Dated 29th Mar, 2000

For any kind of position in this media, you have to have excellent communication skills, and an inherent understanding of your audience, their wants and needs.

For front-end jobs like reporting, news anchors and programme presenters, it is imperative that you possess good presentation skills, and a fairly good dress sense.

In this medium, it is better if you are equipped with basic knowledge of all the processes, so that tomorrow if the cameraman falls sick, you can still compile the story.

As experience is valued more in this industry, it is better if you can join as part-time in the area of your interest and learn the trade, which will secure you a good position.

Especially in private channels, job titles and responsibilities are not very clearly defined, so you might be Assistant Production Executive, but you will have to adjust the lights in the studio if the need arises.

Willingness to learn and an open mind to creative ideas are important qualities looked for at the entry level.

Last but not the least, you must be able to think on your feet, as things happen very fast in this field of operation. It can make all the difference between getting a scoop or losing those vital TRP ratings.