Sunday, April 8, 2007

What You Need to Know About Careers in Media

When you are thinking about a career in media, you may be only thinking about the person who anchors the morning news; however, there are many more careers in media that are less obvious, but very challenging and rewarding as well. Media and the right and want to know is very important in this day, and this had made work in the media business competitive and in high demand. While working in this field is not easy, with looming deadlines and odd hours, it is a great career to consider.

Various Media Careers

There are many different careers available in the media industry, and some are very high profile, while others blend into the background. One of the most prolific careers in media is as a news analyst or a news anchor. This career involves taking the news from various sources and interpreting, examining, and even broadcasting this news. Usually within this type of job there are specialties, such as Sports and Weather. Reporters have very similar jobs; however, they are usually out doing the footwork and finding the stories that anchors use on the news.

Behind the scenes of the media industry are some very important people. There are excellent careers as video technicians, audio technicians, sound engineers, radio operators, and broadcast technicians as well. While they are not as visible as reporters and news anchors, without these careers the rest would be a flop. These careers are very important and are highly technical as well, so they are in great demand.

Another career in media that many people overlook is a career as a writer. Writers often write script for newscasts and other types of news broadcasting, and they often write newspaper articles, magazine articles, and even books as well. There are great media careers in editing as well, since someone has to edit the writing of these writers. A few other careers in the media industry include photographers, announcers, translators, public relations specialists, and video camera editors.

Needed Education

The education that is needed for jobs in the media industry is dependent on your specific career, but most of these jobs do require that you have a bachelor's degree. The various technicians in this field will need to have specialized training to deal with the very technical equipment that is used in media broadcasting today. Reporters, anchors, and correspondents usually need to have a degree in either communications or journalism, although at times employers will consider those who have other majors in college as well. Writers usually are required to have a degree in literature, journalism, communications, or English. One of the most important qualifications that employers look for in this field is experience such as activities and internships in the field of your choice.

Possible Salaries

How much you make in the media industry is also going to depend on what specific media career that you have chosen. The salary spectrum is quite diverse with many average paying jobs, and a few jobs that pay extremely well. Writers and editors can usually expect to make between $25,000 and $60,000 each year, with a few making more than $100,000. Reporters and correspondents generally will make between $20,000 and $50,000 each year, while news anchors and analysts are higher paid and usually make between $25,000 and $70,000, with the occasional anchor making in excess of $100,000 per year. Various technicians, such as sound, video, and broadcast technicians usually can expect to make between $20,000 and $50,000 depending on their experience and the company that they work for.

Excellent Employers

No matter what type of career you choose in the media industry, you want to work for an employer that is fair, offering a good salary and great benefits. There are many great companies that you can work for in this industry, and a few in the United States include CBS, Fox News, National CineMedia, and Cumulus Broadcasting. Not only are there great employers in the United States, but there are many excellent ones in Canada as well if you live or want to work in Canada. Some excellent employers to consider in the country of Canada include Hollywood Canada Communications, CBC Radio Canada, World Vision Canada, and TeleToon Canada Inc.

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