Broadcasting Jobs

Many people dream of a career in broadcasting, but only the most determined win the top broadcasting jobs such as DJ or news anchor. But for every star, there is a back-up team working hard to keep the station on air and provide engineering and administrative support.

If you’re determined to be a radio star, you’ll need a good voice plus bags of confidence, a talent for thinking on your feet and the ability to stay calm – and keep talking – in a crisis. Broadcasting jobs and openings can be found wherever there is a radio station and in other, more unexpected places. Many broadcasters have gained valuable experience working for their local hospital, school or college radio, giving up their free time but gaining technical experience on the job.

There are special school and college courses designed to give you a grounding in broadcasting jobs, some of them operating on a part-time basis so that you can train around your current job. If you’re serious about breaking into this very competitive field, you will want to compile a demonstration CD to showcase your talents.

Broadcasting jobs tend to fall into two sectors, either on air or behind the scenes. On air positions include DJ, sportscaster, news reporter, talk show host and continuity announcer. Most radio stations expect their news and sports staff to have had journalistic training and experience. If you’re an expert in your field – say, a doctor or a minister of religion – and you can talk about your subject in an interesting and articulate way, you may be able to find an opening for guest slot appearances.

There is an equally varied range of broadcasting jobs behind the scenes, and if you would like to work in radio but don’t want to speak on the air, you may be attracted to the idea of becoming a producer, a copywriter, a programme director or a member of the technical and administrative support staff.

The average salary for a radio reporter is around $28,000 to $34,000, whilst a technician’s job would pay between $31,000 and $52,000. Much higher salaries are achievable higher up the career ladder.