One career I'm interested in pursuing is as a Radio Broadcaster. The reason I am choosing this career is because I have had a little experience in it and I would like to go further in depth with the job.
Radio Broadcasters announce station program information, like program schedules and station breaks for commercials, and they even present/close programs. Radio Broadcasters also read prepared scripts or ad lib commentary on the air, as they present news, sports, the weather, time, and commercials. That's not all, Radio Broadcasters do, another duty they have to carry out is to interview people and moderate discussions. Some provide play-by-plays to the audience during sports, and other occasions.
Radio Broadcasters have many different responsibilities. The most important in my mind is to be on time and show up. If you suddenly get sick, they have no one else that knows the script. Also if you're late, the show could have already started, and you can't postpone a show, people depend on you to report what you need to on time, just because you're late doesn't mean the whole world can be late.
The working conditions for Radio Broadcasters are really unusual. Most radio stations air 24 hours a day, so sometimes you could be working in the mornings while people are getting for work, or commuting, while others do night programs. Radio Broadcasters usually work in well lighted, air conditioned, soundproof studios. The working times might not be as varied as before mostly because of new technology, it's letting stations prerecord programs and show them over later, mostly for the night hours.
It's extremely hard to get a job in radio broadcasting, it's very competitive. You need formal training in broadcasting from college, a technical school, or a private broadcasting school is valuable. Most Announcers have bachelors degrees in a major such as communications, broadcasting, or journalism. Radio Broadcasters usually start out taping interviews and operating equipment. Radio Broadcasters also normally begin at a station in a small community and, if they are qualified, they may go to a better paying job in a larger city.
High school courses that Radio Broadcasters can take that they either need or will help them include: English, public speaking, drama, foreign languages, and computer science.
Salaries for Radio Broadcaster are widely varied, but they are generally low, except for announcers who work for large stations for networks. The salaries are also higher in commercial broadcasting, weather than public broadcasting. The average hourly wages of Radio Broadcasters in May 2004 were Ten Dollars and sixty-four cents. But the highest 10 percent of Radio Broadcasters were paid more than twenty-seven dollars and sixty-one cents.
The competition for the job will be intense given that there are more job seekers than actual jobs. The employment of Radio Broadcasters are projected to decline through 2014 because there isn't much growth in radio stations, and the consolidation of existing stations. But some job replacements will be needed to replace the existing broadcasters.
Some companies I would like to work for in the future would include ESPN Sports Radio 1620 The Zone. I would like to work their because I think it's a very care free environment and it's all about sports. Another company I would like to work for
would be Hot 107.7 because I'm really into hipitty hop and I really like to rap with the rappers. The last place that I am considering working at would be 103.7 aka Cat 103, this because I love country music, especially Brittney Spears.
I think Radio Broadcast would be a perfect career for me to pursue, mostly because I love talking to people, and I have a great voice.
Recommended links
U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook [Online] Available. 1,2,3
