Behind the News Desk: Phil Berman’s Journey from High School TV to Producing at K-Cal LA

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Every morning at Taravella High School the morning announcements are broadcast on television live by the student TV classroom. For one former student, Phil Berman, those announcements were the spark that ignited a 20-year career in television news. Then an anchor on the school’s morning show, now a producer at K-Cal News in Los Angeles, Phil has spent decades shaping the stories that people talk about in his community. In our recent podcast interview, Phil pulled back the curtain on what it takes to make it in the news business, and drops advice to students competing in the upcoming STN Convention. 

A High School Opportunity Turned Career

Phil’s love for broadcasting started in high school where he spent all four years immersed in TV production, helping create and rebrand his school’s morning show. “I loved watching it every morning and just thought, ‘This is so cool. I want to be up there,’” he recalled. His big break came unexpectedly when the school’s regular anchor called in sick. With an hour to air, his teacher turned to him and said, “Phil, do you want to go up and do it?”

He jumped at the opportunity, brought his personality to the show, and won over his classmates. “I was a big Rosie O’Donnell fan at the time,” he laughed, “so I decorated the set with little knickknacks like she did. And after the show, everyone was like, ‘Phil, you did a really good job.’” That moment solidified his passion for broadcasting.

The Path to Professional News

Like many young journalists, Phil had an ambitious dream: to graduate college and immediately become the anchor of The Today Show. “I didn’t realize you had to actually, you know, work your way up,” he admitted. The reality of the industry meant starting in a small market, moving to a slightly bigger one, and climbing the ladder.

His first job landed him in Greenville, Mississippi, where he was both a reporter and a producer. But the small-town fame wasn’t for him. “I liked telling stories, but I didn’t like people recognizing me in public,” he said. “I’d be at Walmart, and people would just start talking to me like they knew me.”

A fortunate job-swap with a co-worker led him to full-time producing insteach of reporting, where he found his niche. “Being a producer lets you write your own ticket in this industry,” he explained. Unlike on-air reporters, who compete for limited spots, producers are in high demand. “At my station now, we used to require 10 years of experience for a producer job. Now, it’s five.”

The Art of Guest Booking

For years, Phil balanced both producing and guest booking because the person who previously played that role left to become a reporter. In early 2023, he was given a choice: go all in or stay producing. “They came to me and said, ‘Would you want to become a full-time guest booker?’ And I said absolutely, that’s the best!” Now, his days are spent coordinating celebrity interviews, a job that has allowed him to meet just about everyone (checkout his Insta).

But if you think celebrities bribe their way onto the news, think again. “We’re not allowed to take gifts, and we don’t pay them either,” Phil clarifies. “Anytime you see a guest on a newscast, they are not paid because we can’t do that.” Instead, his work is about relationships—knowing who to call, making the right connections, and creating engaging TV moments.

Giving Back Through STN

Beyond the newsroom, Phil has always been drawn to mentorship. “Wherever I was in my career, I loved to give back. I loved career days, talking to students, anything that would help,” he says. That passion led him to Student Television Network (STN), an organization dedicated to fostering young storytellers.

His entry into STN was timed perfectly. “I knew Les Rose because he spoke at our school every year. I asked him, ‘How do I get involved?’ and he told me to call Nancy [Held Lucas], who was the CEO at the time.” The timing couldn’t have been better. “She goes, ‘My speaker proposals are due in two hours. Can you have me a proposal?’ And I said, ‘I’ll have it to you in an hour.’” That quick decision turned into over a decade of involvement, leading him to eventually join STN’s board of directors.

Judging at STN: Lessons from the Newsroom

One of Phil’s favorite aspects of STN? Contest judging. “It’s the best. I love it,” he says without hesitation. Over the years, he’s judged almost every category, from news packages to live broadcasts. His newsroom experience has given him a sharp eye for what makes a great entry—and where students tend to go wrong.

One of the most common mistakes students make is not using a tripod. “Stories just look better if you use a tripod and it’s not Blair Witchy,” he says, referencing the shaky-camera horror film. Another frequent issue is poor audio balance. “Check your audio levels throughout. One moment, the anchor is speaking normally, and then suddenly, a package plays and the audio is blasting. It’s not pleasing to the ear.”

But beyond the technical elements, storytelling is what truly makes a package stand out. “Start with a real person,” he advises. “Instead of saying, ‘Joan’s Clothing Store has been here for 20 years,’ start with a shopper: ‘Jane Doe has been coming here for five years.’ Then get her voice in. Let her tell the story.”

Confessions of a Contest Judge

At this year’s STN conference, Phil is leading a session called Confessions of a Contest Judge, a dream panel he’s wanted to do for a decade. The goal? Give students insight into what judges are looking for before they submit their work. “I believe it’s the first session, or one of the first, so they’ll have time to apply the advice right away,” he says.

One key tip? Throw away your first idea. “We get a lot of similar films—especially PSAs. It’s always, ‘A person drinks at a party, gets into a car accident, everyone’s dead.’ If that’s your first idea, throw it away,” he says. The best entries are the ones that surprise him, like the one-shot basement party music video that blew him away. “I finished it, and then I said, ‘Okay, let me watch it again.’ It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen.”

Ultimately, STN is about pushing young storytellers to think bigger, work smarter, and capture stories in the most compelling way possible. And for Phil, being part of that journey—whether as a judge, mentor, or board member—is what keeps him coming back year after year.

Resources

Organizations & Programs

• Student Television Network (STN) – A nonprofit that helps high school and middle school students develop storytelling and broadcast journalism skills.
• Les Rose – A journalist and professor who speaks at schools and has been involved with STN.

Concepts & Techniques

• Tripods for Filming – Recommended for steadier and more professional-looking video.
  
• Audio Leveling – Ensuring consistent sound levels throughout a broadcast.
  
• Storytelling Techniques –
  
  • Starting with a real person’s perspective.
    
  • Avoiding overused PSA tropes (e.g., predictable drunk driving accidents).