When I worked at WNBC in New York, I wrote for the early morning newscast that aired right before the “Today” Show. It was always kind of weird being in Rockefeller Center in the middle of the night. Only half the newsroom lights would be on at any given time. Our small skeleton staff of writers and producers often felt like the only ones awake in the city that never sleeps. The Promotion There were benefits to working through dream time. I got to know the senior staff fairly quickly.  One of them took a liking to me and decided to train me as an Associate Producer.  Score!  That meant I still got to do some writing, but I also got to help stack the line up. I had to make sure that all the segments timed out right and that things stayed on track during the broadcast. My first night in the control room, the senior producer stood by me as I watched the clock tick away.  In spite of the oversight I received, I still kept coming up a few seconds short, which in the world of television … [Read more...]