Journalist - Radio/Television

Also known as:

Broadcast Journalist
News Reporter, Radio/Television
Radio/Television Journalist
Reporter, Radio/Television
Television Journalist
TV Journalist

Introduction

Radio/television journalists report on news items. They have to respond to a story at very short notice and must have the material ready by a deadline.

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Work Activities

Radio/television journalists collect information and report on news and other items of interest. Ideas for news and features are found by monitoring other media and following up leads provided by specialist staff, local contacts and members of the public. In presenting news slots, journalists need to select and prioritise items, giving more time or attention to those that are judged to be most important.

Journalists in local radio, in BBC and commercial broadcasting companies, gain a wide range of experience; attending public events, conducting interviews and editing tapes, as well as researching and writing bulletins and reports.

Journalists employed in national television and radio are either reporters, who go out and collect stories, or sub-editors (sometimes known as writers), who write bulletins in the newsroom. Writers work alongside technical and production staff. They organise maps, graphics and captions and scripts that accompany reporters' stories. However, these roles are becoming more blurred due to advances in digital technology.

The programme editor decides which news items to cover and sends the reporter (sometimes accompanied by a technical and camera crew) to collect more information. Reporters assess the event to be covered, collect and present background information and interview key people. Reports may be broadcast 'live', but if they are recorded, the reporter makes detailed notes to assist in editing the video. Many reporters file their stories for radio as well as television.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You should have a wide range of qualities, including curiosity, assertiveness, tact, persistence and patience. You must be able to work in teams.

You must be able to write in an objective, clear, direct style using language appropriate to the audience. As you may present your own material, verbal fluency and a clear voice are important. To interview effectively, you need to think of a series of good questions and then ask them in a tactful and persuasive way.

You must be able to generate ideas and do the background research for stories.

Commitment and stamina are vital in order to survive the long, irregular hours of highly pressured work.

Shorthand and typing skills are useful. Knowledge of legal, ethical and company guidelines is essential.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Radio/television journalists earn in the range of £22,000 - £25,000 a year, rising to £35,000 - £45,000 a year, with the highest earnings in the national media. Higher rates are possible for some well-known broadcasters.

Radio/television journalists can progress to positions as correspondents (specialising in a particular type of news), news producers, sub-editors or programme editors.

Broadcast journalists often work long, irregular hours, with early starts, late finishes and weekend work. Most broadcast journalists work for the BBC or ITV and may be employed as a permanent employee or on a short-term contract. Freelance work is widespread in broadcast journalism.

Competition for training places is fierce.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

You will usually be expected to have relevant work skills and abilities for entry to a pre-entry journalism course. These could be gained by working for a local community radio, university or hospital radio station. It is useful to compile a portfolio of work.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Journalism) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details.

If you are already a graduate, part-time and fast-track postgraduate pre-entry courses (20 weeks) are available.

The NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) offers a Foundation course in News Reporting for trainees who are currently working, but are not qualified. This can be studied by distance learning. The London School of Journalism also offers distance learning courses in News Journalism and Internet Journalism.

• 24% of people in occupations such as broadcast journalism are self-employed.
• 9% work part-time.
• 7% have flexible hours.
• 1% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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