A day in the life of a Journalist at ABC 10News KGTV
Ava's typical day as a reporter involves "running around to the last second," conducting interviews, writing a "look live," gathering footage, and editing the story, a process that culminates in a 1.5- to 2-minute news segment. Producing, especially on weekends, presents a fast-paced challenge, requiring Ava to write "a whole half hour of news" in a short time frame, showcasing the high-pressure, adrenaline-filled nature of live television.
Fast-paced environment, Communication skills, Time management, Journalism skills, News production
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ava Kershner
Journalist
ABC 10News KGTV
Cal Poly, Cuesta College, Hancock College, Cal State Northridge
N/A
Creative Writing, Journalism
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Communication and Marketing
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. A day as a reporter involves extensive field work, including driving to locations, conducting interviews, and gathering footage. This fast-paced environment requires quick thinking and adaptability.
2. The process of creating a news story includes writing a script, selecting sound bites, recording a voice track, and editing video to create a concise and engaging final product.
3. Producing a news show, particularly on weekends, demands rapid writing and collaboration to meet tight deadlines. This highlights the high-pressure, yet exciting nature of live television production.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a reporter slash producer look like?
My days vary quite a bit, depending on whether I'm reporting or producing. When I'm reporting, it's usually a rush to get things done. I'm often out in the field, and I have to drive at least 20 minutes to reach the story location after it's assigned.
Typically, I interview at least two people. Once those interviews are complete, I write a "look live." This is the beginning of my story, where I appear on camera. I have to write that very quickly and send it to my manager for approval.
After approval, my camera operator and I head out to film. I speak on camera and then gather additional footage before driving back to the station. Back at the station, I log all my sound bites.
There's a transcript of each interview, and I select the best parts. I then write the story and send it to my manager again for approval. After that, I go into the tracking booth to record my voiceover.
Next, I combine my voice track with all the video footage we captured. We put it all together into a one-minute-and-30-second to two-minute video story, ready to air. I also add lower thirds, which are the name identifiers at the bottom of the screen. That’s essentially reporting.
For producing, I start by seeing what stories reporters are covering for the day. I often place the newest stories at the top of the broadcast. Then, I just write content very quickly.
On weekends, producing has a very tight turnaround. I have about two to three hours to produce a half-hour show, whereas normally, people have all day for that. Weekends are intense, but I've never written so fast in my life.
You essentially write a whole half-hour of news. Then, you go into the booth and hope the anchors can pronounce all the names and that the weather team is ready with their forecast. It's very exciting.
Live TV has a certain energy to it. My door just shut, which startled me. Live TV involves a lot of adrenaline, so I find it to be a very exciting job.
Advizer Personal Links
Instagram @avakershner, facebook @Ava Kershner TV, Tiktok @avaontheair, Linked In @avakershner