Playing with the Big Boys: Adam Harding

Some of you may remember Adam Harding, a popular character in my blog back when I was a freshmen at Emerson College. The talented, sometimes infuriating, never boring sports producer who was the first person to give me a chance at Emerson in sportscasting and made me believe that I could actually make it in this business. Adam has since graduated from Emerson College and is currently a minnow swimming in a sea full of sharks trying to make it in the world of broadcast journalism. Adam is the perfect person to give you the inside scoop on life as a broadcast journalist, so this is a must read whether you are interested in sports journalism, hard news, or any kind of broadcasting. While I can give you insight on getting through college with the dream of being on air, Adam can give you the facts on what life is like after you get your diploma.


The man himself. Photo from facebook.com















Interview with Adam Harding

Hey Adam, what is your current job?

I am a reporter. (Note: less than 24 hours ago, Adam was promoted to Weekend Anchor. I think this blog is a good luck charm)

*So, what does a regular work day look like for you?

Regular? no such thing, because every day is vastly different from the previous.

BUT, try this: work 9:30-6:30. Wake up early, read the paper, go to work, check messages, e-mails, etc. Make beat calls (cops), form story ideas. Then at 10 we have a morning meeting, go over the stories of the day. 10:30 I'm making my calls for the day to set up interviews. I try and be out the door between 11 and 11:30, back to the newsroom no later than 3 (preferably 2). Come back, immediately ingest my tape into AVID, and start brainstorming my package. Once the tape is ingested I pick out my soundbytes and edit those, then write them down. I go back to my computer, write my script by say 3:30. Get it approved by the producer. Go edit my package by no later than say 4 (if it's for the 5). Finish my package, head to the make-up room (which is really the bathroom :) ), then go on the set, do my live hit... or drive to my liveshot, do that. After the news I put my stories online and come home....exhausted.

Also, I drink a lot of coffee. That's something you NEED in this business.

*Wow, I can understand the need for coffee. But really, why Washington State? I didn't even know people actually lived in Washington State.

I chose Washington for 3 reasons; one was a personal, "self-discovery"-type deals. Second I knew Melanie (an Emerson graduate). And third, honestly it was the only job offer at the time and I didn't want to wait any longer to start my career.

*Fair enough. What was the hardest part about adjusting to life as a real time broadcaster and also Washington State?

Well I have a unique story because as soon as I moved out here, I came down with a really bad case of mono. Needless to say, that made the adjustment about 100 times harder because I was constantly at the doctors, couldn't be around people, couldn't even work out. So that was tough.

But I think in terms of adjusting to my job, it was more a self-confidence issue. I knew I wanted to do the work, but wasn't sure I could do the work, at least on the same level as everyone else. This industry does put a lot of fear in you, a lot of doubt in you. It's really a mind game. But once you overcome it, it's great.

As for Washington state, people look at me funny for saying 'wicked.' And it's not soda, it's pop.


Reporting. Photo from facebook.com

* That is wicked weird calling soda, pop. So, what is the most bizarre story you have covered so far?

I did two liveshots from a science fiction convention. Let's just say my liveshot for the 6 pm involved me dressing up and speaking Klingon (I'm not a 'Trekkie'), and hanging out with a Star Trek character . I signed off by saying I learned how to save I love you in Klingon (it was the day before Valentine's Day).

Turns out, all 3 stations in the market were watching, and I heard later from my friends at the other stations everyone was laughing hysterically and even applauded for me!

* Oh only you Adam Harding. Where did you go to college? What kinds of activities were you involved in that were related to your career choice?

Emerson. I did sports for our morning show, 'Good Morning Emerson,' for two years. I was also the sports director of one of our college stations, EIV, for two years. I also produced our 6 o'clock news and anchored sports and news. It was a lot of work, but I got to go to Colorado (all expenses paid) for the 2007 World Series, see the Red Sox win it all, be on the field and in the locker room celebrating with the team. It was something I'll never forget.

* What was the biggest lesson you learned about TV once you were out of college and in the real world?

Learn your voice. Be you, do you. Don't be or do anyone else. You have to know how you speak, and then you have to write like that. People relate to people, so be a person. Have flaws. Don't worry about being perfect all the time, it's unnatural.

* If you could go back to school would you still choose to go into broadcasting? Or, would you have done anything differently while in college?

I sometimes wish I had a broader education, but ultimately I'm happy where I am, so it's hard to say I'd do anything differently. I loved my college experience, so no, I don't think I'd change anything.

* Do you ever see yourself leaving the field? If so, what would you do?

Yes, but only to be a teacher. And even then I'd probably teach broadcast.

* What advice could you give to others thinking about going into broadcast journalism?

This business is all about telling stories. You really have to tell a good story for anyone to care, anyone to pay attention. So use your time learning how to really tell a good story.

Best advice, and I really can't stress this enough, is learn your voice. Everyone is meant to sound different, so never put on a "broadcaster" voice. It doesn't exist. And have fun when writing your story. Nobody wants a dull, straight-facts, story. Throw some spice into it!

* Do you have any family members who are in the business?

Dad is anchor in Boston.



Father and son. Photo from facebook.com






*So, does having Papa Harding in the business hurt or help your career? Why?

I guess help, but not because he can (or will) ever get me a job, but because I show him my work and he critiques it.

*My favorite question, what is the most embarrassing moment that has happened to you in broadcasting thus far?

Ya know, I've been really lucky (knock on wood) because I've never fumbled on a liveshot (everyone says your first one is always a disaster!), but there was one time I did a package in studio, and I was talking to my news director while it aired and none of us paid attention to the prompter, and when we came out of the package the script wasn't loaded and I didn't have my script iin hand, so there were maybe a few ummmms and ahhhhhs in there.

Also, once I did a liveshot with a dog, and during the story before mine, the audio board turned my mic up. So on the air you can hear me talking to a dog (mostly "good boy!") in a weird doggy-talking-type-voice, but you couldn't see me. It was very bizarre.

That's another lesson--when you're mic'd up, SHUT UP!

* Ha, sometimes it's hard to remember when the mic is hot. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Married with children and living in a major metropolitan city, preferably close to family.

* Any last thoughts you’d like to share that I didn’t ask?

This field weeds out the people that shouldn't be there quickly. So a word of advice: if you want to do this as a profession, put your heart and soul into it. This isn't so much a job, as it is a lifestyle. You have to love news, love telling stories, love meeting new people.

It's arguably one of the hardest and most stressful jobs. You'll get angry, want to cry, get in fights, lose sleep. You'll mess up a lot, too. Fortunately tomorrow is a new day, and the great thing about this job is you never know what tomorrow will bring.

And remember, it's a communications job. You have to be a good communicator. That means you have to work well with others. You're a news TEAM.

--

The most important thing I've learned from Adam is basically the overarching theme of his interview; you won't make it in this business if your heart isn't full committed to it. Work hard and your hard work will eventually pay off. Adam is the perfect example of just that.