More than any position I’ve had (including stints at science museums, higher education, non-profits and owning my own business), people are most intrigued to learn about my TV News life.
“What was it REALLY like?”
“Do you miss it?”
If you are on-air, they’re drawn to the perceived fame and fortune (insert sarcastic laughter here). If you are behind-the-scenes, they’re curious about your connections and what the people on-air act like “in real life”. You likely have family and friends who secretly (or not-so-secretly) are proud to tell others that they know someone connected to a TV station.
And you’re a TV News person, you might have felt it too. There is an appeal to being “in-the-know”, someone others turn to for information. It is empowering knowing you helped take down a bully, promoted a good cause, kept your community aware in an emergency.
For some of you, journalism truly felt like a calling. You didn’t do it for the money. You wanted to be part of the “fourth branch” of the government, holding those in power accountable. You wanted to provide accurate weather forecasts that kept people safe. You wanted to share your love of sports and get paid to attend games. You wanted to serve your community in a meaningful way.
And leaving TV feels like a bit of a failure. Like you couldn’t hack it, like all of your time and effort to get to where you are was a waste.
But it wasn’t.
It’s your passion for and commitment to work that matters. It’s the things you do—storytelling, communicating, producing, editing—that will land you your next opportunity. Not the place where it happened.
It may take time to grieve the loss of your previous identity, but you bring your hard-won skills with you wherever you go.
If you’re a current or former TV News person who is looking to move into remote work, check out my upcoming virtual training, “How TV News Pros Can Land a Remote Job“. It’s going to be on Monday, May 20, 2024 from 10-11am EST and we’re LIVE! Register now to secure your spot, spaces are limited.
