One of the most difficult positions for TV station creative services directors to fill are writer/producer/editors, the so-called preditors. In both the 2014 and 2015 TVNewsCheck Creative Services Directors surveys, 25% of all who answered said finding good staff was their biggest challenge. And Market Share has written frequently about the issue. In Hey Mom, I […]
One of the most difficult positions for TV station creative services directors to fill are writer/producer/editors, the so-called preditors.
In both the 2014 and 2015 TVNewsCheck Creative Services Directors surveys, 25% of all who answered said finding good staff was their biggest challenge.
And Market Share has written frequently about the issue.
In Hey Mom, I Got A Job In News Promotion, we meet a new creative services preditor and talk to the CSD about why he hired him.
In The Pressure Of Being A Local TV Preditor, we hear how one preditor overcomes the pressures of being on the front lines of local TV news marketing.
In Preying — And Praying — For Preditors, local TV creative services directors reveal how they go through the process of hiring a preditor.
And in Promo Priority: Finding, Keeping Preditors, we examine best practices for attracting, finding, training and retaining preditors.
So when I heard that a creative services director in a top 10 market was hiring, I asked him to answer a few questions in the hopes that his advice would help you get that next big gig.
Mike Monsell is the creative services director at WPVI, the ABC O&O in Philadelphia.
By most measures, WPVI is the most successful local TV news operation in the country.
Monsell says he has one full-time and one part-time opening. To date, more than 100 people have applied.
He says the top five skills he’s looking for in a candidate are “creativity. The LOOK of your resume has to stand out. If you aren’t creative with your resume, how can you possibly do the job creatively?”
Editing, passion, social media experience and emotional intelligence round out the list.
When he looks at a candidate’s reel, what strikes him the most?
“Show me something different — a different approach, a different editing or writing style. And avoid consultant-driven copy.”
And what’s the No. 1 thing he would tell creative services candidates?
“Make your social pages public and be creative with your personal posts. It’s the one place you can show off your creative chops without being handcuffed.”
And what about getting the attention of the creative services director, is that important?
“I once had a social media candidate customize their entire resume to look like a Facebook page. She ended up getting the job.”
By the way, here’s a recent spot from WPVI that I thought accomplished a lot.
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