Broadcast journalists research, edit and present material for a variety of news outlets. They report on stories and events of interest to their particular audience, which may be global, national or local depending on the news organisation. 

Broadcast journalists will normally specialise in reporting for television, radio or the internet, although it is becoming more common for them work across all three types of media.

The work can involve:

• generating and researching stories
• interviewing people
• attending press conferences
• gathering appropriate images and sounds for TV, radio or online news packages
• writing up, editing and packaging stories and reports
• presenting in radio or TV studios or on location.

Many broadcast journalists start their careers in a newsroom, as a broadcast or production assistant, before becoming reporters. With suitable experience they may move on to becoming general or special correspondents or presenters, which could sometimes involve overseas postings.

Multi-skilling is becoming increasingly important, with some staff working as both journalists and presenters.

Journalists working in commercial radio may run a newsroom single-handed. In television they will often be part of a worldwide news-gathering operation.

Hours and Environment

Broadcast journalists need to be flexible about their working hours. They typically work long, irregular hours, including nights, weekends and public holidays.

They are usually based in busy open plan offices and may travel throughout the UK and abroad.

A driving licence is essential.

Skills and Interests

To be a broadcast journalist you must:

• be highly motivated and be interested in news and current affairs
• be able write clearly and concisely, and to speak clearly and distinctly for broadcasting
• have research, networking and interviewing skills
• understand relevant technology, to operate recording equipment or cameras if necessary
• understand ethical standards and the law relating to journalism
• be able to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• be inquisitive, with an ‘eye for a story’ and an interest in people and events
• be confident, patient, able to face criticism and have a good memory.

Entry

There are three main entry routes for broadcast journalism:

• direct entry – recruitment from college or university followed by on-the-job training
• pre-entry – recruitment after a one-year vocational postgraduate course
• initial training as a journalist on newspapers or magazines (see Journalist: Print profile) and then moving on to radio or television.

Occasionally, career changers with considerable experience and expertise from another profession and who can offer relevant transferable skills are also able to move into radio or television broadcasting.

Most broadcast journalists are graduates, either with a first degree in a subject of their choice followed by a postgraduate broadcast journalism course, or with a first degree in journalism.

A number of first degrees, postgraduate diplomas and MAs are recognised by the industry through the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC); details of these are on the BJTC website.

Entry to postgraduate courses is usually with a first degree, although students with plenty of relevant work experience or specialist knowledge may be considered without a degree. Useful first degree subjects could include journalism, media studies, politics, history, geography, government and public administration and economics.

Please check with colleges or universities for exact entry requirements.

There are in-house training schemes run by broadcasting companies; to be considered for these you usually need a degree. Contact Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for Broadcast, Film, Video and Interactive Media, and Skillset Careers, for further details of specific training schemes.

Entry to this type of work is highly competitive and gaining as much experience as possible is advisable, to show interest and commitment. This could include hospital radio, student and community broadcasting, and RSLs (restricted service licences). The Community Media Association website has details of community broadcasting - see the Further Information section for contact details. Local radio and newspapers and some other media organisations may offer work experience - contact details can be found in the various media guides available in reference libraries.

Training

New entrants will usually develop their skills through informal on-the-job training, and may also receive formal training from their employer.

The National Council for the Training of Journalist (NCTJ) offers a range of courses of interest to broadcast journalists; courses are also offered by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Skillset and the British Film Institute jointly provide database of media courses, including relevant courses for broadcast journalists, including interview techniques, technical courses and hostile environment training. See the Skillset website for more details.

If you are going into online journalism you will need training in technical skills such as HTML coding and web design packages such as Dreamweaver. You may also need skills such as Java, Javascript or ASP. These are not always offered by employers in-house, but a number of colleges and private training providers offer short and part-time courses.

The Radio Academy arranges conferences and seminars aimed at further professional development of those in the radio industry. See Further Information for contact details.

The Community Media Association website has information relating to community media, including training and events. See Further Information.

The Skillset Careers helpline offers advice on training and development for both new entrants and those already in the industry. See contacts below.

Opportunities

Employers in the television sector include national and regional television networks, cable and satellite networks, independent production companies, and international news agencies. Digitalisation has resulted in an increase in the number of channels, with some dedicated to 24-hour news coverage.

Radio employers include the national and regional stations, local and national commercial stations and community radio stations.

Jobs in television journalism are oversubscribed and competition for these is intense. Entrants usually have experience of other media. There are few permanent positions; most broadcast journalists are employed on short-term contracts.

There are more posts for local journalists on regional stations, especially in radio; broadcast journalists often start out in this area, where they are able to build up the experience necessary for a possible move into television journalism.

Senior journalists may be involved in editorial decision making, with responsibility for financial and organisational control and deployment of resources, and progression to management roles may be an option.

Some journalists use their experience to move into related job roles, such as television producing.

Annual Income

Freelance rates within the media vary widely and may be calculated on a daily or weekly basis. Fees can be negotiated individually or from guidelines provided by the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union, BECTU.

Rates will vary depending on an individual's experience, the type of employer and the budget available. Expenses such as travel, accommodation and meals will often be included in a negotiated salary package.

The rates of pay reflect that contract work is common and that many people working within the media are self-employed.

Further information

5 Market Place
London
W1W 8AE
Tel: 020 7255 2010 Headland House
308-312 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8DP
Tel: 020 7278 7916

The New Granary Station Road Newport Saffron Walden Essex CB11 3PL
Tel: 01799 544014

The Workstation
15 Paternoster Row
Sheffield
S1 2BX
Tel: 0114 279 5219 The Radiocentre
77 Shaftsbury Avenue
London
W1D 5DU
Tel: 020 7306 2603 18 Miller's Close
Rippingale
near Bourne
Lincolnshire
PE10 0TH
Tel: 01778 440025 Tel: 08080 300 900 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Tel: 0808 100 8094 for Scotland Prospect House
80-110 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1HB

373-377 Clapham Road London SW9 9BT