First Jobs: “Producing” Your Way to the Top…

BiB Contributor | Haley Cihock

Good producers are worth their weight in gold. It’s a philosophy worth remembering – not because producers are more valuable than any other employee, but because the most gifted employees have figured out how to think like producers.  Those who’ve picked up this trick rise to the top day in, day out.

For instance, a “dime a dozen” reporter will come into a morning meeting, pitch an idea or two, and do his or her story, and go home.  The reporter who thinks like a producer will determine what he or she needs to do to craft the story more effectively.

This includes determining the focus, breaking apart angles that are better told outside of the main story, thinking of demonstrative stand-ups, and coming up with concepts for graphics that will help drive the content (eliminating wall-paper video).  Similarly, anchors who think like producers will help find ways to drive content.

I’ve preached this concept to a number of individuals over the years; some get it, others do not.  Those who don’t have one common retort: “It’s not my job.” It actually is part of the reporter’s job.  Reporters and photographers are the eyes and ears in the field; they are the last line of defense. Although a producer can help reporters and anchors come up with these concepts; they are not mind-readers.  They are not out in the field nor should they pretend to be.

Regardless of whether the reporter is crafting a break-out element or an anchor tag, it is still part of the same story.  Giving the producer something extra to build around a story makes the story more comprehensive. When one makes the story more comprehensive, one will make the newscast better.  That is what all good producers do.

Tags: breaking, broadcasting, news, producing