Careers _Broadcasting Overview

We all know the faces and voices of the most famous people working in broadcasting: the Katie Courics, Anderson Coopers, and Howard Sterns of the world. But for each one of these media darlings, there are hundreds of relatively anonymous broadcasters working more niche or regionally focused broadcast outlets. There are also hundreds of other folks who work behind the scenes, doing things like producing broadcast segments, writing broadcast scripts, operating cameras and other equipment, and applying makeup to broadcasters before they go on the air.


From world news to local high school sports reporting to the countdown of the top music videos on cable TV, broadcasting generally encompasses any audio or visual programming that is disseminated to a large number of radio or television receivers. Although that definition could be expanded to include Web-based media outlets, this career profile focuses on opportunities in radio and television news production and station management.




Broadcasting is a lot like other entertainment sectors. At the end of the day, the success of a broadcast outlet like a TV or radio station depends on its ability to entertain its audience, satisfy its audience's hunger for information, or both.


Announcers, producers, directors, and everyone else must work together to tailor a station's programming to attract the largest possible audience, which in turn attracts advertising revenue or, in the case of nonprofit stations, public funding and support. In smaller markets, stations may also be responsible for producing ads.

Careers in TV Industry

There are three main areas of work in the commercial sector, and there are different types of people, different skills, different training routes demanded and different career paths for each.

PRODUCTION - CONTENTRoles include: Producer, Director, Journalist, Researcher and Writer. This area divides into as many genres of programmes as you care to name. The overriding things being looked for are: ideas and efficiency, in addition to the actual specific abilities for the role you are going up for. To take two genres:
Factual Programming - Current Affairs, DocumentariesTo be a producer or director in this area, a common career path would be to train as a journalist in print, radio or as a researcher in television. From there one would progress to being a senior researcher in television, then an Assistant Producer and then Producer and / or Director. That would be a common path, but you will always find directors who perhaps did a Politics degree, then were sound recordists and then a Director; or some other weird and wonderful route.
Fiction Programming - TV DramaProducers of TV Drama can come from a variety of backgrounds, a variety of routes. There is a common career path - of sorts. They may do Drama or English at university, they may not. They may work in the theatre afterwards and then progress to script reading or writing, or continuity in television. But you will meet Producers who did none of these things, and took other routes such as moving from Production Secretary to Producer.
PRODUCTION - TECHNICALRoles include: Camera, Sound, Lighting, Editing, Art, Engineering. Here Career Paths may be simpler. Specific technical skills and technical problem solving are key; if you do not have such abilities to a high level, you will not work. Traditionally one trained on the job - as assistant camera, or assistant sound - and then went freelance, or found work as the principal yourself. Video and digital technology has meant that “assistant” is no longer a common role, so more and more people have to train for technical roles at Film Schools or in University Departments, or with equipment manufacturers or facilities houses. In addition to the technical skills, employers and producers who employ camera, sound, editors etc. will look for flexibility, a friendly personality and a “can do” attitude.

GENERAL - ADMIN, SUPPORTRoles include: Production Manager, Production Accountant, Lawyer, PA This area of work is relatively conventional by comparison. Whether secretary or lawyer, accountant or personnel manager, you train in the normal way. But even here there are some television-specific roles, such as Production Manager (PM), which have no real set training route as yet. PMs are a mixture of budget controller, organiser, recruiter, administrative chief, general factotum and any other job they might take on for a production. They know technical folk and their rates, they know film processes and their costs; they know most things that are relevant, and if they don't…they know how to find out fast. There are short training courses around for this role, but the only real way ultimately may be to observe and learn at work.

Career as Radio and television announcers

Radio and television announcers perform a variety of tasks on and off the air. They announce station program information, such as program schedules and station breaks for commercials, or public-service information, and they introduce and close programs. Announcers read prepared scripts or make ad-lib commentary on the air as they present news, sports, the weather, the time, and commercials. If a written script is required, they may do the research and writing. Announcers also interview guests and moderate panels or discussions. Some provide commentary for the audience during sporting events, at parades, and on other occasions. Announcers often are well known to radio and television audiences and may make promotional appearances and do remote broadcasts for their stations.

Announcers at smaller stations may have more off-air duties as well. They may operate the control board, monitor the transmitter, sell commercial time to advertisers, keep a log of the station's daily programming, and produce advertisements and other recorded material. At many radio stations, announcers do much of the work previously performed by editors and broadcast technicians, such as operating the control board, which is used to broadcast programming, commercials, and public-service announcements according to the station's schedule. Announcers frequently participate in community activities. Sports announcers, for example, may serve as masters of ceremony at sports club banquets or may greet customers at openings of sporting-goods stores.

