Television and radio announcers have to learn how to perform many duties both on the air and off. It is their job to announce important information to the public -- news, time, commercials, weather or even traffic. Typically they also do the research and writing for on air discussions.
Announcers also often perform interviews for events, and it isn't unusual for those interested in learning the career, to end up where they have to learn by doing. The Radio Connection where you can get a mentor in the radio profession will teach students the basic skills required in a real radio station. Your mentor will teach you while on the job, and chances are you can get on air experience.
Radio Connection Mentor Sam Greenfield knows why learning at a real radio station is infinitely better than in a classroom.
Announcers are usually popular with listeners and so they often make public appearances to promote special events, sponsors or station advertisers. Radio announcers are usually referred to as disc jockeys, or DJs who do on-air interviewing, talk to listeners and manage on-air contests, comment on news, traffic and the weather. Newscasters or anchors usually specialize in the news, weather, or sports, and are very heavily involved in the research and interviewing process with all of the parties relevant to an issue.
For those who work for a smaller station, they often have additional off-air responsibilities such as transmitter monitoring, commercial sales, advertising production, program logging, and control board operation. And that's not including fundraising and promotional efforts.
Technological improvements have allowed announcers to assume many of the tasks previously seen as too difficult since stations have become more operationally mobile. Some regional stations operate out of a single office, while others work overnight with no staff, using pre-recorded programs or those from automatic satellite feeds
Announcers usually must get involved in their communities. Sports announcers must appear at a sporting goods store to entertain customers, and news announcers often show up at local events.
At the Radio Connection, you will learn that this field isn't just limited to broadcasting fields, because many announcers work in motion picture production. Or you could get a job as a public address system announcer where you would broadcast information at special sporting or performing arts events. Although some announcers get to work in a good environment with soundproof studios, the downside is that they usually must work odd hours such as early-morning or late-night shows.
Qualifications are competitive and most jobs require formal training. You can always spend more money through either a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting or training in private technical college, but many of the Entertainment career Connection students believe the best way to learn is via the announcer mentor program at the Radio Connection.
Today, the hiring processes for radio announcers include an evaluation of one’s on-air presence. Starting jobs include researchers or production assistants that can advance if they demonstrate the right skill sets, which might take time. People rarely start out with an on-air position unless they go to a smaller station with an open time spot at an odd time. Beginners can be expected to be equipment operators or interview recorders. Announcers typically start out at smaller stations in local communities and move on to larger, citywide stations.
Network employment is extremely competitive. those hiring often seek college graduates with years of announcing experience, and they must have a proper voice, good timing, and many other abilities to be successful. They need to be computer-savvy and be able to work under on-air pressure—appealing to the audience with a fresh style, a good voice and a great personality.
Mentor programs in radio at the Radio Connection provide a solid curriculum, in a real radio station for a reasonable price of $5,500 compared to more than double that at a University.
