to hiring managers.

Consider beginning with student broadcasts that will enable you to get on-camera and in-field clips you can use in your portfolio. If you’re able to snag an internship or even land employment at a small or local news network while finishing your degree, grab it. You’ll be presented with a variety of opportunities and gain valuable experience working with professionals in the field.

In essence, get as much broadcasting experience under your belt as possible so that your portfolio material and resume make a statement. This will also be key in acquiring an agent when the time comes.

Finally, never underestimate the importance of networking. Connect with industry professionals and influencers whenever the opportunity arises. This includes broadcast professionals, editors, producers, and writers. Building a strong social network will increase your chances of finding work and could lead to exciting opportunities in the future.

Do You Have What It Takes?

If you’re ready to embark on the exciting journey to become a news anchor or reporter, we hope the information in this article helped and we wish you the best of luck.

And if you’re already on that path, have some experience, and are now seeking representation, contact us today.

With decades of experience as news talent agents, we have the experience, expertise, and CONNECTIONS to get you noticed.

Filed Under: Blog

What Are the Qualities of Great TV News Talent?

October 14, 2024 by

Are you currently working as a broadcast journalist but having trouble landing jobs? Is this confusing because you’re frequently told that you’re good at what you do?

You very well may be a good meteorologist or reporter. But just as in any profession, certain skills and traits are required to excel as a broadcast journalist.

So what are the qualities of great TV news talent?

Qualities of Great TV News Talent

First and foremost, the key to landing more work and moving up in the industry starts with serious leadership skills. Especially if you’re jockeying for a prestigious position such as lead anchor.

It’s not enough though to be a strong leader. As any top-of-the-line TV news talent agent will tell you, there are additional traits and skills you should possess.

  1. Be a Great Storyteller

If you want to advance as a broadcaster, you need to be able to get to the bottom of a story. And this requires solid investigative skills. You should know the right questions to ask to get the answers and relevant information that will move the story forward. Because at the end of the day, a great reporter is a great storyteller.

  1. Have Excellent Communication Skills

Hopefully, you were drawn to broadcasting because you love to connect with people. But you also need to be able to speak on camera to your unseen audience. What’s more, those communication skills need to come across in your writing, as well as when working with your team. After all, creating a newscast is about teamwork on BOTH sides of the camera.

  1. Handle Pressure with Aplomb

Great TV news talent not only handles pressure with aplomb, but they thrive on it to some degree. News media is driven by sometimes fierce deadlines and a short amount of time to meet them. So being able to handle pressure without crumbling is essential.

  1. Focus on Source Development

Regardless of how long you’ve been in your current community, or in the industry as a whole, a committed broadcast journalist is always ready to give his or her contact information to community leaders such as city council members, the police, government officials, etc. Source development is key to staying relevant.

  1. Take Advantage of Social Media

Everyone knows that the news isn’t limited to 5,6, and 11. It hasn’t been that way for many decades. 24-hour news cycle channels put the kibosh on that. In addition, the advent of social media enables people to be involved with current events at ALL TIMES. Therefore, being able to navigate social media is a necessity.

  1. Prioritize Authenticity and Curiosity

Regardless of how much your education in broadcasting may have taught you to express sincerity, you can bet that the modern viewing public can easily spot if you’re being fake. And if you’re seen as insincere, you will not go far. The TV news talent greats have always been truly curious and passionate about their work, as well as the audiences they serve.

  1. Show Integrity and Humanity

In line with being authentic and curious, successful broadcast journalists know the importance of exposing their own integrity and humanity. Any robot can report the news. Just ask AI. By bringing in a human element and circling back to being a storyteller, you’re delivering a product that AI will never be able to accomplish. Audiences (of honest media outlets, at least) are still looking for good people on screen.

  1. Just Generally Live a Well-Rounded Life!

Finally, and this could be the most important one, be sure you’re striking a balance in your life. Easier said than done, we know. But any broadcast journalist who claims that they eat, drink, sleep, and breathe news isn’t passionate so much as neurotic. And this will come across. So it’s important to have diversions.

Forward Your Career with a Highly Experienced TV News Talent Agent

Now that you understand the qualities of great TV news talent, you may be wondering where to turn to fine-tune some of those skills.

Your talent agent should be assisting you with every aspect of your career and not just finding placements for you. If that’s not the case, then contact us today.

Our seasoned TV news talent agents know the importance of well-rounded talent and we go the extra mile to ensure that you’re the best anchor/reporter/meteorologist/sports reporter you can be.

