Anthony
Hi there! I’m the ‘M’ in MG Talent Shop! I began my career in Colorado Springs/Pueblo at the NBC station as a weekend sports anchor. I moved to a news reporter/anchor position about six months into my 12-year stint at the station. From reporter/anchor, I moved into management as assistant news director, news director, and eventually station manager. During my tenure as the news director, the station moved from dead last to number one and has been number one ever since then, and that was back in the ’80s. The station dominated the marketplace.
My philosophy was simple – cover news, present both sides of a story, be visual and tell the story, don’t read the story. KOAA won countless awards during my time there. We used the four elements that make a great story and newscast: Sight, Sound, Emotion, and Action!
I moved on to Wichita, Kansas, as a vice president and general manager at KSNW at the age of 34, but I missed the newsroom too much. I left Kansas and returned to Denver, Colorado, as the manager of Telemundo. This station had never turned a profit, and their newscasts were average, but in my time there, we increased revenue, and the newscast took the number one spot in Spanish language news.
Next, I headed to Houston, Texas, for the chance to get back to my producing roots. I produced the 10 PM newscast at KPRC.
From there, I went to El Paso, Texas, as a news director at KDBC, and after that, I moved to Pittsburgh, PA, to begin launching a brand new newscast for a Sinclair station, but I found their contract a bit wordy and ultimately couldn’t sign – at the same time, a station in Jacksonville, Florida was launching a brand new newscast and needed an experienced news director. I took that opportunity, and it was one of the most rewarding professional experiences I have ever had. I had to hire 50 people in 60 days to launch a daily newscast on Fox for Clear Channel Broadcasting.
I reviewed 3 thousand demo reels to hire those 50 people. I tell this story often to illustrate how important it is to have a demo reel that gets you noticed. Your reel has to be better than your work to get your foot in the door.
Dallas, Texas was the next stop on my career journey. I went to work for a Tribune station (The WB/CW 33). This time I had 90 days to hire 55 people, and this time I reviewed 5 thousand resume reels. We successfully launched and eventually became a contender in the market.
At MG Talent Shop, we know what you’re going through because we’ve been in your shoes! I have been a reporter, an anchor, a producer, an executive producer, a news director, and a general manager. People are what make the world of news continue spinning.
As you progress up the ladder of this business, you’ll see it only gets tougher. I’ve hired countless journalists in my career, so I know what hiring managers are looking for in demo reels. Yours can be one of the countless demo reels that doesn’t get a second look – OR – yours can be one of the few that gets you called for an interview. At MG Talent Shop, we will work hard to make sure you’re on that short list!
TV News is in my blood, and working tirelessly to support the current and upcoming generation of news talent is what I’m passionate about. I look forward to talking with you soon!
Remember, there’s no second chance for a first impression!
Testimonials for Anthony’s Work
“I remember like it was yesterday walking into Anthony’s office at KXII for my first ever interview. He gave me a chance and hired me as the overnight producer, helping me get a foot in the door in this tough business. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him! Ten years later and I still think about the impact he made on me, and carry his lessons with me. A huge thank you to him for everything he did for me, especially on that day.”
“Anthony is a smart, passionate leader who is constantly working to make sure his staff is advancing and reaching the goals of the company and their individual goals. He will also do the right thing in tough times.”
– Todd Mokhtari, President & General Manager NBC7/Telemundo20 San Diego.
“When Anthony arrived at KDBC, he inherited a demoralized newsroom. The station was wayward, with no real sense of identity. Anthony came in, wasted no time, and made the station a contender. He was aggressive, determined, and forged ahead with great clarity. He had a vision and he realized that vision by making vast improvements in our on-air product. In the process, he grew the skills and the morale of the staff. He expected a lot, but he also taught us a lot. As exacting as he was, Anthony was always fair and personable. Like many others who worked for him, I was willing to follow Anthony to other stations. I still stay in touch with Anthony, and always will. I would work for him again in an instant. He is a great manager, a class act, and for many years, he has proven through his leadership that television news can still be as fun as it is challenging.”