JOURNO JARGON with Karla Redditte
The JOURNO JARGON series is not your typical Q&A – it's your backstage pass to insights, advice, and experiences from journalists who are in the thick of it. Here you will get real-time accounts of diverse newsroom positions, carefully crafted to offer new and aspiring journalists an unparalleled glimpse into the intricate workings of broadcast news.
JOURNO JARGON with Karla Redditte
National Breaking News Reporter/Anchor, Spectrum News +
Why did you want to be a journalist?
A television anchor unknowingly inspired me to study journalism and become a television anchor/reporter. When I was a sophomore or junior in high school, Kym Clark, who continues to work as a news anchor in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, participated in the school’s annual “Career Day.” My parents watched the news religiously throughout my childhood. So, meeting her was like meeting a “star.” I remember being the only one asking her questions about her job and what it took to succeed in television news. She graciously answered every one of them. I had always enjoyed reading, writing, and researching (i.e. being nosy), but her visit truly “sealed the deal” for me regarding my future career. It made me excited to explore journalism.
This is also a great example of why representation matters. Like me, Kym is an African-American woman. Her visit inspired me to pursue a journalism career and proved to me that I could do it – because she looked like me. She was part of a strong group of African-American women who held prominent on-air roles on all three of the city’s main stations. Seeing these women on the screen every night took away any fear I may have had to study journalism. Their presence reminded me that if they could succeed, so could I.
What is your position and what does it entail?
I am a breaking news reporter and fill-in anchor for Spectrum News +, which is the new national streaming service for Spectrum News. I am based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and my job is to keep my eyes on breaking news stories happening throughout the country and around the world. I present the day’s top story every evening at 6:00, which, lately, has focused on developments in the Israel-Hamas War. Also, as a fill-in anchor, I occasionally fly to New York City to anchor from Spectrum’s headquarters whenever the main evening anchor takes some time off.
What skills do you need to be successful in your current position?
Television journalism is all about communication, and to communicate effectively, you need several skills:
Proficiency in English (grammar, punctuation, and pronunciation): You need to know how to explain complicated subjects/situations in a clear, concise way because many times, you will only be given a minute or a minute and a half to do so.
Love of reading: You may have heard the phrase “readers make leaders.” Well, in journalism, readers also make better writers. Read everything you get your hands on, fact or fiction. It exposes you to different writing styles, which may strengthen your storytelling skills. Reading also helps to expand your vocabulary as well as keep you abreast of current events/issues/slang within your community.
Curiosity: Being “nosy” tends to lead to fantastic stories and can introduce you to amazing sources. Curiosity includes researching something you may have overheard in a grocery store conversation. It also includes asking questions to help you better understand a topic or to hold a city official accountable for his/her actions (or lack of action). Researching and questioning is a huge part of journalism.
Attention to detail: Credible journalists present accurate information. To do that, you must always check the accuracy of anything or anyone you use as a source in your story. This is where your reading skills will come in handy because you may need to compare various documents, websites, or even social media sites to make sure information is legitimate. This also applies to images you may use in your story. For example, you may report on a crime committed by John Quincy Johnson and you find a picture of a John Quincy Johnson on Facebook. You better make sure it is the right person before you post it within your web story or on your Facebook page, because if it is not, you will find yourself as well as your station in a heap of legal trouble. Always check and double-check your story before submitting it.
Ability to work under pressure: Pressure is part of this business. We’re pressured to present great stories in under a minute and 15 seconds. We’re pressured to go live from breaking news scenes with very little information or time to prepare. We’re pressured to “find something” when a story falls through. However, you may have heard the slogan- “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.” You can ease some of the pressure by preparing as much as possible before you walk through the newsroom door each day – stay up-to-date on current events/issues, keep in contact with sources within your community for possible story ideas, pack a bag with emergency snacks, extra clothes, medicine, and other things you may need when you are out in the field covering breaking news and not able to quickly head back to the station. Little things like these will help to lessen some of the stress surrounding the pressures of this position.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about your position?
The biggest misconception is television journalism is glamorous. When some people think about television, they think it is a world filled with behind-the-scenes makeup artists/hairstylists, huge paychecks, and endless travel to fun destinations. For some television jobs, this is a reality. However, for most, it is not. Many television news jobs consist of grueling hours, several responsibilities (on and off air), low pay, no lunch break (depending on the news of the day), no holidays off (or you may get lucky and have one day), and absolutely no station “glam squad.” The only travel on the itinerary is to a crime scene. Also, moreover, your work (as well as your attire) is critiqued each day by viewers. If they like it, they will let you know. If they don’t like it, they will let you know.