Radio announcers who broadcast music often are called disc jockeys (DJs). Some DJs specialize in one kind of music, announcing selections as they air them. Most DJs do not select much of the music they play (although they often did so in the past); instead, they follow schedules of commercials, talk, and music provided to them by management. While on the air, DJs comment on the music, weather, and traffic. They may take requests from listeners, interview guests, and manage listener contests. Many radio stations now require DJs to update their station Web site.Work environment. Announcers usually work in well-lighted, air-conditioned, soundproof studios. Announcers often work within tight schedules, which can be physically and mentally stressful. 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.

The broadcast day is long for radio and TV stations—many are on the air 24 hours a day—so announcers can expect to work unusual hours. Many present early-morning shows, when most people are getting ready for work or commuting, while others do late-night programs. The shifts, however, are not as varied as in the past, because new technology has allowed stations to eliminate most of the overnight hours. Many announcers work part time.

Careers in Editorial and Writing

Although many of us are writers and editors in our everyday life-correcting the spelling on a memo, questioning the insight of a newspaper reporter, writing emails-not everyone is suited to turning communication into a career. But the field is perfect for you if you possess an ongoing engagement with language and a keen desire to communicate ideas to people effectively and efficiently. Careers in this industry vary widely: The subject, length, and style of what you write or edit are variables that depend on where you work and the position you've chosen.
Writers tell stories. Business writers tell stories about companies and their management teams, organizational structures, and economic successes and failures. Feature writers tell stories about celebrities, movies, and people doing different, sometimes unusual, things. Copywriters use language to convey a story about the benefits of a brand or product. Writing almost always requires research or knowledge about a particular subject. While many writers start out as generalists, in the course of reporting or writing a story, they must become experts.


Editors often start out as writers, and in many cases their role involves substantial writing. However, their role also bridges the space between writer and publication. They help writers craft stories, make sure writers adhere to style guidelines and rules of grammar, and ensure that every article is suitable for a particular publication. Editors straddle management and production, often managing writers and budgets, setting deadlines, scheduling what will run and when, and enforcing general editorial standards of quality.


Editorial and writing careers span industries. Advertising agencies hire copywriters to create compelling copy that will sell readers on a brand. PR agencies use writers to create press releases, write annual reports, draft speeches, and create op-eds (opinion pieces that PR firms try to "place" in newspapers to reach target groups). Computer software and hardware companies use technical writers and editors to develop documentation and technical information on software and hardware products.

Career as a Media Planner

Media Planner

Media planners, also known as brand planners or brand strategists, work at advertising agencies and create clients' ad campaigns. The media planners interact somewhat with the creatives -- i.e. the copywriters creating the ads and the ad copy -- but predominantly with the clients making decisions about how a media campaign will unfold. A big part of the media planner’s job is to pick the right kinds of places (the correct TV shows and magazines) to place different ads so that the client's product (and brand) is advertised to the correct audience.

You need a specific training or a graduate/PG  degree to become a media planner as many agencies do require a college degree. Ad agencies offer entry level positions in the area.

The main thing a media planner needs is a willingness, and eagerness, to learn about the advertising world. The job can be very social, because it entails working with clients, so an interest in socializing with colleagues and clients is important. Also key is an understanding of how marketing and advertising work. How can a client -- a company with a specific product -- best brand themselves? Media planners need to be able to devise strategies for branding and, to do so, they must know the entertainment world (what TV shows and magazines attract what audience) so they can place the ads appropriately. Media planners need to know which shows, websites, magazines and other purveyors of entertainment will draw the client's desired audience.

While a lot of media planners will learn about the intricacies of the advertising world by working at an agency, bringing an interest to this aspect of media is key to success in a job like this.

Career in Scripts

Scriptwriters are skilled writers who prepare scripts for commercials, soap operas, comedies, and dramas that appear on television, in films, and on stage.


One type of scriptwriter, known as the continuity writer, creates station announcements, previews of coming shows, and advertising copy for local sponsors. These editors may also write material for locally produced shows. They must be able to write persuasively, creatively, and quickly because of the pressure of deadlines.


Writing for television is quite different from writing scripts for films or stage plays. Broadcasting scriptwriters must be able to write "to order"—for a certain audience, to fill a certain time slot. It can be almost a technical job to turn out exactly thirty-five pages of double-spaced dialogue every day. Most importantly, the writer must tailor the script to the time of day the show appears on the air; scripts for shows that air at ten o'clock in the morning are different from those that air at ten o'clock at night or even four o'clock in the afternoon. The writer may also be working as part of a team under a head writer who makes many of the creative decisions. In television broadcasting, writing what the show calls for under a strict timetable is often more important than artistic expression.


