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How Do I Become a News Producer?

Whitney Leigh White
Whitney Leigh White

A news producer has the intriguing job of determining what stories are reported on a TV station, as well as deciding how to present the stories in a visual way to the public. If you choose to become a news producer, you will perform many of the same job duties that journalists do, but you will also have the responsibility of overseeing other employees. It takes a person with a lot of determination to become a news producer. After becoming a news producer, you will have to spend long hours at work, and many times, will work on holidays.

It is possible for you to become a news producer without obtaining a degree or diploma of some type, but this is highly unlikely. Most TV stations will want prefer for you to be very qualified, which is obtained through a solid education and years of experience. There are different degree programs that you can complete in order to become a news producer. In most cases, a student will complete a degree in journalism, communications, or film production.

A news producer determines what stories are reported on a TV station, as well as deciding how to present the stories in a visual way to the public.
A news producer determines what stories are reported on a TV station, as well as deciding how to present the stories in a visual way to the public.

A large number of students will obtain a job as an intern for a news programming company, as this helps to work their way up to a senior producing position. This intern position will often include working as a secretary, and, in some cases, even as a janitor. It does not matter what type of intern job position you accept, as long as you are able to begin gaining experience as to how news programming companies operate. The more experience you can obtain, the more likely you will be at becoming a successful news producer.

A news producer performs many of the same job duties that a journalist completes. Unlike a journalist, news producers do much more than simply investigate stories; they also possess the necessary skills it takes to effectively convey the story on TV. In doing so, a news producer works with many more people than do journalists. The producer works with writers, news anchors, TV camera and technician personnel, and others. If you want to become a news producer, you must be able to effectively work and communicate with all of these people.

After you obtain the educational requirements and experience it takes to become a news producer, you should begin applying for news producing positions. It is important for you to remember not to apply until you are absolutely confident that you can fulfill all the required job duties for which a news producer is responsible. You can generally find available jobs on the internet, in the newspaper, or by posting your resume on a job website.

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    • A news producer determines what stories are reported on a TV station, as well as deciding how to present the stories in a visual way to the public.
      By: corepics
      A news producer determines what stories are reported on a TV station, as well as deciding how to present the stories in a visual way to the public.