Episode 15 is out now! I’m thrilled to announce my guest: Larry Potash A 14-time Emmy winner, Larry is the co-anchor of WGN’s Morning News, the top-rated morning TV news show in Chicago. He started his anchoring career with WGN in 1995 and is an iconic TV personality in Illinois, having reported on news in Chicago and beyond for more than a quarter-century. His documentary series, “Backstory with Larry Potash,” explores tales of history, religion, culture, and science. Larry came to WGN from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he had worked as a weekend anchor and political reporter. Before that, he was at WFIE-TV in Evansville, Indiana, and at KLMG-TV in Longview, Texas. He says he is living his dream and couldn’t picture himself doing anything else. In this episode, Larry shares insights from his decades of experience in the news business. Whether you are just starting out as a journalist or a seasoned news professional, this is a MUST-listen episode. The information is so valuable and his advice has guided me throughout my career. I was Larry’s intern in college, and it’s been a privilege to call him a mentor. He is as brilliant and as passionate about his work as they come. Thank you again, Larry! *Episode recorded via Zoom on May 21st, 2021*
2:00 Day in the life of Larry Potash
2:30 working the morning news shift
3:27 Did you always know you wanted to be a reporter and an anchor?
4:30 Why good storytelling is important
5:31 Larry’s road to success
8:11 Is this how you imagined your life?
9:44 Writing for news tips
10:25 Did you ever want to work at the network level?
12:18 Larry’s favorite stories to cover
13:40 “If you’re not pissing someone off then you’re not doing your job correctly.”
14:20 Larry explaining “Backstory with Larry Potash”
16:48 Highlights of Larry’s career so far
17:35 Larry’s most embarrassing moment
18:56 being authentic
23:54 Larry’s silent struggle
26:32 “It’s important to remain coachable.”
27:07 What makes someone stand out as a storyteller?
28:24 Package writing tips
28:51 Good journalist vs great journalist
30:15 “Simple does not mean shallow.”
30:30 Career planning tips
31:11 “Every station has their stuff to deal with. Think two jobs ahead!”
31:37 Negotiating a contract
32:32 “Don’t be afraid to ask for things!”
33:27 Do you need an agent?
34:04 Hire agent or lawyer?
35:00 Larry’s reflections on the pandemic
36:43- Larry’s advice on avoiding burnout in the industry
38: 55 managing work-life and family-life
41:21 thoughts on how the news business is changing
43:44 “If you’re doing the same thing as everyone else, then they don’t need to pay you more
44:00 Larry’s life after WGN
44:13 “It’s not the glory days of television.”
47:05 Larry answers the quick question round:
-What interns should not do
-Something you wish someone told you when you were first starting out
-The beverage in your anchor mug
-Biggest career advice Larry received
-What would you do be doing if you were not an anchor
-Biggest career inspiration
-Something no one knows about you
-Favorite book