I'd like to share my thoughts and perspectives about Eckhert Talent Management.  For me, it has been the culmination of my 30 years in the news business--as talent, as a coach and as a career manager.

I saw what was happening out there and I wanted to do it better.

Let me back up and tell you a bit about myself.  I was born in Indiana and grew up in Sarasota, Florida.  I drifted through 3 years of studies at Florida State University, unable to decide on what I wanted to do if I ever grew up.  When the heat, humidity and bugs finally got to me, I abruptly decided I wanted to see my first snowfall.  Without ever having owned a winter coat, I moved to Minneapolis and I finished my undergraduate degree in English at the University of Minnesota.

During my last semester, my life would change forever, although I didn't realize it at the time.  On a lark, I took a basic journalism class from Professor Irving Fang.  After graduation, I taught high school English and Spanish, but kept thinking about how exciting that journalism class had been.  Two years later, I was knocking on Professor Fang's door.  He became my mentor, urging me to enroll in the journalism master's degree program and to become his teaching assistant.  KMSP-TV (then the ABC affiliate in Minneapolis) offered me an internship.  They allowed me to go on the air with a 5-part series and my career was officially launched.  

As a result of that series, the station hired me as a production assistant, paying the impressive wage of $3.50 per hour, but I was thrilled to be paid anything to work in a newsroom.  Then they asked me to run the weekend assignment desk--a little more "dues paying."  Before long I was reporting and anchoring the main newscast.

The Cinderella story doesn't end there.  After only 2 years at KMSP, I received a call from ABC News.  They needed a correspondent for their Chicago Bureau.  I loved Minneapolis and didn't really want to leave--you know, the old personal/professional struggle--but who can turn down an opportunity to work for ABC News!  At age 28, I became (I'm fairly sure) the youngest correspondent ABC had.

For a variety of personal and professional reasons, I asked for a chance to work in New York at WABC-TV.  The first day on the job, I had to do my first-ever live shot and I was so nervous I passed out afterward!  But I got back on camera and learned to control my breathing.  Soon I was doing multiple daily live shots and packages without skipping a beat.

In 1985, I switched gears again.  I taught journalism classes at Columbia University and New York University.  It became clear to me that would-be television reporters needed individual help, especially with voice, delivery and on-camera skills.  That led me to form a talent coaching business.  As a coach, I launched the careers of hundreds of reporters and anchors.  Many are now working in major markets and networks.  Along the way, they would often ask me to manage their careers and represent them.  Finally, I agreed it was a good idea.

CONTACT US:

Eckhert Talent Management

17 Ridge Blvd., Rye Brook, NY 10573

Phone 914 937-1719 ~~ Fax 914 937-7344

E-Mail:  Julie@Eckherttalent.com