Writers who want fewer restrictions on their artistic freedom tend to write for motion pictures or for the stage. Working with an agent, motion picture writers may submit an original screenplay to a motion picture producer or studio, or they may negotiate for the job of turning a novel or play into a screenplay. Playwrights hire agents to submit their plays for performance, or they may try to get their work published in book form. Although the rewards are lucrative, competition is keen in these fields. There are few highly successful playwrights or screenplay writers.


In all cases, scriptwriters must be able to imagine the effect of their words when they are spoken in a production. It is not enough that the words look good on paper—they Scriptwriters may need to work with designers to ensure that the environment they imagine can actually be built. (© Terry Wild Studio. Reproduced by permission.) must work well when one actor is speaking to another actor. Whereas a playwright usually includes only a few stage directions, a movie or television scriptwriter may detail the visuals as well as the written dialogue. These details are particularly important in movies, where a long and important sequence may require no speaking parts at all.


Like most writers, scriptwriters usually have the freedom to write when and where they choose, provided they meet their deadlines. Those who write for a television series or who are under contract to a motion picture company may share writing duties with others. They may attend script conferences where guidelines are set and may be very busy for several weeks while the shows are being prepared. When the shows are done, they can relax for a while; however, the pressure is seldom off freelance writers, particularly if they are trying to earn their living solely by writing. Stamina and persistence are very important for a successful freelance career writing for stage, television, or motion pictures.

Career as a TV News Anchor

At the networks the TV news anchors present the news. You know the people -- the ones sitting there behind a desk (or in the field) telling you what’s happening in the world that day. Whether broadcasting from a small local station or manning one of the network’s primetime broadcasts, TV news anchors compile news stories and deliver them.


Being a news anchor requires a number of skills, the first of which is a comfort in front of the camera. There’s an element of show business in the job of a news anchor -- not only do you need to be comfortable in front of the camera but you need to make people want to watch you. The latter may not be something you can learn but, certainly, gaining comfort speaking to the camera is a skill you can hone.
A news anchor also needs to be able to think on his feet. While many anchors will read scripts -- off of a teleprompter or notes on their desk -- information can also be transmitted aurally. If news is breaking information may be fed to an anchor on the spur of the moment from a producer. The anchor needs to be able to listen to what’s happening and then relay the information to the audience in a clear and concise manner.


How much reporting is involved in an anchor’s job is dependent on where the anchor works and what type of broadcast they work on. Some anchors, especially at local news stations, will report their own stories (perhaps with help from a producer or other staffer), and write the scripts they then transmit on the air. In that sense, an anchor works very much like a reporter with the main difference being that they need to craft the story in a way that works for television.Anchors need to get time in front of the camera. Most jobs are gotten with a tape, or a sample of your work on-air. Before you look for a job as an anchor, you need to have done an internship at a local station (and gotten some time on-air), or studied communications in college.


 There are also myriad opportunities on-air at the various cable news channels.

Careers in magazines

If you love magazines a career in magazine publishing might be ideal for you. Editors, writers, photographers and others bring a magazine together and the exciting world of magazine publishing can be a glamorous field to work in for creative people with a passion for print.


1. Art Director
Art directors are responsible for the look of a magazine. If you notice, Vanity Fair has quite a different look than, say, Entertainment Weekly; this is, in large part, the work of art directors, who oversee how the words and pictures on every page of the magazine will match up to create a cohesive and signature look.


2. Copy Editor
Someone needs to make sure all the stories in the magazine check out, grammatically; that someone is the copy editor. Copy editors combat dangling modifiers, errant commas and every other grammatical no-no in the book. If you're passionate about language -- specifically grammar and usage -- a job as a copy editor could be perfect for you.


3. Fact Checker
Every story that appears in a magazine needs to be checked for accuracy; this is where a fact checker comes in. All magazines rely on fact checkers to ensure that quotes and all factual information included in an article are accurate. If you're someone who's good with detail, and appreciates the fact-finding aspect of journalism, this is the right job for you.


4. Magazine Editor
Magazine editors are the wordsmiths behind the content in magazines. While some editors do more writing, others are more heavily involved with assigning stories and editing them. (A good assigning editor needs to have a rolodex full of strong writers to contact.) Either way, this job is a perfect fit for someone who's passionate about magazine journalism.


5. Photo Editor
Photo editors oversee, as you probably guessed, the photography that appears in a magazine. Although most photo editors don't actually take the pictures -- their job is primarily to hire other photographers to do that -- it's up to them to ensure that the right image winds up on the page. If you have a background in photography, and love working with professionals in the field, this could be a great job for you.