Filed Under: Blog

Courtney Bennett

October 7, 2024 by

Fast Facts

Name: Courtney Bennett
Market: 71
Current Station: WEYI/WSMH
Current Title: Reporter/Anchor
Preferred Title: Reporter/Anchor
Experience: 9 Years

Agent Name: Mort Meisner
Agent Phone: (248) 545-2222
Agency: Mort Meisner Associates

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Filed Under: Anchors & Reporters, Talent

TV News Talent Agent Has VERY Wide Reach

October 2, 2024 by

Think about the last time you watched a newscast. You probably had some familiarity with the anchor, news reporters, sports reporter, and/or meteorologist. And why wouldn’t you? They’re the faces of the news business.

But have you ever considered what goes on behind the scenes? Chances are, every news person in front of the camera has an effective TV news talent agent backing them every step of the way.

So it’s a rare event when a newscaster references their agent on the air. It’s an even rarer event when the person the newscaster is interviewing has the same agent!

Mort Meisner Reps Both Markie Martin and Stacey Rusch

 

In a highly rare newscasting moment, Markie Martin interviewed Stacey Rusch today on NewsNation and referenced that they both had Mort (Meisner) as an agent. This is indicative of Meisner’s huge presence in the industry.

If you’re not familiar, Martin is the current co-anchor of the morning show “Morning in America” on the NewsNation Network. She started on the ground-floor team of NewsNation as a correspondent and has covered major stories, including the U.S. border crisis, Hurricanes Ida and Laura, and the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Before coming over the NewsNation, she was the weekday morning show anchor for KOCO 5 News (ABC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she covered the Oklahoma teacher strike, the 23rd anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, and the investigation into the disappearance of eight-year-old Kirsten Hatfield. She began her broadcast career at KTEN News (NBC) in Denison, Texas, as both an anchor and reporter there.

Meanwhile, Stacey Rusch is a former host of the QVC home shopping network. It was a job that she loved, but she decided to leave QVC to raise her daughter. Now she’s back on the scene. Rusch is one of the cast members of The Real Housewives of Potomac for the series’ ninth season.

The reality show (which premieres on Sunday, October 6th on Bravo at 8pm) follows several women including Rusch, former Miss District of Columbia Pageant winner Ashley Darby, Robyn Dixon, the ex-wife of former NBA player Juan Dixon; and philanthropist Gizelle Bryant.

You Want an Agent Who Is Well Known in the Industry

When you’re seeking a TV news talent agent, you definitely want someone with an impressive pool of clients.

Mort Meisner is clearly that someone.

So if you’re struggling to get the placement you want, contact Mort today. He’s so well-connected that even his clients are referencing him on air to one another!

Filed Under: Blog

Joey Ellis

September 24, 2024 by

Fast Facts

Name: Joey Ellis
Market: #21
Current Station: WJZY
Current Title: Sports Reporter/Anchor
Preferred Title: Sports Reporter/Anchor
Experience: 5 Years

Agent Name: Steve Koles
Agent Phone: (248) 545-2222
Agency: Mort Meisner Associates

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Contact

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Filed Under: Anchors & Reporters, Sportscasters, Talent

Are You Getting the Most From Your TV News Talent Agent?

September 19, 2024 by

Whether you’re an aspiring sports reporter or a seasoned anchor, you should be getting the most from your TV news talent agent. But how do you know if that’s happening?

If you’re brand new to having an agent, you may not even be aware of what job duties your agent should be performing.

And if you’re been working with the same agent for a very long time, you may have fallen into an established rut where you’ve lowered your expectations. This is a mistake.

What Does the Most from Your TV News Agent Look Like?

Being a TV news talent agent is multifaceted.

Yes, you want an agent with experience in the newsroom so they understand the world you’re navigating. Ideally, an agent with direct experience as a major market news director, assistant news director, investigative producer, managing editor, and/or assignment editor is a great place to start.

(Bonus points for someone who has ALL of the above!)

Not only does this give your agent an edge as far as experience, but it also means that they will have connections that others won’t. And this is crucial.

How Often Does Your Agent Network?

Does your agent regularly attend industry events and conferences? How familiar are they with the top network, large broadcast, and even local executives?

An agent who’s making the extra effort to put themselves out there is going to be more in the know about what decision-makers want when they set out to hire talent.

This means that they should be attending as many conferences and events as possible. Not just the ones that make them look good or are specific to them. For example, if you’re Black and your agent is not, he or she should be attending major events such as the National Association of Black Journalists conference on your behalf – regardless of his or her race.

But connections are just the beginning.

