Reading between the lines

“It is more than a skill; it is almost a science” said Paul. “Negotiating is reading between the lines in people’s brains. Sometimes they are brutally honest from the beginning, overreaching and ambitious, some other they pretend to be sneaky and get you at the end of the deal… both can be easily perceived if you pay attention”

Paul Gamache is currently the executive producer at a TV station in the city of Orlando, besides having the last word on what goes (or does not) on air he is in charge of interviewing potential reporters, producers and anchors.

I had an opportunity to sit down with him and ask him what he thought it was the most common mistake new TV journalist are guilty of. He said, “ too ambitious”. Later he explained that recent graduates often believe they will be joining the industry and have great salaries. “The glamour that surrounded television is long gone but many people do not completely understand that yet, I blame it on the Universities”. Paul added that many of the teachers in college once worked in the industry, 10 or 20 years ago, when television was still at its highest point and salaries where generous but the industry has changed; technology and popularity of the business have created many competitors in the industry. More often we see people who are able to shoot, edit, produce and be on-camera at the same time. “This trend has reduced costs in an ever-changing industry but the salaries are not even close to what they used to be”, added Paul.

When I asked him about what is the best asset that an employer can see in a candidate he did not hesitate on his answer; “Loyalty”.  Way to often we see people who bounce and bounce from station to station, office to office or event market to market. This, Gamache says, affects the trust that an employer can put on the pupil. “There are still a lot of secrets to be shared about the industry, how it really works and who’s who within certain markets, but because kids do not stick around long enough their bosses never feel like they should be sharing it with them. This is valuable information that its getting lost and only those who pay their dues will eventually understand how this industry really works.”