Careers as account executives -ad campaigns

In short, account executives oversee ad campaigns. Advertising agencies are multifaceted, in so far as they create campaigns for clients across a number of mediums -- print, TV, online. Because of this fact there are various people working on different aspects of a single campaign.


While one department within an agency might be creating a series of print ads for a client, another department might be fashioning a series of television ads. Despite this fact all the ads being created need to be getting across the same message, and it's the account executive's job to make sure that's happening.


Put another way, the account executive is there to make sure all the people creating the various components of the campaign are working in a unified manner, and staying on target with the message of the campaign as hammered out by the media planner.


The account executive is also the liaison between the client and the advertising agency. This means that it's up to the account executive to distill the client’s wishes to the creatives at the agency, and vice versa.most agencies look to hire people with a college degree. Account executives, who need to be skilled at working with people and distilling ideas and directions in a clear and concise way, work their way up at advertising agencies. Generally account execs prove their worth by successfully handling accounts and moving on to work on multiple accounts and/or bigger accounts. Above the account executive position is the account manager.

Become a Blogger

One of the biggest changes to come with the evolution of new media has been the proliferation of blogs and bloggers. As blogs on seemingly every conceivable topic have been launched, media outlets began publishing more and more of them. Now established media outlets -- magazines, newspapers, TV stations, etc. -- are hiring bloggers and launching blogs.


Bloggers, in many ways, are a cross between reporters and op-ed columnists. What largely distinguishes blogging from regular reporting is that bloggers are often citing information second-hand -- the amount of original reporting bloggers do varies -- and they are injecting more opinion into their pieces, or posts. Bloggers are, more often than not, pulling original reporting from other sources and then commenting on it. (This site, for example, features a blog about media careers on its homepage. And, on that blog, I'm culling stories and information about the media world, from other sources, and commenting on it.)


While many of the blogs launched by papers and magazines rely on staff editors for their content, the expansion of the blogosphere has created a crop of new jobs in the media world. And, as more and more content migrates to the web, companies are increasingly looking to hire people to blog and write original online stories.

Become a Web Producer

 A web producer is a hybrid position that combines aspects of journalism, design and marketing. Web producers are responsible for driving traffic to web pages and, more than simply the look of a website, web producers need to focus on the user experience. This means deciding how content is presented. Should, for example, the content appear as an article? As a poll?  In video form? To that end, web producers need to know the most effective way for users to interact with a site. Some web producers may have more of a technical role, while others may be more heavily involved in the creation of content. How much content a web producer creates varies from position to position.


Become a Web Producer
Web producers can come from a variety of backgrounds and usually either hail from a design/technical background or a content background. There’s no specific degree that’s needed for a job as a web producer -- the career itself isn’t that old – and most employers will look to see you have a college diploma and the requisite experience. In general a web producer needs to be as comfortable editing and creating content as they are with web production and maintenance.


Skills to Become a Web Producer
Not only will you need solid writing skills to become a web producer, you’ll also need to be very comfortable creating content for the Web. To that end you will probably need to know certain programs, like Flash, HTML and others, in addition to being able to demonstrate your ability to drive traffic to a site. Also, since web producers need to be able to measure the traffic coming to a site, you’ll also need to be comfortable tracking and digesting web metrics.

Career as an Online Editor

Online editors, also known as online producers or web producers, oversee the content on websites. An online editor functions, in some ways, as a magazine editor, blogger and journalist rolled into one. Because an online editor is overseeing content on a website, he or she may need to follow traffic patterns to glean what content draws more users to the site.

Because web traffic can be tracked in ways magazine readership cannot -- companies can track how many people receive a magazine but not what articles are the most popular within the magazine -- online editors are often expected to create content with a deeper eye to how it’s being consumed. Online editors also need to have a deeper understanding of how a website works.


The good thing about jobs in online editing and producing is that they’re plentiful. Online content creation is one of the growing areas in the media world because so many companies -- traditional print publications and non-traditional ones -- are eager to capture readers online. Interestingly it’s a relatively new field as well, so a lot of experimentation is going on.

To break into this field, you’ll need experience working online and creating online content. Employers want to see online editors who understand how readers are reading online, so you need to have experience working at a website. In short, you need to be able to demonstrate you’ve written for the Web and know how to do that, so your clips should be from websites. Internships working for websites is also key. Additionally, experience blogging and knowledge of HTML will help.

Online editors need to be comfortable with both writing and technology. Because an online editor is crafting stories -- or editing the stories of other writers -- he or she needs strong writing and journalistic skills. But an online editor also needs to be interested in, and aware of, the technology which wraps around the story. Should a particular story include a video component? Where on the site should it be placed? If the story doesn’t include video, should it include pictures? An online editor might have to answer all those questions and then be able to use whatever tool is required to add the needed component, be it video or pictures.

