...with
David Foster.
I'm asked a lot by interns and recent
graduates: "How do I get into tv sports?" The
short answer is that there are many different ways to
do it ... but the common ingredient in all of the ways
is having a goal and being persistent.
A sports job landed right out of college
can come from being extremely talented, extremely well
connected or just extremely lucky. Most don't land a sports
job right off the bat, however. For some, like myself,
you have to take the first job offered and then try to
talk your way into the sports department. My first job
was as a news photog in a small bureau in East Texas.
I was glad to have it at the time because I'd gone 8 months
since graduating college with out any type of broadcasting
job. In fact, I was delvering food just to make ends meet
when the offer was made.
Once I got my foot in the door, I asked
if I could work on my own time to shoot and report a few
packages. That became a once a week item and soon led
to a sports reporter/photographer position at the same
station. Sometimes I see young men or women that are too
locked in on getting a job that HAS to be in sports. If
it's your first one, you might have to take the best thing
that comes along at the time and be persistent about showing
your skills in sports, too. Volunteer to shoot sports,
or cut a package.
Have a plan and follow it through.
But be flexible and aware enough to adapt the plan if
a better opportunity comes along. Good luck!
David Foster is a sports reporter/anchor for NewsChannel
6 in Shreveport, LA. He is currently in his second stint
at KTAL. Dave worked there first from 1994-1996. The Nashville,
Tennessee native is a graduate of the University of Tennessee
('93).
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