A version of this article was originally published on my lifestyle blog, Mascara Maven.
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Hi, Iām Christina Nicholson - a former TV reporter and anchor who owns and operates Media Maven, a public relations firm. I started my own business after having two kids and quickly realizing that itās difficult to not only find a full time job with a flexible schedule, but a boss who empathizes with the struggles of being a working parent.
For about a year and a half, Iāve been helping other small businesses owners, like me, grow their business through media relations, video production, writing, blogging, and social media.
People think when youāre on TV, you have hair and makeup standing by, and someone is there telling you what to say, and youāre just a face on TV ā someone else did all the work. Not true. At least in my case. Yes, I did have professional hair and makeup done ā but only a handful of times. Sometimes people wrote things for me to say while I anchored, but as a reporter, not so much. And it is A LOT of work ā especially as a reporter, outside, in August, in South Florida! So, let me fill you in on some things you donāt know and donāt seeā¦ behind the scenes.
If youāre a reporter, youāre lucky if you have access to a bathroom. Many times youāre stuck out in some place you donāt want to beā¦ holding it. One time, I was doing a story outside the American Airlines Arena where the Miami Heat play. Nothing was going on at this time, so the main parts of the arena were closed. I was visibly six months pregnant and really had to go. I had a baby pushing on my bladder for goodness sake. Do you know, the ladies working the office in the AAA told me I could not use the bathroom because it was not for public use?! Even after I told them who I was and what I was doing thereā¦ they told me to WALK AROUND THE ENTIRE BUILDING (in my heels mind you) to find a public bathroom. Sidenote: The AAA is not a small building to walk around. On the other hand, many strangers in random neighborhoods have been kind enough to let me use their facilities.
When weāre at crime scenes, which we are a lot, we become detectives and have the whole thing solved by the end of our live shot.
Speaking of crime scenes, I have accidentally stepped in more blood than youād like to know.
When you photobomb our live shots, you are only making yourself look like an ass. I look fine. If I ever went to your job and started jumping and yelling behind you whenever you started talking, people would send me somewhere for a mental evaluation. Youāre an idiot.
If you canāt see my feet ā assume Iām wearing flip flops, because I probably am.
For everyone who gets mad at reporters for the stories we cover, take it up with someone else. We are the bottom of the barrel. We take orders. We do what we are told. Call the boss to complain. The last thing we want to do is stick a mic in someoneās face on the worst day of their life and ask them to tell to us about it. As the messenger, we get threatened, yelled at, pushed, and worse in the field. Itās not fun.
The hardest working people in this business are the ones who make us look good ā the photographers. I canāt say enough nice things about them. Not only are they the hardest working, but they are the ones the crazies run after and try to hit when they donāt want to be on camera after breaking the law. Allegedly.
Many times, we donāt have a photographer. We are the ones shooting what you see, then we jump in front of the camera and shoot ourselves!
The camera really does add 10 pounds. I think it may also make us taller. In the studio, we stand on boxes to look taller and so you can see the pretty set at the perfect level behind us. Maybe thatās why us TV people do appear smaller in real life, unless you know us personally ā then we look the same.
We get yelled at by a lot of people and blamed for a lot things. None of which has to do with us really. We are just the messengers. When you start out in the business, you care about that. Then after about a week or two ā youāre numb to it.
When youāre standing in a hurricane and nearly blowing away, youāre also watching your photographers back to make sure nothing flies his way.
At the end of the day, I have been known to have about 10 layers of powder on my face.
Everyone has fallen asleep in a news car. Everyone has felt the fear of tipping over in a live truck.
Even though we act like we want the Miami Heat to win the National Championship, we donāt. Why? Because that means lots of overtime many of us wonāt get paid for, pots and pans being banged in your ear on live TV for hours at a timeā¦ while being pushed and shoved by drunk idiots until the wee hours of the morning. Then, when that special report that lasted until 1:30am is over ā you canāt leave because the traffic jam has turned Bird Road into a Reggaeton concert. Then, a couple of days later, thereās the damn parade in 100 degree weather. (Can you tell Iām speaking from experience?) Itās one of those things thatās fun the first 30 minutes or so, thenā¦ But I still have a smile on my face
Up until the time you see us on air, we are talking to someone beside usā¦ stopping just in time to appear like we were cool, calm and collected just waiting for the camera to roll.
When a producer is standing up in the control room, stay back. Standing = stressing.
Even we think we look stupid standing in the dark in front of a place you canāt see where nothing is happening behind us. Again, we donāt make these decisions.
If you are in a newsroom and there is food nearby, and itās free ā it will be gone in five seconds. Literally. (And when there is food in the newsroom and an email goes to all employees saying āBecause of our long day with the hurricane/election/whatever it is coverage, we ordered everyone pizza,ā reporter and photographers get really pissedā¦ because weāre not there for it. We are standing in the hurricane/voting booth/wherever ā starving.)
Iāve never been in a newsroom where the floor of the studio is cleaned on a regular basis.
Many times, all of the reporters and photographers are standing inches away from each other, doing the same live shot, at the same time. We are all talking over each other. (And some reporters are yellers.) Itās somewhat distracting.
Even though we are working for different stations and compete on air for ratings, we are the best of friends in real life.
And when David Beckham comes into town, look out! And make sure you look good too!
Christina Nicholson
Media Maven, Owner
Website: MediaMavenAndMore.com
Lifestyle Blog: MascaraMavenAndMore.com
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