An online editor may also need to be comfortable with gathering and analyzing a certain amount of data. Unlike writers and editors who work in print, an online editor might need to track what kinds of stories generate more traffic to inform the creation of future stories. In other words, an online editor needs to be comfortable paying attention to traffic stats and incorporating lessons learned from those stats in the content creation process.

How to Become a Photo Editor

Photo editors oversee the photography that appears in a magazine, primarily working as a point person for communicating with, and hiring, photographers. Photo editors also work for newspapers and other publications which feature photography.

The Necessary Skills

Although photo editors aren’t actually shooting the pictures, they need to know a great deal about photography and have extensive contacts in the industry.

Not only does a photo editor need to be able to translate the editor’s ideas to the photographer who’s hired, but they need to find the right person for the job. This means that a photo editor needs extensive contacts within the photo industry, since they need to know what kind of photographers will be available and who does what best. If the shoot calls for various shots of a family, that will likely require a different photographer than a beauty shoot of various products -- the photo editor needs to know who to assign what to, and when.

One of the best ways to glean what a profession might be like, and whether it’s right for you, is to talk to people in the industry. Below are interviews with, and stories by, working photo editors:

Careers as An art director

An art director oversees the art, i.e. the photographs and drawn images, that appear in newspapers, magazines, ad campaigns and on book covers. An art director is usually the person who oversees the entire design department, working with photo editors and editors to coordinate what images will match up with what words.

More than simply assigning a photographer or illustrator to create an image, an art director works on creating visual concepts. At a magazine an art director would work to create the specific look and feel of the entire magazine, ensuring there’s a unified visual look throughout. If you notice that certain magazines maintain different types of “looks” -- with certain layouts and certain types of images -- you’re picking up on the work of the art director.

Where Do Art Directors Work?

Art directors work throughout media in advertising, in book publishing and at magazines. Art directors usually specialize in one sector -- focusing on, say, advertising or book publishing -- and the type of work they do varies on their subset of the industry. At magazines art directors conceive of layouts and the art that will match up with the various stories in the magazine. At book publishing houses art directors often focus solely on book covers, hiring designers to create those covers and overseeing their work. (An art director at some book publishing houses may also do some of the designing.) At ad agencies art directors, usually working with acopywriter, create the images that go with an ad campaign. At ad agencies art directors may specialize in a specific area, such as print (creating ads for magazines), TV or Web.

How Do You Become an Art Director?

Most art directors have degrees from art schools, where they’ve studied graphic design, photography and drawing. (A background in graphic design is usually essential for most art director jobs today.) In today’s job market art directors also need to know various computer programs (most run on Macs) that allow them to work with everything from photographs to font sizes. While photoshop is a standard program all art directors should know, this is just one of many. For more on specific programs art directors should know, you can check out this video.

Art directors who’ve gone to art school are usually trained in the computer programs needed to get jobs in the field. Art schools will also provide candidates with a portfolio, which is necessary to land most jobs in this field. Art directors, who often work up to that title (from assistant positions), need to show examples of their work. Someone looking to work as an art director in an ad agency, for example, need to show a potential employer sample ad campaigns he’s created. To get these samples, you need to have experience from an internship or from your art school experience.

Career as a Production Assistant

The PA position is a lot of grunt work, but can be extremely educational. It is a highly visible position in that just about anyone can give you an order, from the producer to a sound technician. The production assistants who do as they're told without complaint are the ones who are remembered when it comes time to fill more important positions.The production assistant, or PA position, is the entry level position on a film or television set. The production assistant does just about anything and everything, from making script copies to shuttling crew or equipment around town as needed. How much a production assistant does really depends on the budget of the production as well as how much faith his/her superiors have in their abilities.
Skills & Education:
Although no particular educational background is necessary to be an effective production assistant, it is crucial that you have the following skills:


Be a Good Listener: No one likes to have to repeat themselves, so be on your toes at all times and listen to whatever direction is given.
Be Responsible: Production assistants are extremely easy to replace on a set and if you're late, lazy or hard to manage, you won't be there long.
Be Willing to Learn: Without being an obstacle, do all you can to learn as much as you can about every job on a set.
Be Patient: If you're good at what you do, someone will notice.
Another name for a production assistant is "Gopher", as in, "go-for-this" and "go-for-that." The best production assistants and the ones to be promoted out of the PA position first are those who simply don't know the meaning of the word "no" or the phrase, "I can't." As a PA, the more you do as you're told, the faster you will rise. But that doesn't mean be a robot -- after all, creative thinking is an excellent asset to have as a PA.
Career Advice:
If you have a bit of an ego about letting other people direct your actions, then either leave it at the door, or find another line of work. The production assistant position is one that takes a lot of emotional abuse from a number of different departments, but do as you're told and learn as much as you can from anyone willing to teach you. After a little while, you might just find yourself with a new promotion your own production assistant.

