Placing talent at the right place, at the right time.
Name: Nima Rajan
Market: N/A
Current Station: CityNews Vancouver
Current Title: Anchor/Reporter
Preferred Title: Anchor/Reporter
Experience: 10 Years
Agent Name: Steve Koles
Agent Phone: (248) 545-2222
Agency: Mort Meisner Associates
They say that patience is a virtue.
Whoever ‘they’ are, they’re right. And nobody knows this better than Mort Meisner – one of the longest-established and most successful TV news talent agents in the business
In his 25 years of placing talent, he’s far too often seen young or new talent in their first, second, and even third jobs, impatient to shoot up the ladder to success. And for those with a TV news talent agent who didn’t have their backs, that success was often elusive. To say the least.
There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious and aiming to be the best.
But the news industry can be brutal. And for novice TV news reporters and meteorologists, it can be especially daunting. The inclination to grab whatever opportunity comes their way can be very tempting.
And this is understandable. They want to get ahead, make a name for themselves, and, of course, enjoy the financial benefits that come with a higher-paying job. As Meisner has seen, however, such impatience can result in career issues and even disaster. He calls this “short-term gain in long-term pain”
He’s witnessed many truly talented people blow up their careers because they simply weren’t ready for the job(s) they landed. As just one case in point, a young woman whose father was the president of a major network was repeatedly pushed into jobs that didn’t yet suit her. She simply wasn’t ready. And so she failed miserably, over and over again.
Discouraged and burnt out, she was washed out of the business. She would eventually resurface and with proper guidance, encouragement, and patience, would become the host of a nationally televised syndicated tabloid show. Yes, this was a happy ending. But she didn’t get there without having to go backward market-wise – and with a lot of suffering along the way.
Any agent worth his or her salt does more than simply place talent.
An experienced TV news talent agent provides stellar guidance to talent throughout the term of their existing contract while helping them to prepare for their next opportunity. It’s up to the agent to counsel the talent on what is appropriate for them in terms of their ability and experience and to inform them when the best opportunity opens for them.
At the end of the day, a solid agent helps burgeoning talent understand what they’ll be getting into with a new job and whether they have the chops yet handle it. In other words, they have to be unafraid to tell the talent what they need to hear versus what they want to hear. Even if that means advising talent to be patient and stay somewhere an extra year on an extension or even two years on a new contract if it’s going to benefit them in the long run.
Because that’s their job.
If you feel that your TV news talent agent is more interested in making a buck on placing you than seeing you advance as a person, then it’s time to switch gears.
Contact Mort Meisner today to see how he can help you do more than just climb that ladder to success.
He’ll show you how to thrive.
If you’re an adventurous and curious person who still believes in the power of media, you may be considering working as a broadcast news anchor, reporter, broadcast meteorologist, or sports reporter.
It’s a good plan – given that there are still distinct perks of being in local broadcast news.
Possessing the ability to deliver an interesting story in a concise and compelling way is an obvious requirement, of course. And you need to have the personality and the flair to resonate with your audience. But if you have all of that in place, a career in local broadcast news could be for you.
Even though the industry is evolving and adapting to the presence of online news, it still attracts bright and driven people because of the many benefits it offers. Among them are the following:
Working in a newsroom, your job is dictated by deadlines. And you want to deliver the best story (based on facts) within the parameters of those deadlines. This is exciting enough. But you may also be outside the newsroom, where the ACTUAL action occurs, to report on it.
As a local news broadcaster, you’ll interview a wide range of diverse people who hail from a variety of backgrounds. This is an invigorating aspect of the job for those who are highly social. It’s energizing to be around and hear the stories of people from all walks of life.
As a local journalist, it’s your job to know what’s happening in your community and the people who keep things running. This makes you more deeply connected with where you live and the people around you. You know the intricacies of your community in a way that most don’t.
If you’re a curious person who loves to learn and explore, broadcast journalism is a job that pays you to do just this. You’ll continue to broaden your knowledge on all sorts of topics through investigating events occurring in your community. You’ll likely learn something new every day.
Many people work in the confines of a cubicle or an office, performing their job day after day. This isn’t to say that what they’re doing is not important. But it’s often not recognized as such. As a broadcast journalist, the research, writing, and reporting you do from day to day is public and provides insights to an audience.
