JTools:Online Resources for the Job Hunt

These resources focus specifically on the online resources to help in the job search. Developed by Professor Barbara Fought, Newhouse School, Syracuse University

1. Researching a market

A.  DMA, Designated Market Area

A list from 1 to 220 of the media markets in the U.S.

B. Kantar Media/SRDS Media Solutions 

A database used by advertisers but to get lots of information about market demographics, both radio and TV.  Includes station ownership, affiliations and top personnel at each. See here for directions and screen shots on how to use it: SRDS_howto .

if the link above doesn’t work to to library.syr.edu >databases.  Fill in the name SRDS.

C. Census Quick Facts

Enter a city or county to get demographic information to help you prepare for an interview:

D. Other Media 

Newslink – website directory for all media, internationally

Newspaper databases – Bird Library has this helpful subject guide to help you find newspapers in various databases.  Tip: for big markets, see what newspaper critic says about the station

Trade Press – Search the trade press sites below by filtering with the name of the news organization, i.e. WSYR site:MediaBistro.com or WPTZ site:Poynter.org

Search engine research – put in the station name

E. The news organization itself

Its website

  • It’s obvious to keep up with the station website
  • Watch That Page allows you to follow changes on a specific page. This site will send you an email alert that tells you when the page changed, so put in the station’s page of talent biographies and you’ll learn about on-air changes.

Social media

  •  You already know to search social.  And you can find station twitter accounts also at  TV on Twitter

2. Making connections

A. The Obvious

  • Search engines are ways to find stations and personnel
  • Whitepages.com brings back phone numbers for anyone who has a listed telephone land line. Or you can reverse a number and find out an address.

B. Newhouse Career Development Center, CDC

The CDC staff have advice, handouts and services, such as a resume review.

The staff run the NewhouseNetwork  a list of alums who have agreed to mentor students. To access this alumni database you must take  #1 and #2 of the 3-part series Job Hunt Series.

C. SU Resources

  1. SU Libraries database, Leadership Library includes phone numbers and emails for TV networks and some stations
  2. SU Career Services at Schine

D. Linked In

Use advanced search for people or companies

E. Simply Hired

Tie to LinkedIn so you see LinkedIn contacts related to the jobs on simplyhired.com

3. Finding job postings

  • All Access  for radio jobs; free registration required for ratings info 
  • Asian American Journalists Association Career Center — open only to members
  • Association of LGBTQ Journalists Career Center
  • Barrett Sports Media Blog Jobs
  • B&C, Broadcasting and Cable few entry level jobs posted but this is worth a look
  • Cox Media Group, owner of several TV stations
  • Gray Television, corporate owner of several TV stations
  • Hearst, Television, owner of several TV stations
  • Investigative Reporters and Editors
  • JournalismJobs.com  click on find jobs tab to see various positions by type
  • Magid  no online job bank but email [ careers@magid.com] about getting on its “Fresh Faces” reel of recent graduates that it sends to stations.
  • Mashable  digital jobs
  • MediaBistro TV and cable jobs Or see online jobs
  • Medialine Talent  (Reel Media Group) – you can submit a reel here or get a subscription to view its list of available jobs. one month for $9.95, three months for $2.95. 
  • My Media Jobs  a talent placement firm (so stations pay it, not you) led by Teresa Hein.  Puts out a “Future Television Stars” reel of students graduating
  • National Association of Black Journalists Career Center
  • National Association of Hispanic Journalists Career Center
  • Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest statioonn groups; partner with Newhouse for BDJ grad program
  • Online News Association, ONA
  • RTDNA  jobs list from the trade association for electronic and digital journalism
  • Scripps, owner of several TV stations
  • Sinclair Broadcast Group, one of the largest TV station owners
  • State Broadcaster Associations —  check each state for open jobs including sports 
  • Smart Recruit (Dolan Media Management)   a talent placement firm, so stations pay, not you. It deals more with producers and web staff but does do some placement of reporters.
  • Society of Professional Journalists, SPJ has a jobs board
  • Sportscasters Talent Agency of America, STAA —  a $99.94 initiation fee includes a one-month subscription. Offers free book by Jon Chelesnik “The Smart Way to get a Broadcasting Job” and “Take Your Best Shot” on how to impress sports leagues with your application.
  • Talent Dynamics –   You send it your info/reel and it will market you to clients, who pay Talent Dynamics, so no cost to you.  Offers job listings, as well. 
  • Tegna, owner of several TV stations
  • TVJobs.com  Job Center –  subscription ranges from $19.95 a month to   $49.95 a year.
 

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