24 yr. old from NY/Boston thinking of moving to ATL to work at CNN, with questions! (Atlanta: apartments)

[GirlfromNY]

I have a television background (both academically and professionally),but just dont want to live in NY or LA. The fact that CNN/Turner is based in ATL seems like the perfect compromise. Does anyone have any experience getting an entry level position at CNN? Was it very difficult?

Also, we are thinking of looking for apartments in Buckhead or Midtown. Would you say these are good areas for single girls in their mid-20s? I am not expecting anything like the culture found in NY, more just nice shops and places to eat. I know they are pricey in terms of ATL rent, but compared to NYC these places are amazingly cheap.

Any tips or advice? All is appreciated!

Thanks!

[JBnC]

I really wish there could be a sticky at the top of the Atlanta forums that gives the lowdown on Buckhead. I avoid it like the plague.

There are lot's of apt's in Midtown, many restaurants and clubs, but at night, it is a little much of a meat market IMO.

[mg83]

Have you applied to CNN yet? There is also FoxSports right in Midtown (in my opinion, a better location). Coming from UF's journalism program, I thought it would be easy to land even an entry-level gig at CNN... not so much. I think I applied for a few jobs there, of course, never heard back any time. Maybe you will have better luck!

The commute to CNN or Foxsports from Buckhead would not be too bad...

I've heard CNN's pay is not too hot. To be honest, I feel Buckhead and Midtown apartments are overpriced. If you decide to come down, you could always look on Craigslist for deals. Sometimes they have cute loft or studios for good prices. Another area to consider is Vinings around 30339 zip code. The rents are a bit cheaper and there are some cute restaurants and shops and you can drive to Buckhead in like 10-15 minutes. The commute from Vinings to Midtown and Downtown is also not bad.


The thing is, lose the notion of "walkability" right away. You really can't walk places anywhere in Atlanta. Although, check out Virginia Highlands... I'm not sure of the rents and apartments around there, but it wouldn't be a bad drive to CNN or Midtown.

[Atlantasfinest]

I used to work for CNN Sports Illustrated (The Cable Sports Network that uncessfully tried to vie for a share of the market against the ESPN Networks to no avail) before the network disbanded. I came in under the Video Journalist Position (VJ - Proram) as a Senior in College working full-time and worked my way up to Associate Producer. It's a entry-level position with low-pay (Back in 2000). But it's a great way to get your feet wet and there is nothing like having CNN on your resume. You can get a feel for a number of positions and feel your way out to what you ultimately want to do. You can apply online at Turner and also find more information about the program there. But like everything in life it's best to come with a plan. You should look into Inman Park/Midtown if you want for places to reside. Both are great areas but I would lean slightly to Inman Park. It would be a perfect commute to work at CNN you could catch the Marta directly to work but keep in mind you could also work at Turner Broadcasting which is located in Midtown. So it all depends on what your needs are. Hope that helps.

[sweettea1]

Atlanta's a great place to move for singles. I'd definitely do a little networking first for CNN and Turner jobs. Midtown, Buckhead, Vinings, Emory area are all good choices. Pick up a copy of Making It in the City, a girl's guide to starting life on your own in a ridiculously expensive city you can't afford...great resource guide!

[free2bskipper]

young woman in atlanta - some areas are more safe than others. but as in NYC, there's crime in every area. do you want to be near a good public park, as opposed to a bad one, or do you need an area where you can take a walk? what about grocery stores? some places you can walk to a local store, and others, the neighborhood is like a busy parking lot with no sidewalks. do you need to be connected to public transportation - that is very iffy in Atlanta - better in some areas. you have to ask about, and for, all these things. find a rental company in Atlanta and ask all these questions, and focus in on what you want. Moderator cut: Removed being single, as you know, you cannot be too careful. since you are familiar with NYC, you can handle this if you get all your info. remember, Atlanta is very spreadout like LA; we have the longest commute times in the US; we also have bad pollution/airquality, and terrific allergy seasons with all the flowering.

[rerun]

You might want to think about Virginia-Highlands, Poncey Highlands areas as well as Little Five/Candler Park to live in. Buckhead has been known to be cheesy, but they just started a huge renovation of an area where all the bars used to be to make it more of a upscale. shopping/restaurant area.

[Chucklotto]

You will love it here.

[Parsec]

It may be hard to get a job at CNN, depending on what type of job you're looking for. In college I had 2 friends who were working unpaid internships at CNN just for the chance to be hired out of college. After they realized how cut-throat it was, they both decided they didn't want a full-time position there since it would be hard working your way up. A few years later, I had 2 more acquaintances find jobs there after college -- one was in film and the other was in marketing. They say the hours are crazy if you want to get promoted, and feel like it's a stressful environment.