Tag: Umoja News

Before my entry into the media Industry

In my latest blog post Back to Broadcast Media Sales! of the Broadcast and Media Industry series,  I ended with how much the media industry has changed over the past 35+ years and how it continues to evolve due to the impact of  the internet and streaming channels.  You should really read the aforementioned blog post before you continue with this one…

 

 

But I need to back up now because my real beginning in the Media industry was at the tender age of 22 at a community led public broadcast TV station in Bridgeport, CT.

I graduated from college back in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Media Studies from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.  Media Studies was an interesting field because we were taught a little bit about different media industries such as Public Relations, Television, Radio, Newspaper, Magazines and Photography.  It was just enough to peak your interest in what you might want to pursue further.  In my case I was fascinated my both Broadcast Television and Broadcast Radio.

However, once I earned my college degree, I continued to work the next 3 to 4 months in the same sales support position I held in college.  It was at a Bridgeport, CT financial services firm.  I also continued with my internship from the Summer before where I worked at a Bridgeport, CT Public Broadcasting TV station for a Minister from a local African American Baptist church.  Minister John and I collaborated on this gospel TV show called Lifeline Gospel Videos.  He was the host of  the show and I was responsible for interviewing gospel artists over the telephone, writing up and editing their biographical stories and broadcasting these stories on air in 2 to 3 minute increments.  My segment was called Bio-Line Gospel Videos. And it took me all week long to write, create, produce and serve as the talent for one segment.  This was back in the 80s so the videos stories were saved on Betacam and converted to VHS for home use.  Working on these video stories with the gospel artists was truly a labor of love.  I am particularly fascinated by everyday peoples’ stories and I also love to share them with others so this opportunity was Win/Win.   What wasn’t Win/Win was that this was an internship so I did not get paid one thin dime and as much as I loved my job, it did not pay the rent or the bills so consequently when it came time to put in my notice to the financial services firm so I had time to devote to the field I just earned a degree in, I quickly shed the public broadcasting TV station internship as well.

In my mind I was still on the right track though as the goal post college was to gain as much experience in the media industry as possible so by starting early with the Public Broadcasting TV gig, I had a little leg up on building my resume.  I called myself being “paid in experience” so I could command a certain salary for when I entered the field of Media.  In my opinion, back in the 80s, the media industry was like a closed fist.  There were lots and lots of people looking to get in and very few openings.  So it took a lot to pry open that “fist” and receive an open position (and this was both behind the scenes and in front of the scenes) as the supply of jobs truly exceeded the demand.  And this was at a time where the pay scale in Media (especially for behind the scenes positions) was extremely low but this did not deter people from trying to get into what was perceived as the “glamour field.”

 

 

As I mentioned, post college was when I discovered that living in Bridgeport, CT was not working for me anymore as I needed to be closer to a TV station and the closest,  WTNH “Action News 8,” was located in New Haven, CT.  As luck with have it, my sister Casandra and her husband Alfredo were living in New Haven, CT at the time.  They had not yet purchased their forever home in Ledyard, CT so they were living in a large 2 bedroom apartment in the Edgewood neighborhood.  I asked Casandra (since my plans of moving to the Washington, DC area after college and working in Media recently imploded) if I could stay with her and Alfredo until I got on my feet and they both graciously agreed.  I stayed with the two of them all Summer long rent free while looking for work as well as looking for an apartment.  Casandra was instrumental in finding me my first apartment, a Studio apartment on Whitney Avenue in the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven, CT.   The rent was $375 a month plus utilities for essentially one large room with a teeny tiny kitchenette, a teeny tiny dining area and a separate full bathroom.  I bought a tiny dining table and chairs for the dining area, a daybed for the living area because it served the dual purpose of a couch in the daytime and a bed at night.  The kitchenette was way too small to fit in any furniture.  Oh and yes, housing was very affordable back then and this unit was perfect for me (smile).

My apartment was located right on a bus line which was ideal because my car had died on the Merritt Parkway earlier that Summer and I really had no other way to get around.

