Produce it Up: Recent Episodes
James
James Curry pulls back the curtain on the news producer life. From handling diva anchors to meter clicks, and process language, this is an inside look at how television news is made. Pack up your LiveU, it's time to take to the streets, people! News is breaking.
James answers your questions about the news, including: why taking selfies with reporters is bad. He also explains how producers choose soundbites and how sometimes unsavory characters get on the news. Finally, he explains what a show-stacker is and why you don't want to be one. Aloha folks, Police are probing and we are Moving Closer To Your World.
James talks to fellow recovering producer Tim Millard. He provides his perspective on The Great Resignation and how its hit TV newsrooms. They also talk about how TV stations are the land of the haves and have nots. The episode ends with Tim reading a job ad from WFOR in Miami and provides his take on what it really means. The Action Never Stops.... because we are... Dedicated, Determined, Dependable.
--
Tim Millard is a TV/film actor and sketch comedy writer in Atlanta. He spent nearly two decades in journalism, as a TV news producer and a radio news anchor. Tim produced countless hours of cable and local news programming, covered major stories like the Casey Anthony murder trial, and freelanced as a reporter for CBS News Radio.
James talks about why looklives are not fooling anyone, why B-Roll is pointless, and why the OTS should be left in the 1970s where it was developed. He also discusses why toss-backs are weird and how producers are censoring the news. Wherever News Breaks, Whatever It Takes! We only do authentic news here!
James discusses what happened when video of a question he asked CNN President Jeff Zucker landed him in the New York Post. He also talks about how he got a job at CNN at age 24, and the differences between producing news at the network level verses local television. Stay tuned, because tonight, we begin with breaking news and we're covering all the angles.
CNN Boss Shocked by Staffer's Fearful Question
James talks about his experience with an executive producer who told him that if he wanted a better show, he was going to have to "earn it." He is also discusses a TV station he worked at where a scandal was an implied employment perquisite. This is not First. Live. or Local.
This is part two of, "I'm going to hang up on you now". James talks to fellow recovering news producer Tim Millard about the significance of market size, the other parts of a TV station besides news, and how you can manipulate the Nielsen ratings with breaking news. They also spill the tea on Atlanta's CBS 46. In James's first year at the station, four of his bosses were fired, an anchor suddenly died, and the main anchor was fired for pushing Hillary Clinton conspiracy theories on the air. Finally, they talk about an industry website that helped guide their career decisions. Stand by, we are tackling this story like no one else can as we plow through the bureaucracy!
6:45 - FTV Live
Tim Millard is a TV/film actor and sketch comedy writer in Atlanta. He spent nearly two decades in journalism, as a TV news producer and a radio news anchor. Tim produced countless hours of cable and local news programming, covered major stories like the Casey Anthony murder trial, and freelanced as a reporter for CBS News Radio.
James talks to fellow recovering news producer Tim Millard about his experience working in small and large market TV. They discuss ratings, angry news directors, and why producers need to be the master of Murphy's Law. Don't turn that dial, exciting things are straight ahead!
--
Tim Millard is a TV/film actor and sketch comedy writer in Atlanta. He spent nearly two decades in journalism, as a TV news producer and a radio news anchor. Tim produced countless hours of cable and local news programming, covered major stories like the Casey Anthony murder trial, and freelanced as a reporter for CBS News Radio.
James talks about how a TikTok news anchor (@carolineontv) reminded him of the important relationship between anchors and producers, why showing up to the set as the show is starting is frowned upon, and why on air talent believes the world revolves around them... always. Brace yourself folks, a battle is brewing. The news is not now.
James explains why moving up the ranks meant doing weird and off the wall things at work, the single purpose of television news, why process language makes David Muir number one, and how breaking news is fake and always has been. This is not coverage you can count on.
James explains what a news producer is, how much they don't get paid, why it's the most important job in a TV newsroom, and why news directors are slimy. He also discusses why news producers should be seen and not heard. Finally, James talks about why one Atlanta TV station is compared to an Indian burial ground. This is not live team coverage!
Opinion: I worked as a TV news producer for decades. I can tell you what’s broken about the media.