The Job Doesn’t End with the Placement

The single most important aspect of a good agent is not one who merely gets you the best placement in the market you desire. Sure. That’s a big deal and we don’t mean to diminish it. But once you land the job you want (or the one that’s going to help you get that one), how engaged is your agent?

Does your agent regularly ask you to send your work so that they can critique it and make you a more well-rounded reporter, anchor, or meteorologist? If not, they should be.

And if your agent isn’t regularly following up with your employer and asking how you can do better and how they can help you with that, then you’re definitely not getting the most from your TV news talent agent.

A dedicated and serious TV news talent agent is interested in nurturing your continued growth as a reporter/anchor/meteorologist. That means that they stay connected and help you to grow faster in your job or, in cases where you might be faltering, even SAVE your job.

There are plenty of agents that don’t put in this extra work. They’ll even tell you it’s above and beyond their pay grade. And maybe it is. But don’t you still deserve it? (The answer is yes, yes you do.)

And you can have it.

Don’t Settle for Less

If you want to see what getting the most from your TV news talent agent looks like, then contact us today.

You need someone who cares about you before the search, during the search, and after the search to help you stay successful and foster growth as you advance.

As one of our prized clients, you’ll get exactly that.

Filed Under: Blog

How Is Your TV News Talent Agent Accessibility?

September 13, 2024 by

Whether you’re an anchor for a national network or a meteorologist in the smallest market in the country, you should be able to easily access your TV news talent agent. What’s more, he or she should be getting right back to you.

Yet, as the industry grows and expands, an emphasis on TV news talent agent accessibility seems to be less and less of a concern. Especially with newer agents.

This is why it’s important to hire an agent with decades of experience who grasps the importance of being your support system every step of the way and helping you grow your career.

Talent Placement Is Only Just the Beginning

An increasing number of agents feel that once they place talent, their work is done. This is the case regardless of whether the talent is in a major, medium, or small market.

In reality, it’s at this point where they should be going into the next phase. And a good TV news talent agent is going to foster a creative relationship at this juncture. If your agent isn’t asking you to send him or her your work at least once per week (preferably twice) and offering written critiques, then you should start looking for another agent.

Additionally, if your agent insists on communicating only via email and never takes a phone call, this is also a red flag. It is impossible for an agent to properly coach you on your work and go over what needs to be done to make you better through an email.

Your Agent Should Be Telling You What You NEED to Hear

There are those in the news business who believe that their agent should be kissing butt while telling them everything they want to hear. And if you’re not interested in forwarding your career, you can certainly have that. But a good agent will tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear.

For example, your ideal agent should be doing preliminary coaching on writing your voice and tracking your elocution. He or she will also stress the importance of on-camera presence and what you may need to change in regard to hair, make-up, and clothing.

That may sound harsh. But an agent with experience and connections knows that a vice president, news director, or general manager at a station doesn’t want to see someone out covering a tornado in a designer dress or a two-piece suit with a tie. They would encourage you to get out those high boots instead and show a willingness to get your hands dirty and your feet wet.

And while your agent should be willing to offer this level of coaching, he or she should also be transparent enough to tell you if you could benefit from a TV talent coach to help you hone areas where you may be struggling. Again, this is not an indictment. Rather, it’s an indication of how much your agent cares and wants to see you succeed.

Anything less just isn’t worth it.

Yes, TV News Agent Accessibility Is Crucial

When seeking representation, TV news talent agent accessibility and willingness to coach you should be at the top of your list.

And be sure to look into their retention rate too. Agents who truly care about the success of their clients are going to have higher retention rates than those who don’t. So it’s a tell-tale sign.

To get a sense of what such a caring and highly experienced agent looks and sounds like, contact us today. We promise you won’t regret it.

Filed Under: Blog

Stephanie Fernandez

August 23, 2024 by

Fast Facts

Name: Stephanie Fernandez
Market: N/A
Current Station: N/A
Current Title: Reporter/MMJ
Preferred Title: Reporter/MMJ
Experience: 6 Years

Agent Name: Mort Meisner
Agent Phone: (248) 545-2222
Agency: Mort Meisner Associates

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Contact

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Filed Under: Anchors & Reporters, Talent

Jeané Franseen

July 30, 2024 by

Fast Facts

Name: Jeané Franseen
Market: N/A
Current Station: FOX News, Regional
Current Title: Anchor/Reporter
Preferred Title: Anchor/Reporter
Experience: 10 Years

Agent Name: Steve Koles
Agent Phone: (248) 545-2222
Agency: Mort Meisner Associates

Print Resume

 

Contact

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Filed Under: Anchors & Reporters, Talent
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