Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Maglietta.
Hi Jamie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Embracing Childhood Dreams in a Professional Career Introduction
Our childhood dreams are often dismissed as fanciful, yet they can serve as powerful guides in shaping our adult careers. As you grow and evolve, consider pursuing a career path that aligns with those early passions.
My Journey
From a young age, I was immersed in the world of media. With a microphone in hand and a journal by my bed, I spent my days singing or interviewing people and my nights documenting my experiences convinced that these journals would be valuable someday. Initially, my aspirations oscillated between becoming an opera singer and a television anchor, but these dreams transformed as I explored both avenues more deeply.
Educational Pursuits and Early Career
During college, I pursued my passion for music, taking classes at the New England Conservatory of Music while earning a minor and attending Northeastern University. My dedication enabled me to complete the five-year program ahead of schedule. Despite my love for singing, I realized that a career requiring extensive travel and evening work would conflict with my future family aspirations. This insight led me to scale back, only singing in competitions after graduation.
My ambition to become a television anchor was short-lived. In high school, I worked on the daily news show, and I was more interested in writing and producing than I was anchoring. Despite my waning interest, those around me kept pointing to an on-camera career. At 18, I traveled to Africa and wrote for Imagine Magazine, discovering a preference for reporting, especially on critical issues like wars and natural disasters. I also loved how this allowed me to utilize my photography. This experience solidified my desire to become a correspondent, although my official tenure in this role lasted only a year. Nevertheless, I became a fill-in on-camera host for foxnews.com and continued writing for newsletters, articles, and op-eds.
Professional Evolution
Over the past 20+ years, including my college years, I have worked with major networks such as CNN, FOX, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, BET/Paramount, and others. In every role, I thrived in the spotlight as a newsroom leader. Today, although I no longer produce a daily news show, I embrace my childhood dream of being on-camera through my podcast and YouTube channel, where I guide professionals in navigating the media landscape and becoming on-camera-ready.
Introducing ON CAM Ready
Hello, I’m Jamie Maglietta, owner of ON CAM Ready. I offer corporate workshops and one-on-one consulting focused on networking with the press to earn media. Additionally, I teach professionals how to leverage social media to attract opportunities, incorporating traditional media training and personal branding advice. Beyond workshops, I work as a content creator, producing social media videos and podcasts, and offer freelance services in production management for both scripted and non-scripted shows and events. For more information, visit my website at oncamready.com.
By integrating childhood dreams with professional aspirations, you can craft a fulfilling career that resonates with your true passions.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Navigating the Media Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities in Media Training and Consulting The media industry is fast-paced, presenting unique challenges and opportunities. As a journalist, I would hunt for new and original television guests. Now as an entrepreneur and consultant, I help corporations and professionals navigate this complex landscape through media training, confidence-building, and thought-leadership workshops.
Overcoming Industry Challenges
As a producer, I have always been an entrepreneur, creating programs, writing stories and teases, and presenting on-camera guests so they can be effective. I have essentially been working in marketing and sales my entire life, only now my storytelling needs support my own mission and show: my personal brand.
Transitioning from a career in journalism to entrepreneurship has been both rewarding and challenging. Here are some of the key obstacles I am working to overcome:
1. Finding a Balance between Freelancing & Consulting
After working in non-scripted as a line producer and executive-in-charge for a year and a half, I realized a career in television and film is uncertain, so I launched (ON CAM) Ready. My goal is to continue working in production management while running workshops and guiding clients. It has only officially been six months of balancing this, but already, I need to find more time to do everything I need and want to accomplish in all of my projects.
2. Bridging the Knowledge Gap
Many professionals lack a deep understanding of how to effectively engage with the media. This gap can hinder their ability to secure coverage and leverage media opportunities. My goal is to demystify the media process, providing clear, actionable guidance that empowers clients to confidently navigate the media world. Pitching clients is new to me, so I am just starting to reach out. I worked off referrals up until now.
3. Building Credibility and Trust
As an entrepreneur, establishing credibility and trust with clients is paramount. Drawing on my extensive experience with major networks like CNN, FOX, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, BET/Paramount, and others, I emphasize my proven track record and expertise. Providing consistent, high-quality services and demonstrating tangible results helps build and maintain client trust. To further these efforts, I also write a newsletter on Substack called (ON CAM) Ready.
