Random, but I find it interesting there are so many news directors jobs open in addition to producer openings. What is going on in these newsrooms? I mean, I know why I left TV News in 2017, but why is everyone else leaving and where are y'all going???? #TVNews #Broadcasting #Producers #NewsDirectors
My wife worked for a national network as a producer. They treated their employees very well until they were sold to two private equity firms. Layoffs ensued. The producing ranks became thin. 10 and 12 hour days became more and more common. Work/life balance was a joke. The woman who headed the TV side constantly berated the staff. My spouse had a number of stress-related illnesses but was finally able to retire. Turnover became frequent. The place now has less than half the ratings it used to.
It’s insane!!!! And it’s not a good sign at all. Some serious changes need to be made to the bizz.
I was out for 15 years, came back, left again, came back😂. For some, News is in the blood, for others it’s not. With so many developed skills and options Journalists have, combined with the pursuit of mental wellness being a priority, it’s inevitable that shifts in Newsrooms will continue to occur. Some go into Real Estate, some PR, some try freelance producing, some go on a sabbatical.
So many producers are fleeing the scene. Overworked, underpaid, and the stations are understaffed. After awhile, they can only handle so much!! There are so many amazing careers that need their skills!!
overworked amd underpaid, no one cares for mental health, no work-life balance, a person can only take so much.
Being overworked, underpaid and feeling disrespected is why I left. Journalism was my passion, but I couldn’t take the bad hours, bad pay, and toxicity of the environment anymore. I had to get up at 1:45am to be at the station at 3:30am and on-air at the anchor desk by 4:30am… with an hour commute. If on-air talent is getting paid lousy, behind the scenes colleagues, like producers, are probably getting paid worse. Eventually, if you want a life, It’s unsustainable. Perhaps the constant turnover nowadays is driving News Directors away. Overall, the profession of journalism has been cast in a negative light over the past 6-7 years… it doesn’t seem like there are many upsides anymore to all the sacrifices it requires.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Crazy hours, laughable pay, and unrealistic demands. I left last year after 34 years in TV. Started my own biz and never looked back.
Director Of Communications at Richland Rentals
10moEvery time you move stationed you start at the bottom of the totem pole with regards to shifts/holiday work- but they only way to move up is to move stations. I made $39k after six years of grinding from 3am-12pm (if I ever got off on time, which was rare), with no promotions or chance of it, while also working holidays and weekends…so I silently quit until I actually could quit. From those I know who are still working in news- nothing has changed. Between that and the fact that you are constantly bombarded with horrible news (think of all the storiesyou read/watched and sorted through on Newsource and wires that DIDN’T go on air..), it’s not worth it. People’s views of journalists has drastically changed too, and I didn’t enjoy people berating me when I told them what I did for a living. 98% of them didn’t understand what working in news is actually like, but it still sucked. Stations here now only require a high school diploma to be a producer. 🙃