CBS 2 Here I Come!

Last week a good friend of mine texted me and said I had to tryout for a morning traffic reporter position at CBS 2 in Chicago.

Ironically, I applied for a similar job more then two years ago before I landed an anchor position in North Carolina. About a week after moving to Greenville I received an email from human resources at CBS asking me to come in for an interview. It just wasn’t meant to be. I had relocated my entire life several states away and was seven days into my new gig, so I passed.

This time around things are a little different. Not only am I living in the Chicagoland area but I work from home, which makes for a pretty flexible schedule.

Right now CBS is having an “American Idol” like competition to fill its morning traffic reporter position. Just to fill you in, that shift’s from 3:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., brutal I know. But you can’t get very far as a journalist these days if you’re not willing to work some (or all) odd hours.

Tryouts consist of submitting a 30-second video on why you’re right for the job. That’s basically all you had to do. So, I did it.

75 candidates will make it past the first elimination round and will head into the studio for a proper interview. After a traffic test, contestants are narrowed down to ten and then it’s pretty much up to the viewers.

The winner receives a three-month contract with CBS for $25,000 with a possible extension. Not exactly the type of job security I’m looking for, so if I happen to beat all odds and dominate the competition, I’d want to keep my current position in addition to the new one. I’m not sure my sanity would be in tact at the end of the three months but I think it’s worth it. Plus, I’m really happy at Patch and wouldn’t want to give up my role there.

Why traffic? Why not, I say. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m going to be hired as a general assignment reporter by a Chicago TV station anytime soon. As much as I’d like to think I’d be an asset to any local network, it’s simply an extremely tough job to land without someone on the inside. So, here’s my attempt at getting in.

I also think I’d have a lot of fun with traffic. I’ve put in some major hours on the road in the past couple of years and don’t dread sitting behind the wheel anymore. I actually enjoy driving now and can see myself making others morning commutes a little bit more enjoyable too.

To see if I’ve got a shot, check out my video below. I’ll let you know if I even make it past the first round.