My First Byline: Macy Gilliam
Social Video Producer, Morning Brew
What is your current job?
Social video producer at Morning Brew.
What was your first byline?
I only do video work, so not exactly a "byline" per se, but the first video I made that was truly 100% me and my own style was this one where I interviewed a guy who sells pigeons as pets. It was the very first in what would eventually become my Webby-winning series on weird small businesses.
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What was your first real job in journalism?
Working at Morning Brew. I started as a social media editor making Instagram and Twitter posts, but quickly made it clear that I wanted to move to video.
How did you get it?
Morning Brew is pretty non-traditional, and my path reflects that. I was pretty much fresh out of college. I went to school for international business, so that was a huge plus for a business news company like MB. I also had a background in stand up comedy, which was a selling point since MB is known for a very casual, funny style online, especially our memes on Twitter, which was most of my role at the beginning. And I did have social media marketing experience, so they knew that I could work in social well. I think since MB is so non-traditional, it was really important to lean into that and mention things like stand up comedy experience. I even listed my weekly average screen time in my cover letter to show them that I was tapped into online culture. But again, I did that because it fit both the role and the company that I was applying for. Do whatever aligns with your specific situation.
What advice do you have for people looking to break into journalism?
I think it's unfortunately necessary to have a personal brand and a digital presence. It doesn't have to be video, but it could be. It could also be a Substack or personal website that shows your skills and builds a portfolio.