Creative Writing

Are you fond of writing? Do you have the flair to juggle words to explain your thoughts creatively? Creative writing is another potential career field that promises good monetary returns. But the field is not for everyone. A career in creative writing is considered as an artistic work gifted by God to special people. These people are the creative writers, known by various names such as novelists, poets, lyricists etc. who are engaged in writing books, articles, stories, especially as an occupation or profession. Most of writers have magical powers in writing and through their work, they can influence the readers and can make them upset, disgusted, spellbound or happy. 
Creating writing is a long process which requires a lot of research and hard work. Creative writing is the writing in which a writer aims to express his/ her emotions, feelings, imaginative ideas and thoughts, through prose and poetic verses. Any kind of writing like novels, poems, stories, drama, autobiography, script writing, copy writing etc. can be considered as creative writing. 

The foremost and the essential things required to become a creative writer is the passion for writing and love to communicate with words. Creative writing is a field which requires a lot of imagination, observation and an inborn ability to create pictures of the natural world. One can become a good writer by reading articles on variety of topics and styles; experiencing life in every way and learning and listening to a lot of idioms, accents, and local expressions. One can also improve their writing skills by taking a course in creative writing. 
The major task of creative writer is to create a work in an interesting or appealing manner. Each work has to be organized cohesively with a clear beginning, middle and an end and must be targeted at an audience. Creative writers are expected to deliver original and high class content with no grammar and spelling mistakes. Copying of content from any other media is strictly prohibited in the field of creative writing, as it may create serious legal complications. So one has to write the content, whatever the topics may be in an original style and language. For this, a thorough research is needed that can be done by referring related informative book, encyclopedia, talking to people proficient in the topic or by searching the internet.


Many people enjoy creative writing as a hobby. They can turn it into a profession and start earning with great opportunities. The demand for creative writers has increased at the global level, with the recent boom in the print media. Scope in this field is endless and one can become a novelist, journalist, short story writer, copywriter and so on. Creative writing jobs promise a good career path with excellent growth prospects and attractive salaries, if it is taken seriously with complete devotion.

Careers in Media

The terrific growth and development in the field of communication and technology has made the world a small place to live in. Be it the Academy Awards in Hollywood, Tôhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan, or the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the media ensures that you are provided with the latest updates on the happenings around the world. Not just through radio, newspaper, magazines, books, documentaries, or television, information is also spread through the more recently online media called internet as well, such as blogs, forums, etc. This tremendous and unbelievable achievement has given rise to challenging and highly rewarding career opportunities to explore in the vast field of media. This industry is responsible for communicating unbiased and objective information and generating public opinion on the same. Further, the privatization of this industry has opened doors for creative minds and innovative skills to utilize to the best. The expansion of the media industry owes a lot to the interactive nature and technological innovations. Individuals with futuristic ideas, technical knowledge, and willingness to adapt to changes, have promising and lucrative career options to explore in media.


Career Prospects
There are ample prospering career opportunities for creative and talented people in the field of media. Numerous reputed media organizations/groups, like Times Group, UTV, Adlabs, Sony, Sahara Group, and Mukta Arts recruit competent and trained media professionals. Options to become an RJ, anchor, news reporter, or VJ are also open. Besides, advertising offers a number of job options in media planning department, client-servicing, or creative team.

Careers in Publishing

Publishing is a process of providing printed information through books, magazines, journals, newspapers, database, and directories for mass circulation. Initially, publishing was restricted to print media, such as books and newspapers, but due to digital information systems and the Internet, its scope has spread to electronic media today. As such, one can find virtual books (e-books) on the Internet and in the form of CDs. To build a career in the field of publishing, one has to gain knowledge about its several techniques, including development, acquisition, copyediting, graphic designing, production, printing, marketing, and distribution of written materials and information through various media. In India, publishing as a career can prove to be very beneficial and lucrative, due to its extensive importance in both print and electronic media. Currently, there are many institutes in India offering courses in publishing. On completion of the course, students can find umpteen opportunities in private and government publishing houses, as a sub editor or assistance editor, production in-charge, sales & marketing manager. As an alternate, freelancing also makes a great option.

