I left the ND chair a little more than a year ago. I truly miss the teamwork and close relationships, but I do not miss what the job had become for me. I can only speak for myself, but the 24/7 nature of the business didn’t drive me out, it was the growing apathy of the people signing the checks. We saw the great resignation coming, as Covid was as wrapping up. People have always left the business for quality of life reasons, but a crush of news people flooded the exits and it hasn’t slowed down since. The reasons are simple, almost everyone in the building is overworked, underpaid and is dealing with a lack of support from the very top. In my case, any conversations about newsroom burnout and frustration, were brushed off and I was told to order some pizza for the “team”. At my last station, we dealt with a mass shooting, a mayor charged with crimes and forced to resign, a military helicopter crash with multiple fatalities, rioting and looting in the streets after a peace march got out of control and a police custody death and city coverup, that led to weeks of protests and unrest. This was all while we were down multiple staff position and trying to navigate the new world of gathering news during Covid. During this time you would hope for help and guidance, maybe even a little appreciation for the hard working people in the trenches. Instead, it was always about doing more with less. Ratings are up, add newscasts. Can we add a few more people to the “team”? No - times are tough because of Covid. How about raises? Yep - 1% at the end of the year 😉 Ultimately, I made a decision that was best for myself and my family. The best part of not being a News Director anymore, I don’t have to look people in the eyes and tell them that signing a two year contract for about $15 an hour is a good idea!!! The good news is that this is a fixable problem. News is too important to let it continue to die off, but it has to start with the people signing the checks!
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
Steve, your response is eye-opening and refreshing. For years, I was under the impression that most News Directors and other newsroom leaders didn't care. Thanks for your honest transparency.
Excellent perspective, Steve. Also killing the business are corporate criminals, who, while in debt up to their necks ($60 billion in debt, in the case of one company that comes to mind), buy stations, hire a bunch of staff, then, within months, unload dozens of employees, to try to "shrink and sell" an asset. It's a despicable formula. Unsuspecting journalists have no idea they've walked straight into a trap, and neither do the managers at the newsroom level, who get whacked, immediately after they make these hires. Agents and their clients are blindsided by the speed of this 'pump and dump' maneuver. The corporate fat cats (other than the ones NOT currently under house arrest) sleep well at night, it seems.
Operations worker here, posting in solidarity because it's the same for our departments. Funny you should mention $15 an hour. That's the exact pay that a #Nexstar station in NY state was recently offering for a producer. Which, coincidentally, was the same as they were paying a photog. AND a paid intern. In the market I live in, they recently posted for a newscast director/photog. Interesting definition of hybrid (shoot on weekdays, punch on weekends? posting didn't say)...for probably not much more. Gray's corporate minimum is better at $18 an hour, but is that even enough right now? For all the emotional strain, bizarre hours and risks of being out in the field that reporters contend with? I think not. Not in any size market. I'm just glad pay-transparency laws are taking effect in more states, forcing stations to show how dismal the pay situation is across the industry. Time for the shareholders to wake up to what's going on down here on our floors. #NarrowTheGap
That's a good word, Steve. I got out of the ND chair a few months ago after 12 years as a local ND and six as "corporate." During my corporate days I worked with dozens of amazing NDs... almost all of whom were struggling with the problems you mention. I couldn't always "fix" the systemic problems... but I was good at helping NDs find solutions within them. So I decided to bounce out of the local ND role and start a company that provides coaching for NDs. News Directors are heroes who deserve every bit of support possible.
Steve, you nailed it. I left the anchor desk after more than 17 years. Everything you mention is an ugly reality — and getting worse. The quality and integrity of the content is also going down hill. Not necessarily because we have poor storytellers or videographers, but because we are expected to do more with less. Shoot and edit your own packages, be sure to post at least 10 times daily on social media, don’t forget you’re web article. And, oh, after your last live shot in the pouring rain an hour out from the station, give us a look live WHIP for the morning show. Work/life balance is what is printed in corporate handbooks, far from the reality of the local newsroom. #RIPtvNews
Steve..you've illustrated my broadcast life for the last few years. I get it and glad you found a new calling. I used to think I would do this for another 10-15 years. Now, I'm not so sure.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and experience.
Media Specialist at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
10moWow. I feel this in my bones. Left in summer of 2022 after 25 years and I haven’t missed it for a second. Crap hours, crap pay, crap business. But here’s the problem… at least at my previous station. Ratings are good and they’re making money. Nowadays that’s all that matters. At my old station I used to really hope the ratings would just crash… anything that would cause station leaders to take a hard look at what was really happening.