Top Job Thursday

Become a: Broadcast Journalist

Broadcast journalists are responsible for investigating, gathering and reporting on news and current affairs. They are expected to present this information in a fair, balanced and accurate way. This is done through news bulletins, documentaries and other factual programmes for radio, television and online broadcast.

Skillset: Broadcast journalism is 'the collection, verification and analysis of events which affect people' (Sector Skills Council for Creative Media). The work of a broadcast journalist shapes people's perceptions of the world in which they live. Broadcast journalists can fill a number of roles within the media including editor, reporter, presenter/news anchor, producer or a correspondent.

Typical Work Activities

Although exact duties and responsibilities will vary from role to role between radio, television and the internet, broadcast journalists will generally be involved in many of the following duties, on a daily basis:

• Generating ideas for stories/features and following leads from news agencies, the police, the public, press conferences and other sources
• Pitching ideas to editors and commissioners
• Researching and gathering evidence and information to support a story using relevant information sources (internet, archives, databases, etc)
• Writing scripts for bulletins, headlines and reports which adhere to legal and contractual guidelines
• Selecting appropriate locations, pictures and sound and exercising editorial judgement on the best angle to approach a story from
• Providing directorial input, advising crews on what to film or record
• Identifying necessary resources and deploying/managing technical crews for location shoots, including sound operators and camera crew
• Using portable digital video (DV) cameras and other equipment to record material and appropriate editing software to produce complete packages for broadcast
• Deciding on the running order for bulletins and making any necessary changes during broadcast
• Preparing and presenting material 'on air' for both pre-recorded and live pieces
• Identifying potential interviewees, briefing them, preparing interview questions and conducting both live and recorded interviews
• Preparing timings for each news item and monitoring these during broadcast
• Developing and maintaining local contacts and assuming a public relations role

Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent communication and ‘people’ skills
• Good listening and questioning skills
• Empathy and tact
• Good writing and research skills
• Confidence and a clear speaking voice
• Persistence and motivation
• Attention to detail
• Calmness under pressure and the ability to meet tight deadlines
• A creative approach with the ability to ‘think on your feet’ when necessary
• The ability to work on your own initiative and also as part of a team.

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