Broadcast Journalist Job Role

Broadcast journalists are responsible for investigating and reporting news on current affairs. They present this information through a non biased way for documentaries, news bulletins and other programmes for TV, Radio and Online. Exact duties for this job vary between the roles general work activities involve gathering information and generating ideas for news stories through varies sources then pitching the ideas to editiors and commisionors. Selecting best locations, pictures and using editorial judgement on the best way to approach a news story. Identifying necessary resources and advising on what to film and record.
Identifying potential people to interview preparing them and your questions before gathering information from the person and preparing timings for each news item and monitoring these during broadcast then deciding on the order of bulletins before and during broadcast.
Typical starting salary usually starts at £15,000-£22,000 a year then with 10-15 years experience increase up to £52,000 with £100,000 being offered in exceptional cases. Pay is often higher in television than radio with independent local radio stations offering the lowest. Working hours are usually unsocialable hours where shift work is common waking up early to cover regional and breakfast news or mid-morning until late for afternoon and evening bulletins and most broadcasters do not take public holidays. On air presenters are do not usually go out to cover stories may be more sociable. Many broadcast journalists are freelancers and have to relocate or travel due to availabiliy of work in another area. Job opportunities can be found across the UK usually in London or regional placed places. It is usually stressful and hard work having to work with strict deadlines and react when a story breaks out. There is alot of travelling and being away from home at night with overseas work occasional but more common for specialist corrospondents.
There are three main routes into Broadcast Journalism though positions are scarce direct entry into a traineeship is one way another is moving across from print journalist usually requiring around 7 years experience and pre entry by completing a degree or postgraduate qualification which is usually the most popular route. Although work is usually open to all graduates a degree in journalism, finance or politics may increase your chances with the postgraduate route the most common route to this profession. Work experince can also help with the BBC and ITV regional news both offering trainneship schemes. Aswell as this candidates have to show a interest in news, current affairs and a good general knowledge, good oral and written communication with the ability to generate original ideas.
Broadcasters usually begin as newsroom assistants or as a researcher before moving into a reporting role and as experince is gained there is a scope to specialise where some may want to become a senior broadcast role with responsibiliy for managing news staff and budgets whereas other may want to become a news anchor or presenter. Another option is a senior corrospondent on network news though there are few oppotunities in this. Also there are place in investigate journalism and documentary journalism and for people who want to be behind the scenes they may want to become programme editors or producers.
Radio offers slightly different routes with trainees given greater responsibility early on and depending on the size of the station may even have sole responsibility for a newsroom from the outset where progression would usually be into larger commercial or network stations or into television.