Sam Eyre, a trainee at ITV, offered valuable insights for young people looking to start a career in production, from a journalistic perspective. From handling rejection to understanding the importance of behind-the-scenes roles, Sam’s journey demonstrates the need for persistence and realistic expectations.
“Breaking into the industry isn’t easy. I’ve always watched ITV evening news. It was like I’ve grown up with it, so it would be great to work for them. I applied and got through several interviews, but I wasn’t successful with some roles at first. Finally, I made it to Tyne Tees, and that’s how I ended up in the North East.”
Sam’s story shows that rejection is part of the process. Breaking into TV requires persistence and resilience. It’s competitive, but staying determined pays off.
“You’ve got to be good at the behind-the-scenes stuff before you’re allowed anywhere near the front-of-camera stuff.”
“The presenter of Good Morning Britain was a trainee eight years ago. You’ve got to work your way up.”
Every morning before school, I watched Good Morning Britain with my mum… | Sam Eyre
Sam stresses the importance of understanding production roles before thinking about being on-screen. These foundational roles help build crucial skills and provide insight into how everything comes together.
“We had over 1,000 applications this year for my role. It’s one of the most competitive jobs in journalism.”
TV production is incredibly competitive. Sam highlights the importance of being prepared for this reality, as only the most dedicated will stand out.
“Planning assistants are the backbone of everything we do. They organize stories to get them on air. I’ve done a bit of planning, and it’s a skilled job, but it’s raw journalism.”
While many dream of being on-screen, Sam points out that planning roles are critical in TV news production. These roles are often overlooked but are essential in bringing the stories to life.
“If I were talking to me a year ago, I’d tell myself to calm down. You’re not going to be on air within a month. Journalism is a long game. Don’t expect everything to be perfect straight away.” Sam’s advice to young people is to be patient and manage expectations. Success takes time, and starting from the bottom is a necessary part of the process.
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