With the XXII Winter Olympics now well under way in Sochi, Russia, there’s no better time to turn the spotlight on broadcasters in our weekly career memes.
Broadcasters bring viewers and listeners the stories from major events, such as the Olympic Games, to news about what is going on in audience members’ neighbourhoods.
Broadcasters can work for TV, radio or online, and usually have an educational background in journalism or communications.
Their job involves researching the subject of a story, interviewing sources, and presenting news in a fair and accurate manner on news bulletins and programmes.
A broadcaster’s duties will also generally include generating story ideas, pitching story ideas to editors, following leads for stories, writing scripts for reports, operating recording equipment and editing software, and understanding and complying with media law.
Excellent communication skills, being flexible in terms of work hours, attention to detail, the ability to work under pressure and adhere to deadlines are among the qualities a good broadcaster will possess.
Starting salaries for broadcasters vary, depending on whether he or she is working full-time, freelance or on an ad-hoc basis.
