Television and Radio Broadcasting

<h2 id="section---IsTelevisionAndRadioBroadcastingForMe">Is Television and Radio Broadcasting for Me?</h2> <h3 id="section---CareerOverview">Career Overview</h3> <p>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. </p> <h3 id="section---CareerOptions">Career Options</h3> <p><a href="https://learn.org/articles/Broadcast_Journalism_Majors_Answers_to_Your_Questions.html">Broadcast news analysts</a> gather information and prepare it for presentation. <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_is_a_TV_Anchor.html">Newscasters</a>, along with news analysts, often have irregular schedules and are under pressure to have work completed by a certain deadline. <a href="https://learn.org/articles/TV_Camera_Operator_Your_Salary_and_Career_Questions_Answered.html">Camera operators</a> 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. </p> <h3 id="section---EmploymentInformation">Employment Information</h3> <p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), slow employment growth of 3% is expected for broadcasting technicians between 2012-2022 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>), while little or no change is projected for broadcast news analysts. 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 $37,880 in 2012 and news analysts made $55,380, reported the BLS. The highest paid positions in broadcasting tend to be higher-level operations management jobs. </p> <h2 id="section---HowCanIWorkInTelevisionAndRadioBroadcasting">How Can I Work in Television and Radio Broadcasting?</h2> <h3 id="section---UndergraduateEducation">Undergraduate Education</h3> <p>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. Some <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Journalism_Bachelors_Degree_Programs.html">bachelor's degree programs in journalism</a> may offer concentration areas in broadcasting or newspaper writing. </p> <p>Camera operators and other behind-the-scenes workers can learn the necessary skills from a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_are_Visual_Communication_Studies.html">visual communications degree program</a>. If you wish to obtain formal education for a technical job in broadcasting, you might be interested in an <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Fine_Arts_Visual_Communications_Associates_Degree.html">associate's degree in visual communications technology</a>. You can take courses in video and sound, studio production and production editing in a visual communications program. </p> <h3 id="section---GraduateEducation">Graduate Education</h3> <p>Graduate programs in journalism are sometimes designed specifically for students who wish to become newscasters. A <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Journalism_Masters_Degree.html">master's degree program in journalism</a> can teach you how to research, write and cover a news story. You can take <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Where_Can_I_Find_Journalism_Courses_Online.html">journalism courses</a> in advanced reporting, critical issues in journalism and TV reporting if you are enrolled in a master's program.</p>