Job Report Radio and Television Announcers and Newscasters

Job Report Radio and Television Announcers and Newscasters

Published 1994

Mascor Publishing Co.

P.O. Box 8308

Silver Spring, MD 20907

Nature of the Work

Announcers and newscasters are the most familiar of the many occupations in radio and television broadcasting. At small radio stations, most announcers are also disc jockeys. They introduce recorded music; present news, sports, weather, and commercials; interview guests; and report on community activities and other matters of interest to the audience. Often they "ad-lib" much of the commentary. In small stations, they may also operate the control board, sell commercial time to advertisers, and write commercial and news copy. Many radio stations also have news reporters who broadcast directly from the scene.

Announcers at television stations and large radio stations usually specialize in a particular kind of programing such as sports events, general news broadcasts, or weather reports. They must be thoroughly familiar with these areas and, if a written script is required, may do the research and writing.

Television news broadcasting requires specialized "on-camera "personnel-anchor persons, television news reporters, and broadcast news analysts. In large news operations, such as those of stations in major cities or national networks, all three often take part in the news broadcast.

The news anchor, or a pair of co-anchors, presents the day's important news stories. Throughout the broadcast, the anchors, sometimes called newscasters, introduce videotaped news or live transmissions from on-the-scene reporters that provide in-depth information on the event being covered.

Radio and television broadcast news analysts, called commentators, also present current news stories, but normally interpret them or discuss how specific events may affect the Nation or us personally.

Frequently, a smaller television station employs only a news anchor who reads accounts of the day's stories and introduces background reports provided by the networks or by a television news service.

Announcers frequently participate in community activities. A sports announcer, for example, might be the master of ceremonies at a touchdown club banquet or greet customers at the opening of a new sporting goods store. Some announcers become well- known and highly paid personalities.

Working Conditions

Announcers and newscasters usually work in well-lighted, air-conditioned, soundproof studios. However, when broadcasting from a war zone or the site of a civil disturbance, fire, flood, or other emergency situation, newscasters may be exposed to bad weather and long hours and may risk injury.

Working within a tight schedule requires split-second timing and can be physically and mentally demanding. Those who enjoy the work, however, feel that the intangible rewards--creative work, many personal contacts, and the satisfaction of becoming widely known--far outweigh the disadvantages of irregular and often unpredictable hours, work pressures, and disrupted personal lives.

Employment

Radio and television announcers and newscasters held about 59,000 jobs in 1990. Nearly all are staff announcers, but some are freelance announcers who sell their services for individual assignments to networks and stations, or to advertising agencies and other independent producers.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Entry to this profession is highly competitive. While formal training in a college or technical school is valuable, station officials pay particular attention to taped auditions that present samples of an applicant's delivery and-in television--appearance and style on commercials, news, interviews, and other copy. College graduates and others hired by television stations usually start out as production secretaries, production assistants, researchers, or reporters and are given a chance to move into announcing if they show an aptitude for broadcasting.

Announcers must have a pleasant and well-controlled voice, good timing, and excellent pronunciation. Correct English usage and a knowledge of dramatics, sports, music, and current events improve chances for success. Good judgement and the ability to react quickly in emergencies are important because announcers may be required to "ad- lib" all or part of a show. A neat, pleasing appearance is essential, of course, for television announcers and news broadcasters. The most successful announcers attract a large viewing or listening audience by combining a pleasing personality with an appealing style.

High school courses in English, public speaking, drama, foreign languages, and electronics, plus sports and music hobbies, are valuable background for prospective announcers. A liberal arts education provides an excellent background for an announcer, and many universities offer courses of study in the broadcasting field. Students at these institutions also may gain valuable experience by supplementing their courses with part- time work at the campus radio station and summer work at local stations, filling in for vacationing staff members. A number of private broadcasting schools offer training in announcing.

Persons considering enrolling in any school, whether public or private, that offers training for a broadcasting career should contact the personnel managers of radio and television stations to determine the school's reputation for producing suitably trained candidates.

Announcers generally get their first broadcasting jobs in a small station. Because announcers in small radio stations sometimes operate transmitters, prospective announcers often obtain a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) restricted radio-telephone operator permit. This qualifies them to become involved in the routine operation of radio transmitters and makes them much more useful to these stations.

Announcers usually work in several different stations in the course of their career. After acquiring experience at a station in a small community, an ambitious and talented announcer may move to a better paying job in a large city. An announcer also may advance by hosting a regular program as a disc jockey, sportscaster, or other specialist. In the national networks, competition for jobs is particularly intense, and announcers often must be college graduates and have several years of successful announcing experience before they are given an audition.

Job Outlook

Employment of announcers is expected to increase about as fast as the average for al occupations through the year 2000 as a new radio and television stations are licensed and the number of cable television systems continues to grow. Although announcers are rather strongly attached to their occupation, most openings in this relatively small field will arise from the need to replace those who transfer to other kinds of work or leave the labor force.

Newscasters who are knowledgeable in such areas as business, consumer, and health news may have an advantages over other job applicants. While specialization is more common at larger stations and the networks, many smaller stations encourage it.

Over the years, employment in this occupation has not been significantly affected by downturns in the economy. When poor business conditions and decreasing advertising revenues necessitate employment reductions, radio and television stations tend to cut back the number of production and "behind-the-scenes" workers rather than reduce the number of announcers and broadcasters.

Earnings

Salaries in broadcasting vary widely with the type of station, the size of the market it serves, and with what the announcer has to offer.

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Broadcasters, 1990 salaries of radio announcers averaged about $21,200 year in 1990. They ranged from an average of about $11,700 in the smallest markets to $54,100 for on-air personalities, $44,400 for sports reporters and $41,300 for news announcers in the largest.

In network affiliated stations, TV news anchors averaged $59,400 ranging from $23,300 in the smallest to $216,300 in the largest markets. Weathercasters averaged $45,500 ranging from $22,300 to $143,100. Sportscasters averaged $42,400, ranging from $20,100 to $157,900. Earnings in independent stations were substantially lower.

Related Occupations

The success of radio and television announcers and news broadcasters is largely dependent upon their ability to speak effectively to their audiences. Others for whom oral communications skills are vital are interpreters, narrators, sales workers, public relations workers, and dramatic and comedy performers.

Sources of Additional Information

For a list of schools that offer programs and courses in broadcasting, contact:

Broadcast Education Association, 1771 N St. NW., Washington, D.C. 20036.

For information on FCC licensure, write to:

Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M St. NW., Washington, D.C. 20552.

General information on the broadcasting industry is available from:

National Association of Broadcasters, 1771 N St. NW., Washington, D.C. 20036.

For information on careers in the cable industry, write to:

Cable Television, 1724 Massachusetts Ave. NW., Washington, D.C. 20036.