KWTX Anchor Taina Maya Offers Career Tips to Aspiring Journalists

By Mia Moody

Writing and paying attention to detail are two of the most important skills a reporter must possess in today’s competitive news industry, according to KWTX anchor, Taina Maya, who spoke at the November meeting sponsored by the Baylor National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

Maya encouraged journalism majors to sharpen their basic skills, while building their expertise in new media.

“Even in today’s multimedia climate, listening, writing and reporting are still very important,” she said.

Maya also stressed the importance of good storytelling.

“You have 30 seconds to tell a story,” she said. “You have to be conversational and you have to be hard hitting. There is no way around it.”

Maya, who was born in Hollywood, Calif., said she found her true calling by the age of 6 when she began serving as a voice-over on the television series, “Spider-Man.”

That experience motivated her to seek a career in the entertainment business. In the fifth grade, Maya anchored her elementary school's news show, “Regency Place Television.”

Her experience helped solidify her interest in the news industry. Her drive and determination continues.

“I got into the field because I wanted to be an actor,” she said. “I realized the news industry was more realistic and I can still be on TV.”

While attending the University of the Incarnate Word, in San Antonio, Maya co-founded the university's first television station, UIW-TV. Maya’s ultimate career goal is to work for “Dateline News” as a hard-news reporter.

Based on her years in the industry, the anchor offered the following tips for aspiring journalists:

·         Create a fantastic newsreel that will capture the attention of potential employers.

·         Create a one-page resume that highlights your strong points.

·         Be yourself during interviews. You do not want to sign a contract, and then count down the months until your job ends.

·         Do not be overly pushy. Wait two weeks before you call back. More than likely, they are not going to call you back. Do not get offended if you do not get a job.

·         Have someone knowledgeable look over your contract before you sign it.

·         Keep up with current events. You must read a lot to get ideas.

·         Be innovative and think outside the box.

·         Develop your sources. Check Facebook and other outlets to find out as much as you can about a person. Do not be afraid to call and ask to shadow them.

·         Utilize your internships.  Your first stories will be heavily edited, but you will learn from your mistakes. It is very important to practice your craft.

·         Teamwork is also important. It takes many people to do a job.

·         Go for it. It is an amazing business. Dive in if it is the right thing for you.

Jay Hicks' Take on the New Media Revolution

New media is a revolution that has changed the news industry and the way people communicate, said Jay Hicks Thursday during a presentation at Baylor University.

Hicks, who is the Director of New Media at KWTX-TV, said the media industry is all about sharing, transparency, collaboration and building trust with peers. He shared new media trends with reporting and writing students in Dr. Mia Moody Ramirez's class.


“In the 1970s and 80s journalists reported a story and audiences read it," he said. "Now, people share their own thoughts using social media.”

Illustrating the importance of social media, he pointed out that Facebook has around 800 million followers, Twitter has more than 10 billion tweets – and people upload more than 
8,600 full-length movies a week.

Hicks, who oversees KWTX’s social media efforts, develops and executes content on multiple-platforms including KWTX.com and the station’s mobile Web site. One thing that has become clear in the last few years, is everyone is a reporter, he said. People tell their own stories. However, even with the popularity of new media, students must have traditional journalism skills. 


Accuracy, credibility, writing and storytelling are all very important in today’s journalism industry, Hicks said.

 “No matter what you want to do in the journalism industry, you must be able to communicate. Facebook and Twitter are platforms, but they change daily, " he said.

For instance, the importance of confirming information was illustrated when the story about Gadhafi’s death broke. Hicks said he waited until he could verify it using reliable sources. Then he posted information about the leader’s death on KWTX’s website and Twitter page.

He also noted that while traditional sources such as. Reuters, AP Style and CNN, are important for today’s communicators; bloggers, friends and relatives also serve as an important resource.

“In the news industry, we usually try to take big stories and figure out how they affect Central Texans,” he said. “We localize them by talking to our viewers on Twitter, Facebook and our Web site. Some of them end up in our on-air stories.”

Finally, Hicks emphasized the importance of staying ahead of the curve

“Companies that didn’t get on the digital bandwagon are out of business,” he said. “Companies that are hanging on, such as Amazon and Netflix, made the shift.”

Jay Hicks' Take on How to Compete in Today's Rapidly Changing Journalism Industry

To compete in today’s competitive job market, journalism students must separate themselves from the crowd, said Jay Hicks, Director of New Media at KWTX-TV, during a presentation at Baylor University Thursday.

Journalism graduates must be able to write, network and most of all tell stories, said Hicks who spoke to Dr. Mia Moody Ramirez's reporting and writing class. Hicks owns Raffinitē Interactive Web, a company focused on building online brands and communities. In addition, he is founder and director of a day camp dedicated to teaching at-risk and economically disadvantaged teenagers the basics of web development and design.

“Today’s students have their own tools to be content producers and creators,” he said. "However, in order to be in the game, students must hone their skills."

Hicks, a Baylor business graduate, said the most important skill journalists must have is storytelling via all platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Web design. Most importantly, students must blog on a regular basis. 

He discussed two types of blogs: a passion, or “me,” blog to highlight their favorite pastime and a professional blog to demonstrate their skills and abilities.  Hicks’ “passion blog” focuses on track and field. It has gained him notoriety and respect in the social media industry.

“When I started the blog, I wasn’t thinking I would be quoted in other media outlets or labeled an expert. It happened on its own,” he said.  

He also encourages applicants to have  a game plan in place using the skills they have acquired in PR. However, students must be strategic to compete, he added.

“We may get 200 to 400 applicants,” he said. “But if we get a unique resume or a recommendation from someone we know, you may get your foot in door.”


 

The game plan must include a Facebook page that presents them in a positive light.


