Finding and adjusting to a first job in TV news

Finding that first job in television news can be stressful. There are many paths you can take to prepare yourself and just as many paths to success.

Daniella Oropeza and Madison Van Zile are both journalism graduates of the University of
Mississippi who are currently working their first jobs at WTVA 9 News in Tupelo, Mississippi. Oropeza is an anchor and reporter and Van Zile is a producer.

While still in school, Oropeza worked on the student newscast and did two internships. Van Zile, on the other hand, took part in a news producer fellowship right after graduation. Both took different routes but both landed their first job at the same location.

Though Oropeza had some prior experience, she’s had to make some adjustments.

“One thing that I didn’t experience before this job was people saying no,” Oropeza said. “Everyone was always willing to talk when I was working for [the student newscast].”

Oropeza also learned that audiences can be especially judgemental of reporters and anchors.

“People will call or leave a message on Facebook to complain about my hair being a certain
way or saying they didn’t like something I wore,” said Oropeza.

Oropeza’s advice for anyone getting their first TV reporting or anchoring job is to be prepared to not be liked by everyone.

“People should be ready to take criticism even from people inside of your newsroom,” she said.

At the start of her producing fellowship at WTVA, Van Zile says she didn’t know the specifics of what a producer did on a day to day basis.

“I knew that I loved writing and I knew that I could do that with producing,” Van Zile said, “but I didn’t know how a rundown was made and how to stack shows.”

She learned quickly on the job and says she was hired full-time because of her willingness to learn. Van Zile’s advice for anyone starting their first job is to be open for anything.

“I would tell anyone to just try new things and always be ready to help out where needed,” said Van Zile.

Van Zile has been working at WTVA for three years and Oropeza for two.

Story contributed by Malia Carothers, broadcast journalism student at the University of Mississippi where she is currently taking part in the Ole Miss Producer Fellowship at WTVA.