Start small, make it big later, professionals say

Jonathan Costen and Joe McGee, of Channel 5, share common vibes when they are reporting in the field. Both know instinctively what they need to do at the spur of the moment.

“It comes with time,” said Costen, who has teamed with McGee for more than six years in the Akron bureau.

“Somehow I know what he is looking for,” McGee said. “I know when it’s enough.”

Reporter Costen and photographer McGee were speaking to students at Kent State’s journalism school Tuesday where they candidly shared their moments in the profession full of challenges and hard-pressed deadlines.

With changing technology, broadcasting is becoming more competitive. The speakers told students to get training of all kinds in production if they were thinking of entering in the emerging new media market.

“Big markets are looking for people who shoot their own video, edit and report,” Costen said.

This idea of mobile journalist, or mojo, is gaining popularity as media converge to reach out to people in innovative ways. Besides specializing in one core area, journalism students who have knowledge of latest skills in new digital editing software will be at an advantage.

“Years ago, you had to massage a story, now you have to crank it out quickly,” Costen said.

But he had a different advise for beginners in the broadcast beat that may seem too humble for people thinking to start in a big way. He told students to begin in smaller market for a practical reason.

“Make mistakes in a small market,” he said. “If you are going to broadcast news, don’t limit to one area. Work your way up.”

Costen talked about how he was treated “meanly” at places where he began. But he also said
small places teaches you teamwork.

The speakers showed several real clips that were fine examples of group effort by true professionals.

Costen had a similar tip.

“I don’t like staged stuff,” he said. “I want nuggets. Get the natural thing.”

The changing priorities of news business from newsgathering to getting the news first are keeping even the veterans on their heels. Both agree the deadline pressure is now part of their life.

“If they (producers) want the story in by 5:02 and if you make it in 5:04, you fail,” said McGee.
Costen immediately adds, “You have to make your slot.”