Uncertain about what profession to choose for her high school's “Pick Your Profession Day,” Tamara Gitt COM '06, who today works at Fox News as a Senior Field Producer for the New York Bureau, was encouraged to pick Communications because her father expressed confidence in her strong communication and writing skills.

Guided by his support, once she arrived at Rutgers she chose to major in Communication at SC&I –– a decision that would determine the trajectory of her career.

During her time as a student, Gitt was an active member of Sigma Delta Tau (SDT), where she served as the sorority’s president. She credits SDT for helping her build life skills and teaching her how to manage large groups of different people. “In the sorority, I had to give my first public speech. I had to talk to adults and higher-level people at school. That gave me a lot of skills and confidence.”

Gitt credits the Communication Department for having provided her with a broad education that enabled her to explore public relations and corporate communications. “I think the classes taught me so much–news releases, press releases, and how to respond to corporate crises. Even though I work in TV and media now, I learned a lot of writing skills.”

Gitt credits the SC&I Communication Department for having provided her with a broad education that enabled her to explore public relations and corporate communications. “I think the classes taught me so much–news releases, press releases, and how to respond to corporate crises. Even though I work in TV and media now, I learned a lot of writing skills.”

While studying at Rutgers, Gitt interned for public relations and communications firms, finding the work enjoyable but realizing it wasn’t her ultimate career choice. “My last internship in my senior year of college, I was at Al Roker's production company (Al Roker Entertainment). He has a separate production company where he produces for Food Network and other networks. I had an aha moment. I sat there and said, ‘This, this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I can't believe I've spent three years writing press releases.’ At this internship, they would have to kick me out for lunch. They’d say, ‘Legally, you must leave to eat.’ I’d say, ‘No, I want to stay and work.’”

In her current role at Fox News, Gitt is constantly staying up to date with local and national news.

In our Q&A with Gitt, she describes her day on the job as a producer, why having a “can-do yes” attitude is important in a fast-paced environment, and how Rutgers prepared her for her career in news.

SC&I: Could you describe a “typical” day at Fox News (realizing that there may not be a “typical” day in your field), and how your responsibilities have evolved or changed over the years?
TG: You hit the nail on the head. No day is typical. No day is the same. Every day is an unknown adventure, and you have to roll with it. That is the exciting and stressful part of the job.

A typical day is me getting up early, listening to local news and one of the morning shows, but I try to just take in the news from the second my eyes are open. Local news especially because local is national and national is local. It matters, especially when you're in New York. I'll watch a morning show, so I'll hear what the big stories are nationally. Then on my walk to the subway, I listen to a podcast with the top headlines. On my subway ride to work, I read morning wrap-ups from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, and Fox. I just soak it in, and, obviously, when taking in that much news just in the morning, there’s some repetition, but I come into work prepared and aware of what's happening in the world and in our region that we're responsible for.

At work, it's a combination of looking for stories, reading, researching, and finding pitches, but also reacting to stories. Harvey Weinstein was in the hospital yesterday, so we had to go and make calls on that. Can we confirm it? What information can we get? We're waiting for President-Elect Trump's lawyers to file an appeal on his criminal trial. We are reaching out to lawyers and keeping an eye on the docket. We're covering the Daniel Penny trial, so we are listening to and reading court notes from our court producer, making sure we're on top of everything, and ready for when there's a verdict. It's part proactive, looking for information, and part reactive, trying to confirm and get on top of information and news breaking.

SC&I: What advice would you give to someone who wants to go into a news career? Is there any other advice that you've been given or that you would give that has done you well throughout your career?
TG: I think what's helped me in my career at Fox, because this is the only company I've worked at since college, and I've moved up throughout the years, is having a “can do yes” attitude. You want me to do that? Yes. You need me to do that? Yes. I was never below anything. I was never above anything. I just said yes to everything, and every opportunity gave me an experience, taught me something, and put me in front of somebody who then helped me move up in the company. That is my best advice. Just yes, I can do it, and then figure it out.

SC&I: Would you argue that the soft skills are just as important as the harder technical skills?  Especially saying yes and being able to go about work in a go-with-the-flow manner?
TG: We're not surgeons. We don't need to go through years of medical school and training, and we have really great people here who support each other. We help each other. In our bureau, we're constantly shouting questions to each other. “Hey, how would you do that?” “Hey, I don't know how to figure that out. My brain isn't working.” “What do you think?” Absolutely, just say yes, and like I said, then you figure it out. Maybe you ask somebody who you think might be able to help you, or just troubleshoot. I think having the right attitude and being open, eager, and willing is more than half the battle.

I think what's helped me in my career at Fox, because this is the only company I've worked at since college, and I've moved up throughout the years, is having a “can do yes” attitude. You want me to do that? Yes. You need me to do that? Yes. I was never below anything. I was never above anything.

SC&I: What would you say to someone who wants to be a producer one day?
TG: Writing is so important. I write all day long, every day. Writing absolutely falls under this. Writing will take you far in everything. Writing will take you far as a reporter, as a producer, in everything. Important skills are being organized, because in TV news or in any kind of news, a lot is coming at you at once and you need to know what your reporter needs. You need to know what the shows need. You need to know what's happening on the story. A lot is coming at you. Being organized, being proactive, not waiting to find something out, but trying to find it out, trying to get that statement, trying to confirm that information.

I tell students who intern with us, when they make calls, if they’re calling a local police department and say, “Hey, do you know about that shooting?” And they say, “Nope,” don't take no. Instead say, “Do you know who can tell me? Do you know who I can call? Can you take my name and number down and put me on your media list?” Never take that first answer of “no.” Keep pushing respectfully and professionally. There's always a way. When you talk to people and say, “You don't know, but do you know someone who might?” They may say “Actually, yes, the police department does know.” Then you can ask “I'll take your number and I'll call you.” That’s how you piece together what you need.

SC&I: Anything else you’d like to add?
TG: I loved Rutgers and I got so much out of it. I'm a Jersey girl raised in Jersey and went to college, obviously in Jersey, and I couldn't have asked for a better education. It's a big school with so many opportunities, and so many great people, and in such a great area. We're in Jersey, and I work at one of the biggest media companies in New York, and you'd be amazed by how small the world is. I’m so grateful for my education, grateful for my time there, and I hope I'm making Rutgers proud.

Learn more about the Communication Department at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.

Photo: Courtesy of Tamara Gitt