from photog to ND

[<any help>]

I know there have been some recent photog's that jumped to News Director. Question. How do you get a GM to buy in to the fact you have no ND experience? Do you regret making the change? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Guy Critique]

I went from Chief Photog experience and various teaching experience to N.D. I don't regret it because I work in a small enough shop that I still shoot about once a week to teach.
The hardest part is all the administrative paperwork and not being able to go out and tell great stories all the time.
There are lots of benefits that make it all worth while especially if you have a positive workplace.

[satop]

I don't think you would be able to go from a photog to ND. A Chief Photog, or an operations manager is probally more likely. I do think a news director with some field expierence would put an intresting angle on the direction of a department.

[<vidrock>]

Every ND i've worked for has told me they started out as a photog except for one, who began his career as a reporter. They said they moved from photography to either an assignment editor and or a producer spot and worked thier way to EP. Those kind of NDs are great because they understand better because they've been there. But I can also say, and I know there are exceptions, that a ND job seems to be very unsteady. I've been at 4 different stations the past 11 years and have worked under 9 different NDs. I've lost count of GMs. The paperwork, the pressure for ratings, maintaining a budget, knowing who's butt to kiss or kick and when, on top of being a babysitter for a bunch of 20 or 30 year olds who piss and moan because they're not told how great they are every 10 minutes, they couldn't pay me enough considering the lack of job security. Some NDs have pissed me off beyond all belief, but I would'nt want thier job for nothin.

[David R. Busse]

My old friend John Lansing went from news photographer to head of the Scripps Networks (HGTV, etc.) with a few news director stops in-between. It can be done.

He went from news photog to chief photog, to managing editor, to small-market news director, to major market assitant n.d, then major market n.d., then station manager, then g.m.

If you have a chance to move into management and think it's what you want to do, go for it. The business is so short of news managers who have a solid concept of how things get on the air. I am watching Mr. Wertheimer's progress in Mason City, hoping for big things on his horizon...and I applaud any other photos who make the same move!

[<thanks>]

My question was, how do you convince the GM that your the one for the job. I have over twenty years as a photog and about two years as an Assignment Editor. I was also a chief, though it was a three person staff very early on. I know I can do the job, it's just getting past the GM that scares me some.

[SHOOT TO KILL]

Chances are, if you have to ask how you will convince the GM you're the one, you aren't.

You should already know for yourself that your skills in all levels of news and business are up to par. You should feel like your up to this new challenge. Do other's attitudes towards you seem to imply this?

Your GM probably has his favorites already. As a rule, the person with the best people skills, and a helping of business sense stands out. Most GM's come from sales which is all about slick people skills. Do you fit that profile?

Ever get the feeling that a recent hire was not the best person for that job? That's because so much more than "qualification" comes into play. It's largely a popularity contest. If you still want to enter the fickle world of management, go for it-and best of luck! Some of the most respected ND's have been photogs at some point.