 

“Don’t put anything on there that that you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see,” he joked, encouraging students to be proactive in presenting a professional image on the social media outlet.


The most competitive students will be able to manipulate data. For instance, they should know how to edit photos in Photoshop, how to edit video footage and be familiar with all aspects of search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is an important skill for PR practitioners because they must be able to add affective titles to their blogs and websites to help them show up in search engines, he said.

 “It is no different from cataloguing at a library. Once you have information, you must be able to promote it using key words, hashtags, etc.” 

Finally, Hicks suggests that students should find their passion and jump in.

“The industry will change,” he said. “However, you get your best experience by jumping in and learning things yourself.”

Other tips included:

• Participate in Twitter parties or online chats. For instance, Wjchat is a weekly online chat emphasizing news-related issues. People throw out questions for students and professionals to answer.
• Create a Twitter list and a RSS feed of key players in the media industry. Google people with similar skills and follow them on Twitter. Try to set up an informal interview. Take a Flip camera, and record it and put it on YouTube.
• Have both a creative and a traditional resume. A compelling resume is attractive, intriguing and interactive. It includes photos, QR codes and unique designs. An enhanced resume can use a unique approach such as a slide show or a magazine design layout.
  
  
  
  

  

  
  

NABJ Membership has its privileges

By Mia Moody-Ramirez

United we stand. Birds of a feather, flock together. Membership has its privileges. Strength in numbers. These are just a few of the phrases that come to mind when one considers joining a group.

Whether it is the Society of Professional Journalists or Public Relations Student Society of America, club membership provides participants with invaluable opportunities to discuss issues of common interest, meet professionals, cultivate and share ideas and network.

However, when you are a racial or ethnic minority student considering a profession that is predominantly Caucasian, being a member of mainstream association can sometimes leave one feeling left out or alone in a crowd. That is one reason many journalists of color also belong to minority associations.
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is an organization of journalists, students and media-related professionals that provides quality programs and services to and advocates on behalf of black journalists worldwide. Founded by 44 men and women on December 12, 1975, in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation.
Many of NABJ's members also belong to one of the professional and student chapters that serve black journalists nationwide.
According to its website, NABJ is committed to the following:
• Strengthening ties among black journalists;
• Sensitizing all media to the importance of fairness in the workplace for black journalists;
• Expanding job opportunities and recruiting activities for veteran, young and aspiring black journalists, while providing continued professional development and training;

One of the biggest benefits of belong to the organization is the opportunity to network with other minority journalists locally and on a national level. Being involved with a minority association allows journalists of color from all over the country to discuss unique issues that may not be at the top of the agenda at majority associations, such as cultural competency, racial/ethnic health disparities and discrimination in the workplace.
Belonging to a minority association also provides an opportunity to come together with other students who share the same culture, values and traditions.

Members can expand their network within the journalism industry; gather with colleagues at NABJ Media Institute programs and regional events; participate in online discussion groups; and benefit from the expertise of seasoned media professionals through year-round fellowships and workshops.

Other benefits include:

NABJ Journal - the organization's official publication presents news and addresses issues about NABJ and the media that affect black journalists and the community. The Journal is a quarterly magazine. Our members only Web access provides portal access to the NABJ Journal online.

NABJobs Online- Online job matching service allows members to post resumes and search for jobs listed by participating organizations and companies. Media companies can post or edit job openings and also review resumes of potential candidates online.

NABJ E-News Updates- Members receive email updates to keep current on news about black journalists and the industry; receive special reports that provide insight into media policy and other topics of interest.

Baylor NABJ's Mentorship Program

Baylor’s National Association of Black Journalists is sponsoring its first Mentor  Dinner from 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 29 in the Baylor Castellaw Communications Building.

Members of the organization hope to connect students with professionals in the community who will share their experiences with them, said NABJ President Jessica Foumena.

“We have been trying to increase our membership for some time,” she said. “And this is just one way we hope to keep students interested in NABJ.”

Baylor’s Department of Journalism and Media Arts is sponsoring the event, which will include professionals from print, broadcasting, Web, marketing and public relations. Dr. Clark Baker, department chair, said the mentorship program is one way to increase the number of minorities majoring in journalism at Baylor.

"We believe diversity is important in any field, but particularly journalism," he said. "This program is an important and innovative step toward retaining the students we have and likely increasing our number in the future."

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is an organization of journalists, students and media-related professionals that provides programs and services to and advocates on behalf of black journalists worldwide. Baylor’s student chapter, which meets monthly, has been active for about seven years.

“The organization offers a great opportunity for students to network with other students on campus,” said Dr. Mia Moody-Ramirez, chapter adviser.

Moody-Ramirez developed the idea for the NABJ Mentorship Program last fall after talking with African-American professionals such as Jay Hicks who wanted to collaborate with the student chapter of NABJ, but were unsure of the capacity.

“We want to help in any way we can,” said Hicks, Director of New Media at CBS affiliate News 10 KWTX. “It is up to us to impart our knowledge to the next generations of journalists.”

Hicks, a Baylor graduate, said the two have received a favorable response from several community members regarding the organization.

“Recruitment and retention of journalism professionals and students will be one of our goals,” he said. “We hope to encourage African-Americans to consider Waco when they apply for jobs and college.”

NABJ student members look forward to the mentorship program. They hope that the program will give them the chance to learn more about the journalism program and better themselves as aspiring journalists.

“I am very grateful for this program,” said News Editorial/Broadcast sophomore Christopher Mitchell. “We did not have a club like this in Arkansas. I cannot wait.”

For now, Foumena continues to get the word out about the student chapter of NABJ. She has been instrumental in increasing the number of student members through texting, e-mailing and “Facebooking.”

“Today's students are accustomed to social media, so I have found it is the best way to stay in touch,” Foumena said. “I will do whatever it takes.”