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Radio and Television Announcers and Newscasters

(D.O.T 131.067-010, and -018, .267-010; 159.147-010, and -014)

Nature of the Work

Announcers and newscasters are well-known personalities to radio and
television audiences.  Radio announcers, often called disk jockeys,
select and introduce recorded music; present news, sports, weather,
and commercials; interview guests; and report on community
activities and other matters of interest to their audience.  If a
written script is required, they may do the research and writing.
They often ad-lib much of the commentary.  They also may operate the
control board, sell commercial time to advertisers, and write
commercial and news copy.

   Announcers at large stations usually specialize in sports or
weather, or in general news, and may be called newscasters or
anchors.  Some are news analysts.  In small stations, one announcer
may do everything.

   News anchors, or a pair of co-anchors, present news stories and
introduce in-depth videotaped news or live transmissions from
on-the-scene reporters.  (See statement on reporters and
correspondents elsewhere in the Handbook.) Weathercasters, also
called weather reporters or meteorologists, report and forecast
weather conditions.  They gather information from national satellite
weather services, wire services, and other local and regional
weather bureaus.  Sportscasters select, write, and deliver the
sports news.  This may include interviews with sports personalities
and live coverage of games played.

   Broadcast news analysts, called commentators, present news stories
and also interpret them and discuss how they may affect the Nation
or listeners personally.

   Show hosts and hostesses interview guests about their lives, their
work, or topics of current interest.  They may ask questions of
contestants, or manage play of games to enable contestants to win
prizes.

   Announcers frequently participate in community activities.  Sports
announcers, for example, are masters of ceremonies at touchdown club
banquets or are on hand to greet customers at openings of sporting
goods stores.

   Small radio stations are more inclined to hire beginners.

Working Conditions

Announcers and newscasters usually work in well-lighted,
air-conditioned, soundproof studios.

   The broadcast day is long for radio and TV stations some are on the
air 24 hours a day so announcers can expect to work unusual hours.
Many announcers present early morning shows, when many people are
getting ready for work or commuting, or do late night newscasts.

   Working within a tight schedule requires split-second timing, and
the resulting stress can be physically and mentally tiring.  For
many announcers, 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 56,000
jobs in 1992.  Nearly all were staff announcers, but some were
freelance announcers who sold 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 occupation is highly competitive.  While formal
training in broadcast journalism from a college or technical school
(private broadcasting school) is valuable, station officials pay
particular attention to taped auditions that show an applicant's
delivery and in television appearance and style on commercials,
news, and interviews.  Those 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 on-air work.  Newcomers to
TV broadcasting also may begin as news camera operators.  (See the
statment on photographers and camera operators elsewhere in the
Handbook.) A beginner's chance of landing an on-air newscasting job
is remote, except possibly for a small radio station.  In radio,
newcomers generally start out taping interviews and operating
equipment.

   Announcers usually begin at a station in a small community and, if
qualified, may then move to a better paying job in a large city.
Announcers 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
employers look for college graduates with at least several years of
successful announcing experience.

   Announcers must have a pleasant and well-controlled voice, good
timing, excellent pronunciation, and correct English usage.
Television announcers need a neat, pleasing appearance as well.
Knowledge of theater, sports, music, business, politics, and other
subjects likely to be covered in broadcasts improves chances for
success.  In addition, announcers should be able to ad-lib all or
part of a show and to work under tight deadlines.  The most
successful announcers attract a large audience by combining a
pleasing personality and voice with an appealing style.

   High school courses in English, public speaking, drama, foreign
languages, and electronics are valuable, and hobbies such as sports
and music are additional assets.  Students may gain valuable
experience at campus radio or TV facilities and at commercial
stations.  Some stations and cable systems offer financial
assistance and on-the-job training in the form of internships,
apprentice programs, co-op work programs, scholarships, or
fellowships.

   Persons considering enrolling in a broadcasting school should
contact personnel managers of radio and television stations as well
as broadcasting trade organizations to determine the school's
reputation for producing suitably trained candidates.

   Announcers in small radio stations usually operate transmitters, so
they must obtain a Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
restricted radiotelephone operator permit.  (For additional
information on FCC requirements, see the statement on broadcast
technicians elsewhere in the Handbook.)

Job Outlook

Employment of announcers is expected to increase about as fast as
the average for all occupations through the year 2005 as new radio
and television stations are licensed and the number of cable
television systems continues to grow.  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.  Many
announcers leave the field because they can not advance to better
paying jobs.

   Competition for jobs as announcers will be very keen because the
broadcasting field typically attracts many more jobseekers than
there are jobs.  Small radio stations are more inclined to hire
beginners, but the pay is low.  Because competition for ratings is
so intense in major metropolitan areas, large stations will continue
to seek announcers and newscasters who have proven that they can
attract and retain a large audience.

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

   Employment in this occupation is not significantly affected by
downturns in the economy.  If recessions cause advertising revenues
to fall, stations tend to cut behind-the-scenes workers rather than
announcers and broadcasters.

Earnings

Salaries in broadcasting vary widely.  They are higher in television
than in radio, higher in larger markets than in small ones, and
higher in commercial than in public broadcasting.

   According to a survey conducted by the National Association of
Broadcasters and the Broadcast Cable Financial Management
Association, the median salary for experienced radio announcers was
$17,000 a year in 1992.  Salaries ranged from $13,000 in the
smallest markets to $45,000 in the largest markets for on-air
personalities.  News announcers' median was $17,700, ranging from
$14,700 in the smallest to $40,330 in the largest markets.  Sports
reporters' median was $18,000, ranging from $12,500 in the smallest
to $30,600 in the largest markets.

   Among television announcers, news anchors' median salary was
$41,000, ranging from $28,000 in the smallest to $163,000 in the
largest markets.  Weathercasters' median was $36,660, ranging from
$25,200 to $103,321.  Sportscasters' median was $31,900, ranging
from $22,000 to $142,500.

Related Occupations

The success of announcers and news broadcasters depends upon how
well they speak to their audiences.  Others for whom oral
communication skills are vital are interpreters, sales workers,
public relations specialists, teachers, and actors.

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, DC
20036.

   For information on FCC licenses, write to:

   Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M St.  NW., Washington, DC
20552.

   General information on the broadcasting industry is available from:

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

   For information on careers in broadcast news, contact:

   Radio-Television News Directors Association, 1717 K St. NW., Suite
615, Washington, DC 20006.
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