4. Customizing Training for Diverse Needs
Every client has unique needs and objectives. Whether it’s a corporate workshop, one-on-one consulting, or media training, tailoring my approach to fit each client’s specific situation is essential. This personalized approach ensures that each client receives the most relevant and impactful training.
5. Navigating Financial Constraints
Launching and growing a business in media consulting involves significant financial investment. Managing costs while delivering high-quality services is a constant balancing act. I focus on efficient resource allocation and continuously seek innovative ways to deliver value to my clients without compromising on quality.
Despite these challenges, the journey from journalist to entrepreneur has been incredibly fulfilling. Through my company, (ON CAM) Ready, I offer corporate workshops, one-on-one consulting, and media training designed to help professionals successfully navigate the media landscape. By addressing these obstacles head-on, I am committed to empowering my clients to achieve their media goals and enhance their professional presence.
For more information about my services, visit oncamready.com. Together, we can overcome these challenges and harness the power of media to drive success.
As you know, we’re big fans of (ON CAM) Ready. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
(ON CAM) Ready
Through my experience selecting guests, preparing reporters and anchors, and designing and a look and feel for television news shows or segments, I am now leveraging my skills to help professionals attract opportunities. It is my belief that using thought-leadership tactics and social media videos and posts can help anyone leverage their own expertise to earn media. I believe in publicists and public relations firms, but before investing in those services, I believe any professional can position themselves for media opportunities by showing up online.
Services (ON CAM) Ready offers:
– Workshops
– Consulting
– Media Training
– Content Creation
– Events
– Podcasting
I also welcome temporary contracts in events, production management, news, and television series production.
As a producer, I provide clients with strategies to create thought-leadership content that is both compelling and positioned to help attract media opportunities.
I believe anyone can pitch the press without pitching, and my consulting shows people how.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Lessons from COVID-19: Adapting and Innovating Amidst a Pandemic
My career has always demanded my constant presence, often tethering me to the control room or newsroom. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, transformed this dramatically. Tasked with keeping shows on the air while colleagues worked from home, I often found myself as the sole producer in the control room. Guiding executive producers and anchors remotely required heightened attention to everyone’s on-camera appearance and performance. This experience laid the groundwork for my business, (ON CAM) Ready. By the way, (ON CAM) is what I put in the teleprompter to let an anchor or guest know they are on-camera.
During the pandemic, I also pursued a graduate degree at Harvard University, studying remotely through its extension program. This period of intense professional and academic engagement sparked ideas for a future business venture. In television, layoffs, show cancellations and shifts in direction are common. I knew I needed to prepare for the possibility of sudden career changes. Little did I know that this preparation would soon become essential.
In 2022, I graduated from Harvard in May, and by July, my show “Reliable Sources” was canceled. It was a heart-wrenching experience, but I had already begun pivoting my career from creative roles to production management. My freelancing work with BET/Paramount turned into a full-time, project-based position, which provided a stable transition. Knowing the temporary nature of this role, I began testing my podcast training with a new podcast, taking on clients through my LLC, and building my website to officially launch (ON CAM) Ready in 2024.
Embracing Remote Work
COVID-19 also taught me the value and feasibility of remote work. As the Senior Producer of “Reliable Sources,” I worked remotely except during live shows or recordings. My success in this role, combined with my remote work at BET/Paramount, where I managed documentaries, live events, and a daily radio-to-linear show, demonstrated that effective production management could be achieved from anywhere. This realization has been a cornerstone in developing ON CAM Ready, as I now help professionals navigate the media world from any location.
The pandemic was a challenging time, but it also presented opportunities for growth and innovation. By leveraging my experience and the lessons learned during this period, I have created a business that empowers others to succeed in the ever-evolving media landscape.
For more information about my services, visit oncamready.com. Together, we can navigate the media world and achieve your professional goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oncamready.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamie_theproducer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sophiavanamesconsulting
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-maglietta/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamieMaglietta
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDjUvKm3vnxD56Q045VjbIQ
- Other: https://oncamready.substack.com/
Image Credits
Category5 Photography
