By Leigh Dana, Reporter, WBBH, Fort Myers, FL

From being the “big fish” in the small pond to just the opposite, moving from a small market to a medium sized station can be a big adjustment. That’s why having mentors to help you throughout your career are priceless. 

I just made the jump as a reporter from Binghamton, NY to Fort Myers, FL. The best advice I got before I moved was from my boss and news director at the time. She clued me in on all the little things to be aware of when starting fresh at another station. And while I’ve only been at my new job for about three weeks – I realized her advice is spot on and has helped ease me into my new role a lot smoother.

Having a mentor to coach and teach you new things, in my opinion, is a great asset in the news business. I have had many mentors throughout the years -- each one teaching me something valuable and giving me a leg up over the next person. Before I even began my reporting career, I had met a reporter from WABC through a friend who was interning at Eyewitness News. I lost contact with him not long after that. It wasn’t until I was working for News 12 and happened to be covering the same story as him when we re-connected. From then on, this reporter became my mentor. Every so often I would show him some of my work for feedback. And each time, he would share with me some new suggestions to make my storytelling more compelling.

A few months ago I had the privilege of returning to my alma mater, Montclair State University, to share with the graduating seniors in the Broadcasting Department a little bit about what I’ve been doing since I graduated from the same program. They had the opportunity to ask me questions about my field, how competitive it is to be a news reporter, and how they can get their foot in the door, too.  For the first time – I was able to impart my experiences on them. I was now the mentor and it was extremely rewarding.

As I continue to get advice from my mentors and meet new ones throughout my career, I hope I can also pass along these words of wisdom I’ve received to others.

Contact Leigh Dana at:

leighdana.com

@leighdana