This week marks my one-year anniversary away from the television news business. Since the first of June 2004 I have been self-employed, operating a video production business, Rain Dog Pictures and a video ministry, The ACTS Network.
I had often dreamed of going out on my own but couldn’t muster the courage to leave teh newsroom and a steady paycheck. My last employer helped me with that. To clarify, I was offered a new 3-year contract but did not sign it. Five months later, they told me they were pulling their offer and for me to get my things.
So…here’s what I’ve learned in the last 365 days about myself, being a small business owner and local tv news:
1) The TV News industry is hurting. Many viewers have left and aren’t coming back.
2) I don’t really mind not being “on tv”.
3) It takes a long time for people to notice you’re gone from tv. Every day someone asks me how I got off work today and when I tell them I no longer work for the tv station they’re surprised.
4) Health insurance for my family (my biggest concern about not working for the man) can be a better deal than the high premiums corporate America charges.
5) Technology is changing the way people get their information and news.
6) Having a television on in your office can decrease your productivity.
7) But it’s nice during baseball season and during the Masters golf tournament.
8) And the NCAA tournament
9) and during NASCAR qualifying.
10) and when there’s bonifide breaking news that the networks are covering
11) When there’s bad weather it’s a lot more comfortable staying inside than standing on a road telling people to stay at home.
12) A lot of local television news during sweeps months stinks.
13) Some tv people have very thin skins when someone questions how and why they do things. (and they can be pretty rude about it)
14) news directors that don’t have a blog, should be more careful in posting anonymous comments to other blogs. (if you write how you talk everyone knows who the anonymous comment is from)
15) But please, don’t stop.
16) taking a vacation in may is the same as any other month, but it’s nice to know you can do it.
17) Poor planning causes chaos. I don’t miss chaos.
18) 40-hour weeks don’t exist for the self-employed. Try 80 or 90. Every day. Including holidays and weekends.
19) but it doesn’t feel like work
20) Setting your own schedule to put in those 80-90 hours is priceless.
jt
Good stuff. Congrats on your anniversary and newly found “freedom” of sorts. I will say that although sometimes things apparently weren’t great at your former job I always enjoyed watching your work.
BTW, I wonder what/who number 14 is referring to? 🙂 I have enjoyed reading that one blog recently. Great stuff!
Numbers 14 and 15 made me laugh.
Thanks so much for pointing out what I’ve only suspected.
Hey Peggy,
You posted the same time I did. Like I said, I am thouroughly enjoying it.
I would post something but the last time I posted something negative, you removed it. Talk about being very thin skinned!!!
Jamey, since you were a former news reporter, please use good news judgment (even if this is a blog) and don’t implicate someone without having the facts. Your suspicions may not be accurate, but your allegations can impune a person’s character nonetheless.
I removed your comment last week because you convicted a former employee at WREG who has nothing to do with this blog.
Be a big person and you can comment.
no I didn’t. My comment was about you putting down the CA and praising the B’ham paper. I said if you don’t like the Memphis TV and newspaper, why don’t you just move to B’ham. Like the previous post mentioned, your suspecions may not be accurate.
Nope. Your comment is still there. You didn’t post it on my post about the B’ham papers but on the post about half-bakered.
Look for it under “I should also mention” May 26th.
feel better?
Sounds like somebody needs a lesson in IP addresses.
Does the saying, “Those who work in glass offices should not throw stones” , apply in this case for No. 14???? lol