Sharon Carpenter is an on-air correspondent and producer for BET NEWS. There she reports the daily news briefs for the network and reports/produces in-depth enterprise stories for BET’s hard-hitting news specials and the network’s talk show MEET THE FAITH. Sharon was the first person to bring the sights and sounds of Grime to the US through one of these specials, which included the likes of Sway, Kano, Jammer and Lethal B for THE CHOP UP.
Recently BET launched in the UK Sky Channel 209 with the first international launch of the BET brand. Pyroradio.com caught up with Sharon to talk about BET, what’s in store for her and the network in 2008, journalism and more!
Pyroradio.com: How’s life keeping?
Sharon Carpenter: Life is good. It’s really, really busy right now. I’m doing a lot of stuff for both the US and the UK network. Our head of BET International, Michael Armstrong, has done an amazing job, bringing BET to the UK. It’s really exciting having the network in my home country. I would have loved to have been able to watch BET when I was growing up. It’s an exciting time and they’re definitely keeping me very, very busy!
Pyroradio.com: So how did you originally get into broadcasting and journalism?
Sharon Carpenter: It just kinda happened naturally to tell you the truth. I came over here to America to go to University. I was studying for a degree in Business Management because at that time I wanted to get into the music business. My brother’s a DJ in the UK and he introduced me to the music scene and Hip Hop at a really young age. Initially I thought I wanted to own my own record label. Then, while I was at University I interned for a label and realized it wasn’t quite my thing. I didn’t really have the chance to be creative and was stuck in the office most of the time. While I was still at University I met the producer of a Public Access show, which in the US is basically community-based television. He had a Hip Hop video show called ‘Video Explosion’ and was looking for a new host. He asked me if I’d be interested and I was like "Sure, why not!" I had never really even considered following a career in television before that, but I felt at the very least this would be a great experience. I worked for the show for free but worked hard. I used to go around with them to cover album release parties and record label press days – events the label would hold specifically for video shows to interview artists about their new projects. So I was doing a lot of that stuff and I began to realize I was actually pretty good at what I was doing. I would get a lot of compliments on my interviews from the artists themselves and from peers, and I grew to really have a love for it. Video Explosion gave me lots of great networking opportunities too. One day I was at an event and ended up meeting someone who later became my mentor – he was a news director of a newscast in New York, and he’s the one who initially gave me the idea to get into News. I ended up working with him as an associate producer at the local newscast, working behind-the-scenes but he soon left to go over to BET News and I went will him first as a producer, and then I became a reporter. Being a broadcast journalist is such a perfect career for me. I’m lucky enough to meet some of the most interesting people in the world and tell stories that really matter. It’s a lot of hard work but I love it.
Pyroradio.com: So what brought you to the US to study?
Sharon Carpenter: Well, growing up in Watford then Guildford, I always had a love for the music and entertainment that came out of the US and I traveled over here a lot with my parents. Although I love England and always will, I really wanted to do something different with my life, and experience new things. Once day I suggested to my Mum that when I go to university, I’d like it to be in America. I really thought she was going to shut it down and say no way but instead, she ended up letting me go. I came to New York by myself, which was a little difficult and still is sometimes. It’s always hard to be so far away from family. My Mum and Step-Dad live in America as well now but they’re in Arizona which is still pretty far! It’s nice to know that I do have family in the country though. It was a great experience coming here to study. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t done that.
Pyroradio.com: As you said when you were growing up there wasn’t really any channel’s like BET in the UK. How does it feel that your one of the main presenters on BET and it’s showing on the UK now?
Sharon Carpenter: It’s really exciting. Just to make it on to BET here in the States was a great accomplishment for me. They`d never had a British presenter or host on the network. I’m the first and I was very grateful of the opportunity. I think some people in the industry weren’t sure how BET’s audience would relate to my accent, but they seem to love it. Americans generally love the English accent. I get compliments on the way I speak all the time. One day I was in the room with a bunch of people while Jay Z was there being interviewed for BET. After the interview he came over, introduced himself to me and told me how much he loves my accent. The great thing was a number of my bosses were right there to hear it. That was definitely a good look.
To be on in the UK feels really good too. Hopefully I’ll have the opportunity to come home more often now. I’m able to do reports that matter to the English community - consumers of black culture and black consumers in the UK. That’s something that is really satisfying for me to do. . One story that was really exciting to work on, that actually aired over here in the US, was a story I did on the Grime scene. I loved the fact that I was able to bring a story like that to our US audience. It got a great reaction. People were amazed to see this other side of the UK. They found it fascinating to see some similarities between the US and UK, especially when it comes to some of the problems that face the Black community. Currently I’m working on a special that explores the UK’s beauty "ideal" and the fact that women of color are generally excluded from that.
Pyroradio.com: It seems like a lot of people who grew up in the UK have gone to the US such as yourself, Idris Elba, Floetry and Estelle and have found success in the US which before they never found in the UK?