In line with not wanting to sit in an office or at a desk all day, local broadcast news journalists have the chance to be out and about in the community. It may not be every day, and it varies from job to job, but chances are you’re not going to be sitting in the same spot 40 hours per week.
If you find the perks of being in local broadcast news appealing, be sure to check out our blog on how to pursue these careers.
And if you’re already established in the business and are looking for a highly experienced TV news agent to take you to the next level, contact us today.
We’re all about the integrity in the news.
If you’re a TV news reporter having trouble landing a job, it could be your demo reel.
Although it may not seem like it, a lot goes into coming up with a great demo reel for TV news talent. And your current demo reel may not be highlighting your talents in the best light.
One of your best resources is an experienced TV news talent agent who can guide you on best practices.
According to Mort Meisner, one of the most well-known and seasoned TV news talent agents in the country, there are various “tricks” reporters can use to make their reels memorable to the average hiring manager.
For example, Meisner recalls a reel he saw when he was a managing editor in Chicago many years ago. The talent was applying for an anchor/reporter job and she had a montage in her reel that showed her in a leotard doing somersaults, jumping jacks, and other high-energy movements.
No, she wasn’t showing off her body. She was showcasing her fitness level to demonstrate that she was fit for reporting on the “mean” streets of Chicago. She not only got the interview, but she got the job.
Years later as an agent, he worked with a news reporter who had a strong demo reel that highlighted her experience as a hard-hitting reporter. Yet, hiring managers were not biting. It wasn’t until she sent Meisner footage of her tackling a pig at a rodeo that he realized they needed to put that shot in her montage. Not surprisingly, that memorable component sparked enough interest to land her an interview. And she ultimately got the job.
Memorability matters.
According to Meisner, there are guidelines but not steadfast rules for making demos. He does have certain recommendations he offers news talent depending on their career goals.
If you’re an anchor reporter, your reel should be in the 13- to 15-minute range. While montages are usually ill-advised for actors, this is not the case for news talent demo reels. As such, Meisner advises a montage that’s about 50% stand ups in the field and 50% shots at the anchor desk. The talent should lead the demo after that with two blocks that showcase his or her area of reporting.
For a reporter, the average demo reel should be a little shorter at about 9-10 minutes. It should begin with a very active minute and a half to two minutes of montage with active, engaging stand ups demonstrating shots of walking and talking. This should be followed by three or four packages, preferably with live wraps. It’s critical the reporter be in the story. Hard news reporters should also include a super feature story.
With an impressive roster of clients, it’s clear that Mort Meisner knows how to put together a great demo reel for TV news talent.
So if you feel that your demo reel isn’t getting you the attention you need to move forward on your career path, contact us today.
And let Mort help get you on track!
If you’re a sports buff but not exactly a star athlete, you may be considering what it takes to be a TV news sports reporter.
After all, sports broadcasters get all sorts of perks, including regularly attending live events and, if you make it big, some degree of fame and recognition.
There is work involved, however. And the road to becoming part of a TV news team can be just as demanding as being part of a sports team.
Your primary goal may be to dazzle your audience with your ability to analyze how a team plays, grasping offensive and defensive lines, and reporting on a specific athlete’s wins, losses, injuries, gameplay, and strategy. You’ll also have a chance to educate viewers by interviewing players, coaches, and ancillary staff – as well as engage with sports fans and the audience themselves.
But being a TV news broadcaster goes beyond your on-air abilities. You’ll also need to know how to operate video and audio equipment, write articles about sports news and individual games, edit your report for conciseness and accuracy, share your analysis of a game, team, or sports industry, and possibly host radio shows or podcasts with guests.
Once you determine you want to be a sports reporter, one of the best things you can do is start studying seasoned sports broadcasters whom you admire. And watch or listen to those you don’t too. You can also study great sportscasters from the past. It’s all good information that will help inform how you might conduct interviews, recap a game, or give play-by-play calls down the road.
Also, it’s crucial to get some experience under your belt. Perhaps you offer to write sports for your local newspaper or website. You could play in a local league. And never underestimate the power of coaching Little League sports.
Meanwhile, if you’re still in high school, you could write sports articles for the school newspaper or sign up to be an announcer for your high school’s morning show. You could also volunteer to set up lights at games or work on the production team behind the scenes. Any kind of experience in sports, communication, and broadcasting is going to make you more desirable to a future employee or potential college.
