A production of the South Carolina Educational Television Network.

♪ Bill> Today on the Jobman Caravan we'll spotlight the job of a television news reporter, how she gets the news and how she delivers it to the public.

Adrienne> Also we'll profile a career that requires a positive attitude.

Bill> In addition, we'll take a look at a program designed to help Black businesses stay in business.

And our entertainment will feature Pennye Ford and Phillip Bailey.

♪ >> Hi, I'm Adrienne Hayes, >> And I'm Bill Terrell.

Welcome to the Jobman Caravan.

In our first segment, we'll talk with some college officials as well as some college students, about the merits of a four year degree.

Adrienne> In today's high tech society, the question is, should Black students consider a more specialized course of study rather than obtaining a four year liberal arts degree?

Bill> Each year degrees are becoming more and more expensive.

So a well thought out decision, preferably during high school, is important.

♪ >> First, they need to decide what their career goals are going to be.

Once they decide what their career goals are going to be to talk to people in those professions, their teachers in high school, go to libraries, check out books on careers, check out books on that particular career, and just see, you know what the trend is, how it's progressed and where it's going.

So you won't get stuck into a career, say, well, you know, maybe I like this, but if it's going nowhere, why get into it?

And I think it calls for a lot of, you know, a lot of homework.

You know, looking for a job and a career is just like school.

You can't be successful at it unless you do your homework.

Adrienne> Once a high school student has decided to further his education, deciding what type of advanced degree is important.

Even though two year associate degrees are available, the consensus among both college administrators, faculty, and students questioned by the Jobman Caravan is that a four year degree is more valuable in the marketplace.

Dr.

Maceo Nance> The baccalaureate degree continues to offer considerably more than an associate degree has to offer.

Grant you that, after two years, in many instances, one is ready for the workplace as opposed to four years obtaining a baccalaureate degree.

Now, that's for immediate gratification or satisfaction.

Now, what happens later when we know that, one has to train and retrain themselves any number of times in the kind of society that we live in today because of expanding technology.

Who knows, how much one would be hampered, as far as upward mobility is concerned, if they've only restricted themselves to a two year, post, secondary education.

>> I think that if you feel that maybe going through a four year program is not for you, then it's best to concentrate on a skill.

But a lot of people are suited for college and being in college, It just makes you much more of a polished person.

So I feel that if you feel that you're college material, you should go ahead and go.

Dr.

Willie Harriford> It does say that one, I have a well-rounded education that I'm literate, and it says to most employers that I have the ability to learn, and most employers are going to teach you their system anyway.

So now you have some people who have proven through a four year degree that they have the ability to learn or retain a certain amount of knowledge because they've already done it.

Adrienne> As we've mentioned, the college education is becoming more and more costly.

At one time, in-state students could count on relatively low tuition rates, but the need for schools to attract higher quality instructors and to have more specialized equipment like computers has raised in-state fees to almost the level that out-of-state students are expected to pay.

Nevertheless, the feeling is the expense is well worth it.

>> Yes, the time, effort and money has been worth it because I don't think that the experiences that I have gained here, I would have gained anywhere else.

I probably would have been more prosperous now, made more money with a job right out of high school, but I don't think the, the education that I have received would been the same.

>> I believe that the time, money and hours have been very well worth it because not only have I received a college education, but I've also received all types of other experiences, including getting to know people and, other experiences outside of going to school, such as internships and the like.

>> I believe it has, because from my experience here at the university, it seems like if I had stayed home and not experienced this, I wouldn't be able to go on in life.

I wouldn't be able to become a fashion merchandising buyer like I planned to.

And I think it's worth it that my parents took the time and the money to send me to college.

>> I feel it has been because of the experiences I've had in college.

I believe if I did not attend a university, I could not have experienced these things.

Whereas I've been involved in, I've been a member of several organizations on campus, and I've worked in a few jobs that have helped facilitate my, my major.

And whereas if I did not attend a university, these things could not have been possible.

>> So definitely so because of, of limitations, if I hadn't come to college, my future would be very limited in what I'd be able to do.

And, college has broadened me.

And it's I've seen different things that I wouldn't be able to see if I was at home.

And I've really enjoyed the time that I've been here.

Adrienne> Wanting a college degree and successfully earning one is important.

But year after year, the most important concern of those about to graduate is will I be able to find work.

Knowing what skills the market needs and is willing to pay for is crucial.

Dr.

Willie> Soon there is going to be a need and a market for teachers.

In the past, there weren't that many markets available, so the salaries were lower and many Blacks opted for something that paid more.

Now, there have been times when there has been needs for engineers, and so we produced a lot of engineers.

Then the market got saturated, and then people who had spent 3 or 4 years becoming an engineer who said, because if I automatically get a degree in engineering, I automatically have a job, suddenly found they didn't have a job in engineering.

Some of them who had to go back and teach math in school.

There are ebbs and flows with the demands for nurses.

Sometimes if you have a nursing degree and you're lucky upon graduation, you have an option for 3 or 4 jobs.

But after everybody says there are plenty of jobs in nursing and the pay is fairly well, fairly good, then everybody decides they're going to be a nurse, and then you have too many nurses and then when you get out there, you don't have one.

