Have you ever wanted to be the face of a news network or the voice of a radio station? Or, do you wish to work behind the scenes and make sure the production of the show runs smoothly? If either of these sounds appealing to you, then read on to learn more about a career in television and radio broadcasting.
There is a wide variety of career options in television and radio broadcasting. You can work as an equipment operator, broadcasting technician, news analyst and broadcasting announcer, just to name a few of the job possibilities. The nature of your work would depend on the specific job you choose. Broadcast news analysts gather information and prepare it for presentation. Newscasters, along with news analysts, often have irregular schedules and are under pressure to have work completed by a certain deadline. Camera operators may have to travel frequently in order to cover current events wherever they may be happening. Broadcasting technicians usually work indoors unless they are travelling with broadcasting analysts and newscasters while covering events on location.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall employment in the broadcasting industry is expected to increase by seven percent between 2008-2018 (www.bls.gov). Job growth has been limited due to the consolidation of broadcasting networks. Newer and simplified broadcasting equipment is also responsible for slow growth in broadcasting. Broadcasting technicians made a median annual income of $35,120 in 2010 and news analysts made $54,140, reported the BLS. The highest paid positions in broadcasting tend to be higher-level operations management jobs.
Although you may be able to work in a few technical positions with only a high school diploma, most employers in the broadcasting industry want applicants who have a bachelor's degree. A degree in journalism is common for newscasters, but other degree programs that emphasize writing and communication skills are sometimes acceptable to employers. Graduate programs in journalism are sometimes designed specifically for students who wish to become newscasters.
Some bachelor's degree programs in journalism may offer concentration areas in broadcasting or newspaper writing. A master's degree program in journalism can teach you how to research, write and cover a news story. You can take journalism courses in advanced reporting, critical issues in journalism and TV reporting if you are enrolled in a master's program.
Camera operators and other behind-the-scenes workers can learn the necessary skills from a visual communications degree program. If you wish to obtain formal education for a technical job in broadcasting, you might be interested in an associate's degree in visual communications technology. You can take courses in video and sound, studio production and production editing in a visual communications program.