What are Some Common Careers in the Broadcasting Industry?

The broadcasting industry is a large field that includes those working in front of the camera as well as those who handle the camera equipment itself. About 50,400 people worked in the broadcasting industry in 2016, and job opportunities were expected to decline about 9% from 2016 to 2026, reported the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some of the most common jobs in broadcasting include news anchors, reporters, producers and television camera operators. Read on to learn more.

Common Broadcasting Careers Overview

Popular broadcasting job roles include, but aren't limited to, news anchors, reporters, producers and television camera operators. Among the varied responsibilities are on-camera presenting, investigative research, preparing sets and broadcasting schedules, and operating recording equipment.

Important Facts About Reporters and Correspondents

Median Salary (2021)	$48,370*
Required Education	Bachelor's degree
Job Outlook (2019-2029)	-2% decline*
Work Environment	On-location fieldwork

Source: *O.NET Online

News Anchors

News anchors, sometimes referred to as news analysts, are responsible for interpreting and analyzing the news data received from correspondents, reporters and other sources. These broadcast specialists present the news on-camera in an organized fashion. Reading news stories from the teleprompter and introducing live transmissions from reporters covering stories in remote locations are some specific duties. News anchors can sometimes specialize. They could go on to become political correspondents or sportscasters, for example.

Reporters

Reporters spend their work days gathering news stories by interviewing, researching and analyzing information to prepare for later broadcast. Their duties include writing and editing their stories and sometimes taking accompanying photos or videos. In some instances, these professionals collect information and present it in the form of a live, on-the-scene news broadcast. Reporters usually cover a specific topic that they report on, such as politics or entertainment.

Producers

Producers work behind the scenes at broadcast stations, where they develop and plan live or taped newscasts. They are in charge of setting up the production for on-air appearances. This includes overseeing areas such as lighting, props, sets, scripts, talent and sound. It is the responsibility of producers to coordinate on-air schedules with production staff and on-air hosts so the shows can be organized and streamlined in the time allotted for the on-air broadcast. A variety of media outlets might present employment opportunities, including Internet, radio and television.

Camera Operators

Television camera operators are responsible for handling the video cameras and other equipment that is used in television studios. When reporters are working at remote locations, camera operators must also operate mobile electronic news gathering cameras that are used outside of the studios. They must carry heavy camera equipment for long periods of time and keep up with the latest trends in video and television production and technology.