Want to Pursue a Career in Broadcast? 3 Things You Need to Know About the Industry!
Is Broadcast the Career For You?
Written By: Taylor Scally
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be in a television newsroom in the morning? Or how it feels to be live, on-air? Are you looking at pursuing a career in broadcast? Are you curious about the hours, work, and demand of the industry? Well, we’ve got you covered! Here are some stories from 3 women leaders in the industry:
1. It Can Be Exhausting
With early mornings, long days and tons of preparation involved, you really need to be aware of how draining a job in the industry can be.
“You have to love what you do, passion is #1. You have to take criticism, not only from your boss, but take it with a grain of salt.”
Canadian lifestyle television personality Marilyn Denis knew she wanted to go into the broadcasting industry since she was a kid. Now, decades later, she’s the host of Canada’s #1 daytime lifestyle series, THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW and co-host of Marilyn & Jamar on CHUM 104.5. It’s not all glitz and glam – Marilyn wakes up as early as 3:45AM to go into the studio and start her work day. The busy schedule of a broadcaster should not be underestimated, but make sure your passion outweighs the negatives!
2. It’s Not Like A 9-5
If there’s one thing you should know about the broadcast industry, it is not your typical 9 to 5 job. Depending on the job, hours could be more flexible or the work day could be a lot longer.
“Prioritizing what your audience wants to hear about…You have to be mindful about whatever I’m personally interested in, the audience that you’re gearing towards might not be interested in the same thing.”
After winning a speech competition regionally in fifth grade, Deepa Prashad realized she loved to talk – and wondered how she could make a career out of it. She’s been a TV host and producer for Family Channel, a video host and producer for blogTO and is currently an entertainment host for Rogers Media. Being in the industry, especially on air, requires a lot of flexibility and stamina to keep up with the demands of the job!
3. Reporting Hard News
Not all news stories are positive. Reporting on violence and talking to grieving families is a heavy part of a reporter’s job.
“When you wake up in the morning, you need to find a story that has a problem. If there’s no problem, there’s no story. And your whole focus is finding a problem.”
Former TV reporter Jennifer Singh knows all there is to know about television broadcasting – the good and the bad. When she started getting sent to funerals or knocking on people’s doors after they had lost someone due to violence, she slowly started to transition out of hard news. The job is hard, but it’s an extremely vital one in our society. Try to chase stories that are important and that you are passionate about – all while keeping the public informed.
There are so many opportunities to make the broadcast industry a more inclusive space for everyone. Like more diverse representation, both in the types of stories and those reporting them, or the way news and entertainment are delivered – you could be the one to make that positive change. Plus, you could end up interviewing celebrities like Selena Gomez or Steve Carell, just like Deepa Prashad! We hope these stories were informative, for more amazing stories from inspiring women listen to the Power in Heels podcast on Spotify and Apple Music.
