Convention Recap: Inside the Hiring Room aka ‘The Wild, Wild West’
The INBA’s Fall Convention in September included a panel featuring two journalists who’ve been job candidates within the last year, with one now helping make hiring decisions.
Brandon Pope is political reporter and anchor at WFLD, the FOX affiliate in Chicago, after eight years at WCIU-TV. Andrew Harvey is Assistant News Director at 25News in Peoria, after working 10 years at WMBD. Here’s some of what they shared with moderator John Kendall of 25News.
What Skills Should an Applicant Have?
Harvey: Skills that match what the team is looking for. A wide range of skills, because in a smaller newsroom, you may be called on to do more. Pope: Not just an anchor who sits there and looks pretty. Think about long-form writing, multi-platform storytelling and building an audience digitally. Harvey: Interactivity is the next thing we’re looking at. The digital stuff has a different feel. Not really scripted. More of a conversation. Pope: We’re very big on not using prompter. You have to be able to go off script, just talk about it.
What Should an Applicant Do Before an Interview?
Pope: Look up the person you’ll be talking to. Find some commonalities. It’s not creeping! Harvey: Know the station that you’re talking to. Don’t get caught up in the conveyor belt of applying. Your preparation and knowledge reflect your curiosity and how you will approach stories. Pope: Make sure you’re easy to find online.
What Questions Should an Applicant Ask?
“What does a day in this role look like?”
“What would make me the most valuable member of your team?”
“Where do you see me fitting into your station?”
“What is the culture like here? Culture of competition? of Collaboration?”
“Will I be able to try new things?”