The Life of a National News Correspondent

If you think one-man banding is only for lower markets, think again!

The day-to-day life of a National News Correspondent can be pretty extraordinary. On what’s deemed ‘good news days’ the journalist has a front row seat to history making moments or that particular day’s top story. The rush of being on the scene during breaking news, scoring that hard-to-get interview, and just barely meeting your deadline is the fabric that holds us together. 

While journalist’s passion hasn’t changed, the expectations on how to do the job has. The concept of paying dues - starting your career in market 215 and working your way up to market 78, is no longer the only path to success (whatever your definition of success is) but the principles still hold true.

The value of smaller markets is the hands-on approach taken to every position. It’s where you learn. It’s where you make the mistakes that will get you fired in bigger markets. It’s where you fine-tune your skills. It’s where you master your craft that includes not just your specific job function but at least two to three others. 

This is typically where the one-man-band approach to reporting is standard. As technology and the way we obtain news continues to evolve, so has what’s expected of journalists in top markets and national platforms.

ABC News Chief Legal Correspondent Dan Abrams details how the concept of one-man banding plays out on a national scale and offers tips to navigating the live news reporting scene.