Speaking of which…
You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from a reputable school to work as a sports broadcaster. There are a number of degrees you can choose from though. A degree in sports communication or broadcast journalism is a good place to begin your exploration. You may not need to be so specific though. Depending on your goals, you may find a more generalized degree in broadcasting or communication could do the trick.
Whatever program you choose, it’s important that it covers writing for media, as well as production processes for television, radio, and spoken communication. Some colleges or universities offer electives such as sports entertainment or history of athletics (as just two examples) that will broaden your sports broadcasting repertoire.
While you’re still in school, you may be given the opportunity to work as an intern at a station. Do so. An internship will help you gain real-world experience in the industry. Furthermore, you’ll be able to connect with professionals who can answer questions and inspire you on your path.
In fact, many employers in the industry will require you to complete an internship before they’ll even consider hiring you.
If you feel you have what it takes to be a TV news sports reporter, then get out there and make it happen!
And know that once you’ve landed your first job and gained valuable experience, you’ll benefit from a seasoned TV news talent agent such as Mort Meisner.
With many decades in the industry and an impressive roster, he has the connections that will help you to truly make a name for yourself as you move forward.
If you have thoughts about becoming a broadcast meteorologist, chances are you enjoy science but also have a desire to entertain. Because this is an unusual combination, it makes you uniquely qualified to become a broadcast meteorologist.
Working as a broadcast meteorologist requires you to balance the know-how to provide essential and sometimes unpleasant information about the weather with the ability to entertain.
So if that’s appealing to you, the next question is, now what?
Becoming a broadcast meteorologist is different from becoming a news anchor or reporter.
As a meteorologist on the news, you’ll be responsible for more than just reporting the weather. You’ll need to provide viewers with tips to prepare for severe weather, stay abreast of any updates to conditions, and keep up with the latest scientific research and technology in your industry.
Once you commit to taking this career path, there are essential steps you’ll need to complete to ensure your success. They are as follows:
It’s certainly not enough to be interested in the weather. Every meteorologist has a bachelor’s degree in meteorology or atmospheric science. This is usually a four-year program at a qualified college or university. But it will give you the foundations in meteorology, math, and physics you’ll need to cover the scientific side of the job.
You may want to look for universities that offer specialized programs in broadcast meteorology that combine the scientific side with journalism or communication courses to strengthen the entertainment component.
While you’re completing your degree, take advantage of internships or entry-level positions available to you. These will provide you with real-world experience and knowledge while developing your communication skills. You’ll also be able to start making contacts with others in the industry.
Some media outlets offer internships or jobs for aspiring broadcast meteorologists. Private weather consulting firms as well as government agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are also valuable sources for these.
No, you’re not required to obtain a broadcast meteorology certification. But if you do, it’s going to look good. Such certification will boost your credentials and increase your job prospects. You can get this certification through The American Meteorological Society (AMS) and you’ll need to pass an exam and meet certain education/experience criteria.
Once you have some time under your belt in your internship/entry-level position, you’ll be able to start building a demo real that highlights your weather forecasting and reporting abilities, as well as showcases your on-camera skills. You don’t want to skip this step, as it will be a critical part of your job search.
You know the adage – it’s not what you know but who you know. It’s both though. So once you have some broadcast meteorology experience, it’s important you begin making vital connections with industry professionals.
Perhaps start by joining a professional organization such as the National Weather Association (NWA) or the AMS. Also – and this one is fairly easy – connect with industry professionals on social media platforms such as LinkedIn.
Once you’ve completed all of the above, it’s time to get down to business and start applying for jobs. A good place to start is with local television stations. They will often hire broadcast meteorologists on a part-time or full-time basis. If that doesn’t appeal to you, you can consider working for weather consulting firms, or explore freelance opportunities.
Then once you have some experience in the field, you can work with an experienced news talent agent who can help you forward your career from there.
If you feel confident about becoming a broadcast meteorologist and are ready to pursue this avenue, we hope you found this article helpful, and we wish you the best of luck.
Then once you have some experience and are seeking representation, don’t hesitate to contact us.
With decades of experience as news talent agents, we have the experience, expertise, and CONNECTIONS to get you noticed.
Name: Kelsey Kernstine
Market: #3
Current Station: NewsNation
Current Title: Anchor/Reporter
Preferred Title: Anchor/Reporter
Experience: 10+ years
Agent Name: Mort Meisner
Agent Phone: (248) 545-2222
Agency: Mort Meisner Associates
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
