Journalism students must remain diligent and focused on providing "need-to-know" information to their viewers and readers, said local television anchors Mearl Purvis and Jarvis Greer.
The anchors spoke to a small group of journalism students Wednesday at The University of Memphis Meeman Journalism Building to offer advice regarding getting ahead -- and staying ahead -- in the profession. The University of Memphis Association of Black Journalists sponsored the event.
Students need to remain persistent in their academic endeavors, Greer said.
"When I was a student here, a lot of black students in my dorm wouldn't go to class if it rained," he said. "Things like that -- don't do that. You need to make sure you take advantage of all the academic resources available to you here."
"If you show your professors 110 percent in the classroom, they'll show you the same respect back," Greer said. "They'll help you get that job you need after graduation. Just ask."
But students must work for it, he said.
"Nothing in life's free."
Greer is the sports director for WMC-TV (channel 5) and Purvis anchors for Fox 13.
When asked how to combat the growing trend of incorporating humor in television news broadcasts, such as CNN did during the recent presidential elections with The Daily Show's Mo Rocca, Greer said sticking to newsworthiness will always guarantee employment.
"As with all businesses, it's always good to listen to outside ideas," Purvis said. "The world, along with the news business, is getting more corporate and therefore more profit-oriented, but you still need to be true to yourself and investigate what the viewer needs to know."
Greer agreed, recalling a time when he said it seemed like his entire sports broadcast was a "police block," referring to segments that spend too much time covering athletes and their legal problems."It just wasn't fun," Greer said. "The platform at the time was more into looking for the dirt on somebody than actual sporting news."Often times, I try to give the accused the benefit of the doubt in news broadcast because you can't just rush to judgment. Otherwise, you're whole house will come crashing down."
Purvis agreed, saying personal opinion must not interfere.
"Student athletes-it's a difficult thing not to have an opinion on," Purvis said. "You must hold on to your peace and withhold that extra nod that will be perceived as bias."
Perhaps Purvis's strongest advice-giving point was for a journalist to never be content in a job, to never cut corners and treat a position as a trophy and not an opportunity for advancement.
"I found that I'm not comfortable just because I've 'made it.' Neither should you."
"Journalism is a very fickle business," Greer said. "One day they love you, the next day it's..."
Purvis chimed in, speaking in the place of an imaginary disgruntled viewer.
"What did you do to your hair?"