As far as work, I chose to register with an employment agency so I could make money while focusing on finding a job in Media.  Right after registering, I was sent by the agency the following day to Easter Seals Goodwill Industries in New Haven, CT to work as a Job Coach.  As it turned out, the supervisors and Administrators loved me so much that they tried to convince me to stay and make a career of it.  I made it clear to them that I was on a mission to break into the Media industry and nothing was going to get in my way (smile).  I liked everyone there and I believed in their mission but not working in media was not an option (double smile).

 

 

As luck would have it, a few months down the road I spied a Want Ad in the Classifieds section of the New Haven Register newspaper for a Local Sales Assistant at WTNH Action News 8!   I was overqualified so of course I got the job (smile).

 

 

I was elated.  This was my first entry into Broadcast Media as well as my first real paying job in the Broadcast Media industry so life was good – for reference please read My Entry into Broadcast Media Sales.

 

 

In the next entry of the Broadcast and Media industry blog post series I will chat about the differences between working in the sales departments of Print Media, Broadcast TV and Broadcast Radio stations.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

TVFL

 

My Entry into Broadcast Media Sales

The year was 1989 and I had been working as a Local Sales Assistant for the past 3 1/2 years at what was then WTNH Action News 8 Television in New Haven, CT.

I was relieved when I originally landed this support position because although I had my B.S. degree in Media Studies from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, it took a long time back then even for a college graduate to land a decent job in the media industry.

These were, what I was to find out much much later, the glory days of television.  Al Terzi, Janet Peckingpaugh and Mike Bogoslawski were the Local News Anchors at the time.  And there were only 3 networks back then (ABC, CBS and NBC) so our ABC local network affiliate’s share of pie was huge and money was flowing!

Once again, I originally took this support position because I could see how hard it was to break into “the business” so I figured if I was around those that did what I aspired to do, it would be much easier.  Boy was I wrong!  Because back in the day I wanted to be the host of my own Community Affairs program.  So I worked all day long as a Local Sales Assistant for 6 to 8 sellers and 3 sales managers; at least 2 to 3 nights a week,  I hung around and shadowed the Community Affairs Director.  To my delight, a Host position finally came up for the new Community Affairs program and it was immediately given to one of the TV News Reporters – not only was I not even considered, I wasn’t even on the list!

 

Sales Assistant by day…

 

Then along came a BIG surprise.  The Sally Jessy Raphael Show (a national program!) moved into our New Haven studios to tape their daily 10am show.  My world had now changed for the better.  I was able to sneak downstairs to check out famous people practically every week for the next 2 years.  It was a huge occupational perk and a big reason for me to stick around.  I met then President Jimmy Carter and his wife Roslyn, Suzanne Somers from Three’s Company, the infamous Donna Rice, Marlo Thomas from That Girl and her hubby Phil Donahue from the Phil Donahue Show just to name a few.  When The Sally Show moved on to New York, it was time for me to go as well.

I had decided to pursue broadcast media sales.  So on my final week the local sales team and local sales managers, whom I loved working for, presented me with a leather briefcase and ordered me to fill it up with lots of orders!  I had previously met with a few of the Local Account Executives on my own time and basically questioned them on what to expect in the world of broadcast media sales.  They were super helpful but to be honest, selling is something you truly learn by doing.  You either have it, or you don’t.  It’s not like anything I’ve ever done in my life and I still enjoy it, even in this day and age…

When I left Action News 8 I was making a paltry $19,500 a year (this is after a $3,000 raise!) which was enough to pay the rent on my super cute but tiny studio apartment in the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven, but not enough to buy or own a car.  And this was with waitressing on the weekends at Friendly’s Ice Cream in Hamden, CT.   Here I was working 2 jobs and moonlighting on Monday evenings as a Community Volunteer Radio Announcer for WYBC 94.3FM in New Haven.  Lovers Corner with Lajeune was the name of my show –  the best in R & B love songs.  A true labor of love (smile).

