Radio Broadcasting: Intro To Mass Communication

Submitted By iambigbank
Words: 1572
Pages: 7

Comm 1307, Intro to Mass Communication
Ms. Veal
November 30, 2013

Director of Broadcasting First let me explain “broadcasting” and how it is indispensable to our society as we know it today. Broadcasting; is the practice of creating audio and video program content and also distributing it to the mass audiences of radio and television. (Curtis) Broadcasting is very essential in our everyday lives. Radio broadcasting is one of the largest sectors of the media industry. There are many different jobs available in radio, and the competition in the industry is fierce. If you intend to start a career in this field, there are a few ways to get your foot in the door. Often, you can get experience working on a college radio station, although many local stations have jobs available. You would start low level then work your way up the ladder to becoming director, this helps gain experience. Therefore the director has a major responsibility to his station to make sure everything is run smoothly .The director works hand and hand with the producer to make sure there are minimal mistakes. Broadcasting Directors vary with the medium, for example a radio broadcasting director will have different tasks than an internet broadcasting director. Radio Directors or Programming Directors have very specific jobs in the radio industry. When people think of radio broadcasting, most people think of the on-air talent, such as radio announcers, disc jockeys and news reporters. However, professional careers in radio also include jobs in programming or operations. Programming directors determine the creative vision for a radio station or show, develop programming content and handle radio promotion projects. At smaller stations, they may also be responsible for choosing what music is played, which is a job that is usually handled by the musical director at larger stations. Directors’ normally work themselves up in the radio business as many employers normally require previous radio experience. More and more employers in the broadcasting industry are requiring job seekers to hold college degrees. Junior colleges offer associate's degrees in broadcasting, and 4-year universities offer bachelor's degrees in communications with concentrations in radio and television. Students may take courses such as communication ethics, audio production and public relations. While in school, students may want to consider working for the school radio station or interning at a professional station, as many employers require that new hires already have some broadcast experience. Directors in radio broadcasting earned an average salary of $67,110 in May 2012 based on figures from the BCS. (Portal) The BLS predicts demand for producers and directors, in general, will increase by 11% over the 2010-2020 decade. There are different types of radio; commercial, public, and community. Commercial radio that operates as a business to earn profits is accessible in most areas of the world. Radio broadcasters sell small blocks of each listening hour to advertisers by agreeing to play advertising messages or commercials on the air. Public radio does not feature advertisements and is listener-supported. In the United States public radio receives private grants and government funding. National Public Radio (NPR) is the dominant public radio organization in the country. Formats focus on news, education, social issues and the arts while music programs are primarily jazz, opera and world music. Community radio is programming broadcast by a locally operated radio station that provides various services and information to its listening area including local news, weather and sports, public forums, and other religious, educational and ethnic programs not offered by the commercial stations owned by regional or national media corporations. They are nonprofit and rely on grants and donations for funding and are usually staffed by volunteers and other nonprofessionals. (Meyer) It’s obvious