I have always been interested in hearing stories about how people have persevered through dynamic challenges to get to where they are today. Broadcasting is a great example of how one has to be open to criticism in order to improve their skills in the long term. In order to progress and achieve what you want, you have to be able to harness the advice of those who are helping you in your career path. Along the way however you may encounter those who aren’t exactly supportive. You have to develop a thick skin and spin negativity into something quite opposite of what was intended.I had a very interesting discussion with Julie Nolin (Anchor of CHEK TV News) about this very topic. She also included some other advice and interesting insight into her career. I asked her about what it takes to be able to create a career in the News Media.
Julie: I think the most important thing is to follow your instincts. When I was working in Calgary as a reporter (1997-2001), I wanted more... I wanted to be an anchor as well! I kept applying for positions within my station, but my boss was unsupportive. He told me that I had no potential as an anchor! A few short weeks later, a station in Saskatoon offered me an anchor/reporter job. My boss told me I was making a huge mistake by accepting the position, when in retrospect it was the smartest thing for me to do. I needed to go to a smaller station to "make my mistakes."
As well, knowledge is power. I have always tried to learn everything I can about my field. Thankfully, I have a technical aptitude, so for me it's not just about the aesthetics of television or writing well. It's also about knowing how a camera works, along with how shows are timed out. Because television is constantly changing, I look for training opportunities wherever I can.
Another key thing, face your fears. I was an extremely shy person in my early twenties, but I came to the conclusion that I didn't want to live my life like that. To think that I may have up to 60,000 people watching me at one time, would not have been fathomable when I was a shy young woman. Because I moved past those fears, I am a stronger person, and I am more confident as a result.
Unlike many of my colleagues, I did not take broadcasting! I actually studied print journalism, and did that for five years before moving into TV. I figured I needed to return to school to take broadcasting (however, I did a TV practicum in 1990. I was a "slave" for this anchor guy named Chris Gailus... have you ever heard of him!?) But in 1995, I went into this news director in Lloydminster and asked which school I should go to. He told me to save my money... I could just volunteer there at the station.
So, I did. I filed full reports from the beginning, and didn't have a clue what I was doing! After nearly a YEAR of volunteering, I asked when the news director might actually hire me because I wanted to get paid. His response: "Oh, I could never hire you full-time. Your voice grates on my nerves."
With that advice, I set out to find paying work (in Swift Current) and invested in two years of voice training.
So, don't let anyone tell you "no." If you have some great goals in your mind... move mountains to make them happen! Resistance is very strong, but you'll find in the end that support is an even stronger force. 
R: What are some of your thoughts about how technology is changing the News Media?
Julie: Honestly, I think TV is dying, especially TV news. It's heyday was about 10 years ago. That means competition is fierce, in every way you can think of. I don't really know what will happen next for me, and wonder if I will need to adapt and change careers within five years. More than anything, I proved a lot to myself that I could do this, after being told again and again that I didn't have what it takes to do this job.
R: What was the process like when you were hired by CHEK?
Julie: I got this current position by jumping through many hoops; the station actually made me audition at Global BC, and then they showed the tape to a test audience here in Victoria, aka focus groups. Out of five other anchors who wanted the job, I scored the highest. So, I think the station felt really good about bringing me here as a result.
R: What is the best part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is the writing, interviewing and researching, which is 95 per cent of what I do! I can see myself doing that full-time down the road, as an independent writer. That brings me the most joy.
R: Can you tell me about your experience at The Wharton School in Philadelphia?
Julie: The Wharton Scholarship...this is proof that it's good to belong to professional journalism associations. I found out about some scholarships to Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania through the South Asian Journalists Association, or SAJA. I sent some samples of my work, and also wrote an essay as to why I felt I would benefit from the experience. Fortunately, I was one of five journalists chosen for the award to attend the school last fall. I was thrilled.The awards provide journalists with a scholarship to attend the prestigious Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists in Philadelphia, valued at about $2,000. It's a unique opportunity, because as a journalist and researcher you learn valuable skills such as reading quarterly reports from large corporations, getting a sense of the future of the world economy, and trends in advertising and marketing. These courses were taught by some of North America's greatest minds in today's business world at the same Alma mater as Donald Trump. As a journalist, you have to be well-rounded, and know as much as you can about a lot of things! Simply put, I think you should seek out training and education in every area you can because you never know when you will put that valuable knowledge to use.
RECENT AWARDS
April 2007
Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast (Small Market - International Division, Radio Television News Director's Association)
October 2006
Scholar, University of Pennsylvania – The Wharton School, Philadelphia, PA (Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists)
MEDIA EXPERIENCE
Present - ANCHOR/REPORTER, CHEK News, Victoria, BC
http://www.canada.com/ch/cheknews/index.html
2006 WEEKEND ANNOUNCER/HOST, News 1130, Vancouver, BC
2005-2006 ANCHOR/REPORTER, CityTV, Vancouver, BC
2002-05 ANCHOR/REPORTER/PRODUCER, A-Channel/CityTV, Edmonton, AB
2002-05 & 1998-2001 DOCUMENTARY DIRECTOR/WRITER, The Sharing Circle, Winnipeg, MB
2001-02 ANCHOR/PRODUCER/REPORTER, CTV Television, Saskatoon, SK
1998-2001 REPORTER, A-Channel, Calgary, AB
1996-1997 ANCHOR/PRODUCER, CJFB, Swift Current, SK
OTHER MEDIA EXPERIENCE
1996-1997, EDITOR/REPORTER, Canadian Cowboys’ Assoc. Rodeo News Lloydminster , SK
1995-1996, REPORTER -- Volunteer, CKSA TV & Radio, Lloydminster, SK
1995-1996, REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER, Lloydminster Daily Times, Lloydminster, SK
1994-1996, FEATURES WRITER, Lethbridge Living Magazine, Lethbridge, AB
1991-1996, FREELANCE WRITER, Canadian Press, Saskatoon Free Press
1990, REPORTER/WRITER -- Practicum, CFCN, Lethbridge, AB
Photos Courtesy of: Julie Nolin, Canada.com
