Young broadcasters: PLEASE know your worth. And PLEASE ignore everything this veteran broadcaster says here. “Paying your dues” is a form of industry-wide hazing that old TV folks perpetuate. It’s usually the veterans with ego problems. You are worth more than poverty.

This is something I’ve encountered firsthand with a competitor in D.C. I’ve seen it plenty across the field. Respect is earned — not given. To my young colleagues: you don’t have to respect a “veteran” who tells you you are worth poverty and struggle.

Six months before I started my TV job, a local D.C. talent chimed in on a Twitter thread and told me that it was clear I “wouldn’t put in the work” since I refused a bunch of $20K-$30K jobs. Now I’m the competition down the street. Students: KNOW. YOUR. WORTH.

Well said Matt. Never stop chasing

The number of amazing journalists we lose all the time because even after being in the biz for like 5 years they’re still not making a livable wage is embarassing for tv news as a whole.

With all the talk I’ve seen over the last couple of days about this topic I couldn’t agree more. There should be no reason anyone who went through 4 years of school should be making less than people at restaurants or retail with no degree. I just entered the industry and I see it

No question the industry needs to pay better. However this would be a tough one for me if I were still in school. I accepted my first TV job out of college for $25k back in 2014 because I was eager to get in the door in the business. The alternative was staying unemployed 🤷🏻‍♂️

There's a way to say what you're saying and not put these "veterans" down by making them/us sound 80.

I made them sound 80? Or is the message of someone “out of touch” consistent with the preconceived notions you have of someone who is of the 80 year old demographic?

Preach my dude! 👏👏👏👏

1.) @alannarizzo is a professional and damn good at her job 2.) I earned 12.5k in my first job a lifetime ago 3.) This business has a compensation problem that has cut people out of it way too early 4.) I don’t want anyone to make the kind of money I made. (Inflation adjusted)