r/Broadcasting

Please don't be negative. I am aware of what I'm possibly getting into. I have my bachelor's in broadcasting and I did not get off to a great start. I'm hoping this is my foot in the door, but at the very least I want the experience.

It's been a few years since I graduated, and I haven't had an interview. What kind of questions should I expect?

Edit: to be more specific, will I be expected to prove familiarity with different software and systems? I remember some things from the control room at my school, but it has been a while. I plan on brushing up on terminology.

The repeal of the Fairness Doctrine and the rise of profit-driven media catalyzed political polarization in America.
It caused a historical shift from a regulated broadcast era—where stations were legally required to present diverse viewpoints—to a modern landscape dominated by partisan outrage on talk radio, cable news, and social media.
Not long after followed the telecommunications act of 1996 and the 'homogenization of radio' , which led to the consolidation of most of the US media under the boot of a few mega corporations.
Media companies transitioned from informing the public to monetizing anger, using psychological manipulation and algorithms to keep audiences engaged. While I note that the original doctrine was sometimes weaponized by politicians, its absence allowed for an "attention economy" that rewards conspiratorial thinking over civil debate.
Ultimately, the pursuit of commercial engagement has replaced the media's former obligation to serve the public interest

I usually try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt because I know how many things can go wrong beyond your control especially on a scale like this.

I have to say this time though, I am appalled. Horrible camera work, I’m not even sure if they’re using PTZs or what’s going on. Horrible decisions to take cameras mid-movement and then again switching out of them in ways that just don’t look good.

I’m not sure if the bitrate is just me or the platform I’m using but that hasn’t been doing them any favors either. The idents for songs look extremely dated. I just can’t believe how disappointing this broadcast has been. I’m not even here for the fireworks, just checking on an NBC affiliate.

The next decade will see a phasing out of local tv news as we know it.

Photogs and reporters will be phased out in favor of paying local influencers and citizen journalist stringers for content. It’s a cheaper alternative.
Talent will consist of ‘some anchors’ and meteorologists.

Many producers will be phased out as AI will take over the writing and stacking of shows. Only a small handful of producers will remain for quality control and boothing the show.

The production team may consist of a TD but most other roles will be replaced by AI.

Last but not least, YouTube will livestream newscasts so news companies can try and reclaim a bit of ad revenue. (For those that don’t, they’ll lose so much money the local news programming may be canceled altogether).

However popular social media channels dedicated to ‘ambulance chasing’ will eat into what would otherwise be the local news viewing audience which will make it more difficult for news stations to maintain a profitable audience and survive.

Do you see local affiliates eventually abandoning their news operations altogether in favor of syndicated content and prime time shows including live sports & sitcoms? (I know in some smaller markets we’re already seeing this happening)

I’m 25, work as a mainline flight attendant for 4 years making good money, and will graduate in 2028 with my bachelors in Digital Journalism. My goal is to become a national entertainment or bilingual correspondent. I know now days going through local TV isn’t the only way to get there now days, a lot of entertainment correspondents build their own platforms digitally and then transition. If you were in my position, would you leave a stable job for local TV, or build your journalism career while keeping financial stability? I’d especially love to hear from people who work in TV news or at the networks. As much as it’s always been my dream to be a Journalist, I just don’t want to make a decision that I will regret down the road. I read a lot of articles and posts here and I don’t see as many positive things about the field. I’m not sure it’s even still possible to market hop up the markets with everything that’s going on.

Good Fourth of July coverage to ABC and NBC!!!

When I entered the TV "news biz" as a teen in the mid 70's, one of my first mentors warned me that "The only constant in TV news is change."

Boy, was he right!

I experienced the last years of film-based news coverage, the transition to ENG/videotape, the arrival of cable tv, the explosion of local newscasts into every time period imaginable (beyond just "Noon, 6 &10 pm"), live microwave & satellite coverage, the 24 hour news cycle, the internet, and the transition from analog to digital playout & production, plus the rise of the increasing importance of our websites, apps, and FAST/streaming channels, before I finally retired.

That was a helluva ride.

Now, from the sidelines since I have retired, I watch the consolidation of local stations & broadcast groups, the competition from unregulated streaming competitors, and the emergence of individual creators & independent news groups on Substack, YouTube, TikTok, etc and all I can say is:

"The only constant in TV news is change."

Understand, I feel what you are going through!

I have had entire newsrooms shot out from under me along the way (with all of the layoff pain you can imagine), and it never got easier or less stressful.

For those of you still in the thick of an industry that never pays what it should, or rewards the people making it work as it should (and often generously rewards those least responsible for success), as it does, I salute you, and wish you well in a business which Hunter S. Thompson once (in)famously described thusly:

"The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason."

Like the mentor I encountered earlier on in my TV journalism experience, these words - unfortunately - also ring true now that I have left.

"The only constant in TV news is change."

I work at Sinclair‘s corporate headquarters in Hunt Valley, Maryland. I’m in the corp producers department. I produce national content for our stations daily. I’m also willing to answer any and all questions honestly. Lay it on me if you’d like.

Those bastards!

I was looking at the tv schedule for my local cbs station for tomorrow (7/3) and I saw that they aren't airing their morning and noon newscasts for tomorrow. Are there any other stations across the country doing this?

Hi everyone,
I recently bought a Fujinon ZA17x7.6 BERD-S6 broadcast lens and an EPD-21A-A02 Focus Demand. When testing the setup without a B4 camera (with V-Mount battery), the focus servo finds the endpoints incorrectly and makes grinding noises as if it’s trying to go past the mechanical limits.

After contacting Fujinon directly, they confirmed:

* The EPD-21A-A02 is fully compatible with the ZA17x7.6

* Operation without a B4 camera is possible with correct 12V power supply on Pin 6

* They suspect the S6 servo unit may have been removed and not correctly reattached by a previous owner — some screws appear to have been tampered with

Now my questions are:
Has anyone reattached a Fujinon S6 servo unit themselves? The unit has 3 gear wheels that interface with the lens. How do you correctly align and reattach it, and is there any way to recalibrate the servo endpoints without a B4 camera or Fujinon service software?

Any help would be greatly appreciated — trying to avoid sending it to Fujinon service if possible.

Thanks!