Sharon Carpenter: I think there aren’t as many opportunities, although there are more now than when I left, especially in the worlds of television and music. British Black music is a lot bigger than it used to be. When I left I couldn’t even really name any good rappers. Grime wasn’t even around. Now there seems to be so much great talent, although they’re really not getting the type of exposure they deserve. With the US I guess because it’s such a huge market and huge country, it really is the land of opportunity, and there seem to be more opportunities for people of color. Black music and culture are a lot more mainstream in the US.
In the UK opportunities in TV are definitely growing, especially since Sky has been around offering so many different networks, but I personally feel if I hadn’t left when I did, I wouldn’t be where I am today in my career. I also feel as an English person in the US you tend to stand out. As I said before, most people love the accent and immediately gravitate towards you. Not all off them (laughs). Not everyone, but most people. Sometimes being different does work against you though. There have been times I’ve missed out on opportunities because I’m English. I’ve probably had to work a lot harder to achieve certain things, but people notice you and that’s definitely a good thing in my career.
Pyroradio.com: So what’s a typical day for you like at the moment?
Sharon Carpenter: Wow (Laughs). Well, right now I’m working on editing a special called ‘Beauty Blackout’. You’ll see that in the UK very soon. My day consists of me waking up at about 6 o’clock in the morning, I have to get to work around 8, editing sessions start at 8. I work with my editor for an hour building the actual show, then I have to run across the street and get my hair and make up done. I then come back, to begin writing and taping news briefs that will run on the network that day. Some of the briefs are for the US, some for the UK, some may be for both. Once I’ve taped, I go back into the editing session.
There are other things going on as well. The other day I was involved in our big upfront presentation where our executives introduce our new shows to hundreds of advertisers and members of the media. It’s a really big deal.
There are always all kinds of things going on. Interviews, covering, events, there’s always something different. The other day I covered a big hip hop event, and caught up with TI out there. He gave me his first national TV interview since he was arrested on federal gun charges. I was recently in the UK for the launch of BET and to shoot interviews for "Beauty Blackout". That week was pretty hectic running around conducting interviews and also being interviewed. I also hosted the media launch event that we did.
As I said I’m always doing something different. As well as entertainment news, BET News covers a lot of serious stories including international stories like the crisis in Darfur. I just finished some reports on HIV in the UK. Those should be airing over there now. It’s a pretty crazy life right now but it’s fun and meaningful and I love what I do.
Pyroradio.com: What tips have you go for anyone who wants to get into broadcasting and journalism?
Sharon Carpenter: A lot of people ask me how can they can become a TV personality and get to interview all the stars. I always tell them for this particular career, it`s not just about being on TV or interviewing celebrities. One of the most valuable things for me was learning how to produce. If you`re a producer too, like I am, you`re going to have a lot more control over the type of work and the quality of work that you do and ultimately, a lot more control over your career. Knowing what it takes behind-the-camera also makes for a better performance in front of the camera and makes you a really valuable asset. Real journalists can write and produce as well as perform on-camera. Be prepared to work really hard - it’s a very competitive industry. It’s not just about being talented you have to be ready to go the extra mile. I’ve been working pretty much 3 weeks straight (with a bad cold at the moment). The hours can be crazy. At times you may have to work more than 24 hours straight to get the story done and get it done right.
You also need to have a tough skin to be in this industry. You can’t be too sensitive especially if you’re on television where there’s a lot of focus on your appearance and everyone is gonna have a different opinion of you. Everyone’s always got something to say. Also as you come up in the industry people are going to give you feedback on how you can do better, whether it’s your performance on camera, whether it’s your writing skills. You have to be open to listening and learning. Be determined and believe in your abilities, and don’t stop until you get there. Actually, even when you’re there you can’t stop.
Pyroradio.com: So what else have you got in store for 2008?
Sharon Carpenter: We have a special were doing on Dizzee Rascal and Sway coming to the US. We caught up with them in New York and went to Harlem with Sway and we went to Brooklyn with Dizzee Rascal. We interviewed them about their dreams of conquering the US, how they plan to fulfill that mission and we ask the question, "could this be the next British invasion?" It’s gonna be a great special so look out for it. As I mentioned before we’re just finishing off "Beauty Blackout" which takes a candid look at the industries that define what beauty is in the UK and the reasons that women of color are usually left out. The special features in-depth interviews with some top names like Alesha Dixon and Jamelia. Definitely look out for that coming soon. I’m already working on ideas for other specials. Make sure you check out College Hill: Virgin Islands – one of the highest rated shows in BET history, Baldwin Hills and lots of other great BET shows. A lot of exciting stuff.
Pyroradio.com: Have you got any last words or shout outs?
Sharon Carpenter: I’ll just say I’ll hope to see more UK talent breaking over here in the US. Hopefully we’ll see the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Sway and Kano really blow up over here. Shout out to all those guys and my boys the Firin’ Squad. Now that BET is over in the UK that’s just going to bring our two shores closer together and hopefully we’ll see more American appreciation of UK hip hop and more UK appreciation of UK hip hop.