I think that the important thing in our lives and very important for Black students, is to be flexible.

>> I was always taught that a college degree was a license to sell yourself.

So now that in a month or two I'll have a license to sell myself.

I believe that I have the motivation to go out and sell myself, so I'm almost perfectly secure that I'll have a job after graduation.

Dr.

Maceo> In order for you to be successful.

In order for you to succeed, you have to be twice as good as the other fellow.

And we know who the other fellow is.

That hasn't changed.

So I would suggest, if I were counseling a young Black student, I would suggest that they prepare themselves as best that they could.

Go beyond always the extra mile if at all possible.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ That was "Wicked Ways" Pennye Ford.

And later on, don't forget, we'll talk with a young woman who makes television news her career.

And also, don't forget, we'll take a look at ways to help Black businesses stay afloat.

Bill> Well, before our last entertainment feature, we talked about the validity of a four year college degree.

Well, for various reasons, not everyone can afford to go to college.

But that doesn't mean that you can't have a satisfying, successful job.

Adrienne> Next on the Jobman Caravan, we'll talk with a young man who tries to make your hospital stay as pleasant as possible.

He's a transportation aide, a job that doesn't require a high school diploma.

♪ Bill> Entering the hospital for most people is no fun.

It usually means constant bed rest, examinations, tests, and sometimes surgery.

For the most part, doctors and nurses provide the care and treatment.

However, there are other hospital employees which assist the patient.

Mainly the transportation aid, otherwise known as the hospital attendant or orderly.

As the title suggests, the aide makes sure the patient gets to whatever hospital procedure has been scheduled.

Joe Brown> You have to have a good personality and you have to put up with a lot, you know?

So some patients are a little hard to get along with.

But it takes, you know, it takes a lot to really sit back.

And now, you know, just say, hey, you know, you're not going to upset me I'm, I'm, I'm going to confuse you, you know, cause I've had patients to give me a hard time.

But that smile, confused them.

I give them that smile, you know, they go, what are you smiling about?

And, you know, I talk with them and they'll say, well, what are you laughing at?

I'm not laughing, just smiling.

That's all.

You want me to get anything for you?

They'll say, no, I don't want you to get nothing.

I said, well, anything you need, you let me know.

And it confuses them.

Because they, you know, expect me to respond in a, in a, you know, in a negative attitude, no, I don't, I just talk with them.

And really you got to have a good personality and you got and your attitude going to have to have a good attitude.

Bill> Being physically in shape is a plus for the job of a transportation aide.

Many times, patients can offer little or no help in moving them around.

It helps a lot because we, you know we've had patients many times 300, 400 pounds and, you know, and... some of the patients like...when you joke about their weight.

you know, they like it.

And I said, and I said, man, you sure are little and they laugh and but then in the meantime when they hurting real bad they'll help me a lot by helping themselves when they'll help roll over on the stretcher, or they'll move around a lot more.

Bill> Unlike many careers explored here on the Jobman Caravan, a transportation aid generally needs no formal training or high school diploma.

However, if you have such credentials, it could give you an advantage.

I suggest to the young folks they better get one.

As far as I'm concerned from I feel as far as the young people are concerned, you know, you don't necessarily have to have one, but it's best that you get one because you got to start from the bottom and work your way up.

And the bottom line is getting a high school diploma.

And if a...young person is really interested in this, they should seek information.

Come to the hospital or talk to some people that are employed here, come into the physical therapy department or whatever, and get and get information concerning schools and stuff, you know, and, you know, that would that would help because without education, you in bad shape.

Bill> If you're interested in working in the medical field, but you're not sure what you'd like to do, the job of a transportation aide will give you an opportunity to take your time and decide.

Adrienne> Don't go away.

There's still much more to come on the Jobman Caravan Bill> Coming up on the Jobman Caravan, Phillip Bailey, formerly of Earth, Wind and Fire.

But before we get to the music, the Caravan takes a look at a serious problem.

Adrienne> That's right.

Bill, I have been taking a look at this marketing magazine.

And according to this magazine, the mortality rate for Black businesses is extremely high.

Many of them fail within the first five years.

Well, even though that is a disturbing problem, efforts are being made to help Black businessmen make it.

Bill> And coming up on the Caravan, we take a look at one such effort that for free offers sound business advice that includes everything from marketing to inventory control.

♪ For centuries, Black men have been enterprising, managing and owning a variety of businesses, but many have been unable, in many instances to make some of these businesses stand the test of time without even considering outside factors like the general economy.

There seem to be some in-house problems which set the stage for some Black businesses to fail.

At South Carolina's Benedict College, there's a special program designed to help the Black business man.

The program operates statewide, offering sound advice in such areas as bookkeeping, inventory control, and marketing.

If Black businesses as a whole are to survive, fundamental business techniques must be learned.

Innocent Nkwocha> Most businesses fail in the first five years.

So the idea here is even before they go into business, they should try to prepare, get themselves equipped, know what they know what to do, especially when it comes to planning.

Landy Gladney> Planning is of utmost importance.