 

My moonlighting gig – here with the other  WYBC 94.3FM On-Air Personalities – I’m in the front row wearing a black tee

My first broadcast sales job was at WEBE 108FM in Bridgeport, CT.   Lucky for me my oldest sister Dana had bought herself a new car so she gifted me with her older AMC Gremlin to commute back and forth with everyday from New Haven to Bridgeport.  My selling territory was Fairfield and New Haven counties so I would be spending lots of time on the road.  The Gremlin wasn’t perfect but through God’s Grace and the proximity of Firestone Tire Centers, it held its own (smile).

 

My AMC Gremlin – it  actually looked just like this except it was beige

 

At the time I was hired, there were 2 radio stations in the same building and on the same floor:  WEBE 108FM and WICC 600AM.  I was hired by WEBE so I was literally selling against the account executives at WICC, who sat right around the corner from me.  It was a strange feeling for sure.  After I completed my first year of  selling, the radio station became a “Combo” which meant they would not need as many of us in sales so they trimmed the sales teams back to 9 sellers from a combined total of 15.  I just knew I was a goner because I was still green and still cutting my teeth but they said I was staying because they loved my sunny and positive ‘Can Do’ attitude (smile).

Here is the picture of me that was taken for  the newsletter the radio station sent out to Fairfield County residents to welcome the newly combined WEBE and WICC Radio stations:

 

Circa 1990

i loved selling WEBE and WICC radio stations not just because I was learning a ton working with a seasoned sales team but also because the company provided us with a comprehensive radio sales training program and plenty of  radio industry resources to back it up.  But to be honest, I had entered year 2 and was still not making any money.  I worked on 100% commission against draw but since I had no list, I basically had to constantly cold call for appointments and then start from scratch when I landed a new account.  Since I was mostly working on promotional accounts which require lots of moving parts, it was exhausting…

 

One of my many promotional accounts – the grand opening of Mobil Gas station in Stratford

Then, as luck would have it, I received a phone call from the Local Sales Manager at WNHC 1340AM, the Rhythm of the City.  WNHC was an R & B (no Rap!) radio station based in New Haven, CT so I figured I had nothing to lose.  During our interview, the Local Sales Manager basically painted the right picture for me  – yes, you are leaving a 50,000 Watt FM radio station in wealthy Fairfield County for a 1000 Watt AM radio station in New Haven, but with us, the sky is the limit.  When I told my Local Sales Manager I was leaving them for WNHC in New Haven, not only did she think I was crazy but so did the majority of the team (LOL!)

It’s no secret that I enjoy a challenge and what I saw in front of me was opportunity for growth and a new, close-knit work family that I could really get behind.  Consequently, in my 5 1/2 years at WNHC,  I more than excelled.  I moved up from Account Executive to  Local Sales Manager to finally  National Sales Manager.  I also enjoyed meeting tons of famous people at free concerts and plays –  mostly singers and performers.  I ran my own on-air African-American Book Review once a week with my partner Lamonda (L & L Book Review) and was constantly chosen to serve on numerous committees, judge area fashion shows, speak to the New Haven youth at public schools about careers in media sales, etc.

One of my most memorable interviews on the L & L On-Air Book Review was the one with the legendary Michael Baisden. He was building his career back in the day and I could see easily why he is as famous as he is today – he’s a hoot!

 

When WNHC Radio went bankrupt (that will be covered in another blog) I decided to pursue the print world.  I traveled back and forth to Bridgeport, CT to work for Umoja News, a monthly urban start-up newspaper that covered events that I felt passionate about.  The founder and I worked closely together.  She handled the day to day operations and I ran the sales department.  I wrote a sales training manual, hired 3 local sellers and handled regional accounts.  I stayed a little less than 2 years because I could not get into the pace, i.e., working like a madwoman for a little under a week every month to meet those crazy deadlines and then spending the remaining 3 weeks of the month calling on new business.  I found it cumbersome.

 

My short stint working in print media as an Advertising Sales Manager

 

In my next blog post I will talk about my journey back to broadcast radio sales this time with the know-how, negotiating skills and lots of multi-media experience.

 

Stay tuned!

TVFL