Additional Information
Most of those who go into TV producing have a degree or diploma in broadcasting
or journalism.
There are lots of educational pathways to television production, says producer
Scott Evers. "There are so many different ways of coming to this. You can
go the route of [a] journalism or communications major. You can also go into
filmmaking. We have several people on our staff that come from writing backgrounds
and they're doing very well."
Evers says it's not easy to find people with strong writing and creative
skills.
There are a variety of programs available across North America, from a
two-year technical course to a graduate degree in journalism.
Be sure you want to work in this field before you take the training. Producer
Sujata Berry says half the students in her master's program aren't working
as journalists. Some had difficulty finding work, but others found jobs and
decided the work wasn't for them.
Vernon Stone works with the journalism school of the University of Missouri.
He advises learning as much as you can. You may want to volunteer at a local
cable TV station. Volunteer work will also help distinguish your application
to broadcast and journalism schools.
"Start getting any call letters you can on your resume," advises Kurt Christopher,
a newscast producer. "If you don't have a radio [or] TV station at your school,
volunteer at PBS or your local public access station. A degree will get you
in the door, but experience gets you a job."
There are a lot of people who want to get into television programs and
not a lot of positions available. You should also be aware that a lot of people
who go to school hoping to work in television end up in radio.