I have been in business for eight years now and I have seen where the best plan is more efficient.

As for the growth of your business.

Planning is, it might take them approximately six months, maybe even a year to plan your business.

Just having an idea is not enough.

You must put your idea on paper and you should contact Edtac and other affiliates of that nature.

because they give you the professional assistance that you will have regardless of whether your business is a professional business.

Bill> Aside from a good, solid plan of action, sufficient capital is necessary if a new business is to survive.

Having enough money to begin on the right track ensures, in part, the Black businessman will be able to operate the business on a professional level, meeting the needs of those customers.

The Benedict College program is called Edtac and services are provided free of charge.

Innocent> In the area of management, we provide services such as bookkeeping, inventory control, proposals, how to prepare proposals and many of them like that in the area of management.

We also provide services in other areas, such as helping, minority business entrepreneurs to prepare financial packages to obtain commercial loans.

Landy> They helped me for business development, accounting procedures, accounting systems, and overall improvement in business.

Innocent> Since this program got funded in 83, it was first, first funded in 83, we've helped a good number of businesses.

We've helped businesses and businesses, including business.

We've helped grocery businesses.

We've served, I mean, a good number of them... We are not looking at one type of business.

We will provide our services to just about all kinds of businesses.

Bill> Remember the keys to a successful Black business, a willingness to make it work, a business with a well-defined market and capital, also, expert legal advice is a must.

These factors will almost guarantee the Black business' ability to compete on an even basis with the rest of the business community.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Adrienne> Don't go away.

There's still much more to come on the Jobman Caravan.

Bill> Well, that's enough of that.

Adrienne> You know, television news has been an important way to let the community at large, and specifically the Black community, know what's going on in today's fast paced society.

Bill> While only recently have Black reporters and anchors been a part of that medium since our involvement, stories of interest to the Black community that might not get told or get biased coverage have been shared.

Adrienne> You know, that's a heavy responsibility.

But as we see in our next Caravan feature, there are Black journalists who can handle the job.

♪ >> Good evening.

In just a few hours... Adrienne> Lights, camera.

Action.

Well, it may look easy, but the job of a television newswoman is tough and demanding.

It requires precision, dedication, a command of the English language, and an eye for what's of news interest to viewers.

Carolyn> As a reporter, I am out on the street gathering news.

As an anchor, I'm inside gathering news still, contrary to the popular belief that I simply drive down to the station and sit on the set and deliver the news, it doesn't happen that easily.

I'm here hours before the show ever hits the air.

Getting things together, checking stories out, following stories out.

But the drawback is I can't leave here.

I have the responsibility of being not only an anchor, but a producer.

And I must be here to make sure everything comes together and so that the show ultimately looks right.

Adrienne> Making it in television news means being competitive, putting out the best product, in the least amount of time without making crucial errors in judgment.

And for the Black television journalist, the standards seem to be even tougher.

Carolyn> It's rough, but I think if you're determined to make it in television, you can do it.

I'm convinced of that.

I find, though, too many young people coming directly out of J. school who think that they're going straight to New York and I'm trying to get to New York, and I've been out here longer than they have.

So it's tough, and it's not going to happen overnight.

You're going to have to, as they say in this business, pay your dues.

And that might be in a small town that no one knows about, or a small town you've never heard of, but you're going to get that experience and you're going to learn.

You're going to learn from the bottom and then work your way up to the top.

Adrienne> Being in a business that requires excellent writing skills, the ability to develop contacts, and a good on camera presence is a constant challenge.

But being a Black reporter/anchor has its additional set of challenges.

Carolyn> As a woman and being a Black woman and being in a supposedly White man's world, I deal with the double racism.

I deal with, not only things not happening or progressing like I think they should be because I'm Black, but also because I'm a woman.

So it's two-fold.

And often it feels like you're, you're fighting a tough battle.

Adrienne> Black television anchors and reporters, regardless of whether they work in the electronic media or in print, seem to feel more responsible for getting the story straight, particularly if the stories have Black participants or may be of more interest to the Black community as a whole.

But no matter who or what the story is about, getting it right is of paramount importance.

Carolyn> I write the facts, but I think along in my writing I bring my background and you can't separate the two.

And being a Black female, I go into the story as a Black female, and I'm writing a story about a Black man maybe shooting a White man.

One thing I think I'm going to do, probably more so than my White counterpart colleague, is that I'm going to seriously sit down and look at the facts and be sure I've got it correct, and be sure that I'm phrasing it correct, and be sure that I'm not defaming someone's character.

For the probably the simple fact of it, for so many years, Black people have not gotten always the fair shake from the news business.

So it's important to me in the news business to make sure that if I'm covering a story that they... Adrienne> As in developing any successful career, a plan of action is vital.

A solid, realistic set of goals helps anyone plot their progress.

Announcer> 11 o' clock report.

♪ Adrienne> Well, if anything, we hope we've impressed you with the need to stay in school and get a good, solid education.

Until next week, I'm Adrienne Hayes.

Bill> And I'm Bill Terrell, reminding you that preparation is the keynote to success.

Until next week, on behalf of the staff of the Caravan, we thank you for joining us.

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