Resume/ Reel Tips

WRITING A COVER LETTER

Generally, it’s best to keep it straightforward. Avoid gimmicky approaches as most internship coordinators and hiring editors have seen them all a dozen times. Also avoid the tale of how you got interested in journalism as it’s cliché. Instead, talk about what qualities and experience you would bring to the position and why you want the position.

Just like writing a story, you have only a sentence or two to grab the reader’s attention, so have a good lead. Avoid a standard opening such as “I am writing to apply for an internship at Newsday” as your opening sentence. Most applicants begin their cover letter that way and it’s boring.

RESUME EXAMPLE

Here are some good RESUME REELS:

NABJ and NAHJ scholarship recipient, Jeannette Reyes, moves to Little Rock, Ar. as a reporter. She was kind enough to share her reel:

“If you have a deer in the headlights look, you’re out. If your first package is a feature, it’s out. That means you have no idea what we do at my television station. We produce hard news.”- news director Neal Bennett of WVIR-TV

“I’m looking for good stories, the type we do on our local newscast, stories about government or crime, that we cover every day. Don’t include something you did when you had an internship in a top 10 market.”-Bennett continues to say.

“The one thing every news director is looking for in a tape is a reason to take it out,” said Mark Kraham, news director at WHAG-TV

Radio Interest
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“My radio reporters are using video cameras to capture audio, we post video packages and text stories on the Web. I’m looking for good writers because I think good writers can work anywhere.” Chris Carl, news director at radio station WDEL

Producing
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Bennett wants to see one full newscast you actually produced and include scripts.

“Tell me why you led with a story, why you chose to tease what you did, what mistakes you made so I know you are self-aware. ” Jerry Post executive news director at KXLY-TV