Career Prospects
Apart from jobs in the private sector, one can also approach government-run publishing houses. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Education and Culture have their own publication divisions. Freshers can seek employment in the publication division of these ministries as an editor, assistant sub editor, sub editor, assistant editor, or associate editor. In the production department, individuals can work as production in-charge. The marketing department of publication houses also has sufficient job openings for freshers and experienced.

Careers in Fashion Journalism

Careers in Fashion Journalism


Anything and everything written about fashion and fashion related activities can be termed as fashion journalism. It constitutes a wide range of activities, right from writing and editing stories and articles to styling photo shoots and researching the current and future trends of fashion, along with public relations, interviewing, and designing. With the rising growth and popularity of the Indian fashion industry in global trends as well as in the home front, fashion journalists have created a niche for themselves as fashionistas who can review and report on the emerging fashion trends. To become a good fashion journalist, fashion critic, or fashion reporter, one needs to be imaginative, inventive, organized, and should possess excellent abilities to look beyond one’s personal experiences and understand fashion in a more wider and diverse context. One needs to acquire the knowledge about the techniques of news gathering and reporting with emphasis on expressing ideas and impressions.


Career Prospects


The job of a fashion journalist is to write about anything related to brands and styles, fashion trends, and reviewing and covering events. With the right terminology, trends, fabrics, and styles and how to write about fashion, fashion journalists can do wonders in this field. Most techniques can be learned by assisting other fashion designers, photographers, etc. As a fashion journalist, one can choose to work as a freelancer or as a staff writer in a publication house. Several career pathways are available in this field, depending upon the strengths and interests of individuals and the publications which hire fashion journalists. Here, one is not restricted to work for only glamorous fashion magazines. An individual can seek employment in fashion critique and commentary programs on the television and Internet. Besides, they can try their hand at reviewing and reporting about the latest fashion on the ramp and red carpet.

Careers in Photo Journalism

Photojournalism is a form of journalism, wherein the person clicks, develops, and submits images relevant to a news story. Initially, the term 'photojournalism' was restricted to still photography. Its scope has now widened and in the present time, photo journalists even shoot videos to come up with a good news item/ feature – a trend commonly seen in citizen journalism. Photo journalism is not merely about taking the best shots, but also how to click news-worthy photographs, in accordance with the interest of the reader. Generally, the work of a photojournalist is quite similar to a reporter, except the fact that a photo journalist doesn’t gather, write, and report news stories. To become a successful photojournalist, one should have thorough knowledge about the three principles of photo journalism - timeliness, objectivity, and narrative. He/She should be able to use modern gadgets like digital camera, state-of-the-art studios, and other software in order to develop quality photographs. Photojournalism is a lucrative career option in India, since it has become an integral part of mainstream journalism. As a result, many institutions that offer courses in journalism have also included photo journalism in their curriculum.

Career Prospects
Photojournalists can work for newspapers, magazines, or any other media houses. One can opt for commercial photography, fashion photography, industrial photography, wildlife photography, aerial photography, scientific photography, etc. as his/her specialized field.

Career as Video Jockey

If keeping the audience and guests entertained through energetic music is the job of a DJ, a VJ is responsible for the same, but through his witty dialogues, pleasing personality, and compelling presentation. Similar to the work of a DJ, a VJ, too, has to amuse the audience with his distinct capabilities in order to keep them hooked to the idiot-box. A VJ, or a video jockey, can anchor various television programs, such as musical phone-in program, a talk show, or reality shows, wherein he/she interacts with ordinary people, either indoor or outdoor. For entertaining and amusing the viewers, a VJ can look out for various interesting methods, such as conveying messages, telecasting videos, playing songs, and so on. To become a successful and renowned VJ, an individual should possess the qualities of being passionate, vibrant, enthusiastic, eager to learn more, energetic, and amiable. Besides, one should have a great sense of humor and be a reservoir of knowledge on the subjects being discussed. The most important aspect of video jockeying is the display of confidence in front of the camera and instant wit. A video jockey not only has to perform in front of the camera, but is also required to actively participate in the pre-production work, which includes deciding the theme of the program, selecting the songs to be played, and even preparing the script.


Career Prospects
The launch of numerous music channels, game, travel and chitchat shows has increased the demand for skilled and proficient video jockeys. Video jockeys are hired for anchoring shows on numerous music channels, such as MTV, Channel V, B4U Music, etc. One can also see VJs presenting game shows and reality shows on popular television channels. Countless opportunities are open for competent video jockeys. Apart from anchoring, one can opt for modeling, acting in music videos and films, and work as PR executives. VJs, who have good voice quality and taste for music, can try for radio jockeying as well.