Television journalism is far from glamorous, and it is not for the weak. This is why it is so important for aspiring journalists to secure internships before committing to a TV news career. It will allow you to see what it really takes to be successful in this business – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
How has technology changed how you do your job?
I started my career in 2002, and it included a photographer (80% of the time), as well as large cameras and light kits. These days, particularly at my current station, MMJs (or multimedia journalists) make up much of the staff. They are a “one-man-band,” meaning they shoot and edit their own stories. Large teams of photographers and editors hardly exist anymore because MMJs do multiple jobs with less equipment. For example, iPhones have replaced cameras in several markets. Even in my position, if there is breaking news somewhere in Charlotte, I cannot wait for a photographer to grab his/her equipment and head to the scene with me. I simply grab my phone and small microphone kit (for interviews) and go.
Also, when I started in journalism, there was no such thing as social media. Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) and TikTok did not exist. However, these outlets have changed the way people consume news. Back in the day, I could work on my story (or stories) for the day and present it on a newscast while a digital team would post it on the Internet. Today, most MMJs present stories on-air, post stories online, and promote and post stories on social media, which is not as simple as it may sound because each platform has a different audience. As journalists, they must find creative ways to present the same story to keep each audience informed and wanting more. With more people turning to social media for news instead of traditional outlets such as television, newspapers, and magazines, journalists must consistently find new ways to connect with various people and age groups. You cannot simply copy and paste posts across the various outlets. For example, the way you present a story on Instagram may not work on Facebook because the demographics are different.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest technology on the rise, described as robots replacing human journalists. Some say it can help the industry, while others believe it will hurt it. It is definitely interesting to watch its development to see if and how it can complement journalism and not replace it.
What has been your biggest challenge thus far in your career and how did you overcome it?
One of the most memorable challenges in my career does not include a story I covered or a person I interviewed. It surrounded my natural hair. I wore wigs/weaves throughout my career to maintain certain styles recommended by consultants, which eventually caused my hair to thin. When I was not on TV, I usually wore my natural hair, which I did for a particular “farewell party” I attended in Richmond, VA in either 2015 or 2016. My news director, Frank Jones, showed up to the same event. We talked, and he eventually asked me, “Why don’t you wear your hair like this on television? I like it.” Since so many consultants had advised me to stick to straight, “professional” hairstyles, I never considered asking him for permission to wear my natural hair on air. (During that time, straight, sleek looks were in style and more acceptable by the general public. Well, once he said that, I decided to go for it. I was afraid to do it, but also excited. Once I “debuted” my natural hair on air, the emails started flooding my inbox as well as Frank’s inbox. Some people loved it; others hated it and told me to go back to my “usual” look. My hair became a topic of conversation in local/national magazine articles, and even radio show segments. It was quite interesting. However, I’m now known for wearing natural styles. It is part of my “brand.” It makes me proud to be able to make a positive impact not only through my work, but with my look, too.
What’s one thing that every student should know before accepting their first newsroom position?
You should know what you are getting into before accepting your first newsroom position, which is why internships are so important. Internships allow you to see the daily operations of a newsroom and the different positions needed to put together a successful newscast. You’ll see the range of stories covered on a regular basis, as well as get a taste of the different personalities that make up a news team. An internship will help you determine if this is what you really want to do.
What is something you thought you knew about being a journalist that changed when you actually began working as a journalist?
I thought it would be like it was in my college journalism courses: easy to find stories each day and easy to get interviews by simply making one phone call. Neither one is easy. Story ideas that worked on a college campus was a joke in the real world, and when it came to interviews, I quickly found that many people did not want to go on camera, or they would agree, only to change their minds the day of the interview. I learned to always have a story pitch as well as a “plan B” because everything is not going to go as planned.
What do you love most and dislike most about being a journalist?
As a reporter and anchor, I enjoy the best of both worlds. I love being able to go out and share stories of the community as a reporter. I also enjoy presenting the news as an anchor on the desk. As far as “dislikes,” I do not enjoy covering sad stories. I do not enjoy having to call or interview someone who has lost a loved one.
