PressEthic

For anyone who is beginning to feel discouraged by dismal predictions for the job market in our chosen field upon graduation – here’s a small glimmer of hope. An article featured in the October issue of the Radio-Television News Directors Association’s magazine, Communicator (also available on Poynter) titled “Young and In-Charge,” details young news managers, almost all under the age of 30, who are running newsrooms across the country.

According to the article, there are a number of qualities inherent to young leaders that make them a benefit in the media workplace. These include an aptitude for technology, a lack of complacency, fresh ideas and empathy.

News director Kyle Grimes, 29, finds himself directing his staff’s attention to “the digital shift”:

I am in the first generation of people who don't really remember life without some form of a computer. That familiarity with technology has allowed me to adapt to our changing digital business. I think that adaptation would have been much more difficult if I had not been a child of the computer age.

Executive producer Heidi Gojkovich, 30, attested to the benefits of delivering eager and fresh ideas – particularly in smaller markets, where news isn’t always “breaking”:

My age and lifestyle now give me ideas that are often unique and wouldn't have occurred to others. We tend to bring up stories we're personally interested in, and often times, your own life and surroundings and friends are great fodder; you just have to actively seek those ideas out.

According to the article, Executive producer Nicole Graham, 28, “says she doesn't exhibit the 'sense of complacency' that can creep into any news operation":

I think I'm more open to new ideas, trying new camera shots, new segments for shows, etc., than someone who may have 'been there, done that' time and time again.

Many of the TV news managers acknowledged the inaccurate perceptions and fears that they face, both personally and from others. Still, most said that the benefits they deliver are tantamount. Young leaders in a newsroom have an ability to relate well with others, as they can easily recall their recent struggles. This ability to empathize helps to open the lines of communication.

Simply put, the article is an encouraging read for any young person aiming for a level of success within the media industry.