Employment report - Broadcast Media

Broadcast Media (TV & Radio)

Broadcast media is the distribution of radio and film, because of its ability of being able to reach a large amount of people broadcasting plays an important role in the media industry. In 2009 the total revenue of the broadcasting market was £ 12.5 billion. Also 62% of the broadcasting industry is based in London.

Job roles in the sector

There are many jobs in the broadcasting both in television and radio, there are also different unions for example National Union of Journalism is the trade union for journalists in the UK. There are a range of jobs in this sector that are temporary or permanent depending on the contacts you know.

TV much like other parts of the creative media industry has a higher proportion of freelance and short-term contract work.

Radio

Announcers are a radio station's "voice" and are often the people who the public know and identify as the main person on that station. This person introduces music and is the person who is in control of the radio show when they are on, that person is involved in the overall public presentation of the station.

Another role in radio is a music director- this person manages the stations music, they work with the programme director, in selecting new recordings to be played as they are submitted by record companies.

A copy writers jobs is to create the content of each slot on the radio, it is a job that can involve being fairly creative. In addition, this job is important as they want the spot to convey a message – so overall it is a fairly demanding job.

 

Television

A presenter is a person who is the front of the programme. They introduce and host programmes, read the news, interview people and report on issues and events. This job is likely to be permanent as it builds a brand for the company, only due to maternity leave would a temporary gap become available.

Studio/Outside Broadcast Camera Operator is a senior role within television camera departments, but precise responsibilities vary greatly depending on the type of production. Studio/Outside Broadcast Camera Operators cover all types of outside-broadcast (OB) and studio-based programmes. Many employees in this department are freelance, and do only shift work. Camera Operators must be multi-skilled, and to watch, listen and think on their feet while carrying out complex technical tasks.

Camera Trainees offer general support to the Studio/Outside Broadcast (OB) Camera department, carrying out simple tasks such as collecting equipment from stores, and assisting with rigging cameras and equipment.

Key Skills needed for both radio and television:

· A meticulous and methodical attention to detail

· Ability to collaborate, and to work as part of a team

· Diplomacy and sensitivity when working with artists and crew

· Good organisational skills

· Ability to be calm in difficult situations

· A practical approach to work

There are broadly three entry routes into Broadcast Journalism in Radio: traineeships offered by a few of the larger employers; moving into radio after first working as a print journalist; or completing an accredited pre-entry degree or post-graduate qualification. Employers also look for evidence of interest in, and hands-on experience of radio broadcasting, particularly skills gained through community radio, student or hospital radio.

There are many employers in the broadcasting sector for example some of the big names include; BBC, ITV, BBC Radio 1, Channel 4 etc.

There are many recruitment opportunities in the broadcasting sector, but the industry is tough so you need to show dedication and determination - here is one website with examples;

Profile

Shabazz Graham

In 2004 Shabazz Graham produced a short film about a boy suffering from sickle cell who sees the face of God. He received a work placement on the set of the BBC drama series, Doctors.

Since then he has continued to work freelance on documentaries, including directing and producing a Creative Skillset project for the Runnymede Trust entitled "This is Where I Live".

In May this year he began working at MTV Networks Europe as an On Air Producer on the network's 100th channel, MTV base Africa. This post involves producing tune in promos for the channel, editing, camera work, script writing and he has been given the opportunity to travel to Africa a number of times to produce programmes for the channel.

Qualifications and education

Although a degree may not always be essential, the majority of Broadcast Journalists are graduates. However, Radio employers do not necessarily expect this to be in a media-related subject, and may even prefer their recruits to have degrees in other disciplines. Specialist knowledge in fields such as politics, business, science or languages may be advantageous.

There are few industry trainee schemes and they take limited numbers. A degree or equivalent is usually a requirement, places are highly sought after and the selection process is rigorous. Where Broadcast Journalists are recruited from newspapers or magazines they have usually had at least two or three years' experience as a journalist, and have completed the journalism qualifications accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). There are a wide range of Broadcast Journalism courses on offer. Those undergraduate degree courses, postgraduate diplomas, and MAs in Broadcast Journalism accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), meet the standards expected by broadcast employers in terms of practical skills, knowledge, and have a successful track record of students gaining employment in the broadcasting industry. Some employers' direct entry trainee schemes or bursary schemes may also be targeted at those who have completed BJTC accredited courses.

Broadcast Journalists are expected to develop their skills on the job, but most employers also offer a variety of forms of training to keep their journalists' skills and knowledge up-to-date, and to introduce new technologies. This training may be offered in-house or supplied by external providers depending on the size and structure of different Radio organizations and employers. Colleges and private training providers, also offer a range of short courses which support, the professional development of individual Broadcast Journalists, and may offer opportunities for them to gain promotion or to change career direction.

Networking

Networking in the media industry, will open many doors for a person who wants a career in this industry. To go about this, I would find contacts in that area – email the company and introduce myself, explaining my interest in that area. To help widen a person’s knowledge, if they are interested in the media industry they can get careers advice from careers services like Reed www.reed.co.uk/ , which will give people information on improving a CV and getting employment whether full-time or part-time. Also the Sector Skills Councils which are linked to Creative Skills Set are state-sponsored, employer-led organisation that covers specific economic sectors in the United Kingdom. They have four key goals; to reduce skills gaps and shortages, to improve productivity, to boost the skills of their sector workforces and to improve learning supply.

Work Experience

You can get work experience in many companies in the industry if you enquire on their websites by using the internet. I would email the companies that I wanted to work for and enquire about potential work experience, if you are lucky enough to be offered work experience it is crucial that you show reliability and efficiency for example by meeting deadlines. Also you should make sure you are attending and punctual by managing your time and making sure you do not skip a day, furthermore it is important to think about self-presentations as its important to look smart and present yourself well. Doing this will benefit you and show that you have good commitment skills – these may benefit you in the end as they may offer the person a job. Doing work experience may enable you to get a chance to give contributions to team projects, allowing the company to see the skills that you have to offer, and could potentially give you a job when the company next looks for recruitment.

Self-training and voluntary jobs

Doing voluntary work shows that you are willing to work and dedicate time, which shows that you are reliable and serious about this career, whether it be casually working for just a day a week or more, it also shows that you are determined and taking personal responsibility in trying to achieve what you want. Also another way is doing your own blog or having a personal website for example I have recently set up my own blog about the media industry and some of the work that I have been doing , this shows that you have a keen interest in the media sector, and are dedicated as you have given up your own time to fulfil this task. It shows to that you are developing your career as again you are improving your writing skills etc. – both of these are good ways of building your portfolio and is something you can add to your CV.

ACV is a document which should show your past records, employers and record skills that you have attributed from them, as experience this will allow any future employer to see the progress you have made with regards to your records of employment history and the skills you’ve gained from those experiences, doing this will also enable you to get references, so that future employers will be able to ask them about the skills you have gained. A Curriculum Vitae is something that a person should update through their continuing professional development for future employment.