Careers in Screenplay Writing

Screenplay can be defined as a written document that consists of the story of a film or a television program. Through screenplay, one can describe all visual and behavioral elements which are essential for explaining a story. All the work of a director, cast, editor, and production team revolves around the screenplay or the script. Therefore, it becomes highly significant for a scriptwriter to draft a script that is comprehensive and clear, so as to let every member of the team (in a film or a television program) get a brief idea about the narrative. There are two important components of writing a screenplay - action and dialogue. While action is written in present tense, dialogues, on the other hand, are written for the characters of the film/television serial/telefilm. Therefore, screenplay or scriptwriting depends on the mind and thinking of a scriptwriter. Screenplay writing has emerged as a well-paid job, because success of a motion picture predominantly lies in its screenplay. A number of institutes in India conduct courses for screenplay writing.


Career Prospects
Screenplay can prove to be highly lucrative yet challenging, at the same time. The result of a film or a television program largely depends upon the way the screenplay is written. After pursuing a course in screenplay writing, one can develop screenplay for stories from different genres, such as comedy, drama, science fiction, action, romantic etc.

Careers in Content Writing

Creating content for the web can be termed as content writing. An offshoot of the cyber media, content writing, also known as web content writing, has emerged as a prospective career line in the media industry. Whether it is expanding one’s business or promoting a product or service, content writing has become one of the most effective ways of accomplishing the targets, through writing articles and publishing them on the web. However, wed content developing is entirely different from print or any other media form. Even though a content writer is desired to draft articles, but this is achieved only after carrying out extensive research of the topic and material to be included in the article, being sketched. Apart from incorporating all the creative ideas and juicy thoughts in the article, the information so written must be factually correct and authentic, in order to make the website genuine and not plagiarized. While keeping the target audience in mind, the content should be precise and must help in the proliferation of the sales of the product, thereby generating revenues. Familiarity with correct grammar and appropriate use of key words is always an advantage while climbing the ladder in content writing. The article written should be interesting enough to attract advertisers, create maximum readership, and increase the popularity of both the content and the website.


Career Prospects
With the expansion of Business-to-Business and Business-to-Customer organizations, the scope of content writing has widened. The career can be pursued on both full-time and part-time basis. Apart from executing the routine 9-6 job, one can also opt for freelancing, that is, working for more than one organization at a time. One can opt for technical writing or feature writing. Numerous organizations have started hiring content writers to expand their business. A content writer can work with business houses or websites that deal with developing content to promote/sell their products. After gaining considerable experience, a content writer is usually promoted to the post of content editor.

Careers in Media Planning

With the media and advertising industry emerging as the most powerful ways of communicating any message to the masses, the career options in the field are expanding. Media planning is among the most promising and lucrative career options in the current job scenario. It includes selection of media for the placement of advertisements on behalf of clients, keeping the budget and target audience in mind. A media planner acts as a mediator between media organization and the client. He/She helps the client in purchasing air time slots or print space for the advertisement. Apart from merely being a mediator, a media planner has to learn the market trends, analyze target audience, and understand their psychology. One has to be constantly updated with the changing trends in media to become a successful media planner. Media planners should have excellent communication skills, as they have to effectively express their thoughts to their clients. They have to be enthusiastic, passionate, pro-active, good observer, quick decision maker. In short, a good media planner should possess all the skills necessary for handling difficult circumstances with ease and optimum utilization of resources. Thorough knowledge of current media trends is also important to excel in this field. Last, but not the least, a media planner should be a good negotiator and be able put forth his terms and conditions persuasively.


Career Prospects
Apart from independent media planning agencies, advertising agencies are always in need of good media planners. With numerous advertising agencies in the market, one can opt for a booming career in media planning. With diverse media options, employment in media planning has emerged as a preferred job line for most young aspirants.

Careers in Art Direction

Art direction is one of the most promising career options today, considering the size of the entertainment industry in India. Proliferation of satellite TV channels, stage shows, drama, and theatre, along with feature films have thrown up limitless opportunities in the field of art direction. The job profile consists of an exhaustive list, such as selecting the right location, conceiving visuals in 3D, working in close co-ordination with the film director, cinematographer, and costume designer to develop the feel and look of each frame to supervise the decoration and sticking to the budget allocation.


Career Prospects
Art directors have multiple career opportunities. They can work with production houses and advertising agencies for directing feature films, TV serials and programmes, reality shows, and ad campaigns. Art directors can also excel in theatre and drama. They can work with various government departments apart from the public broadcasters in directing specific programmes pertaining to that department. Lucrative employment opportunities in media houses, particularly electronics media, are available in plenty. For a fresh graduate, it is best to start working under an established art designer and pick up tricks of the trade during the course of the job.