The document provides information on various job roles in the radio industry, including radio presenter, radio producer, radio broadcast assistant, and radio commercials producer. It describes the typical duties and responsibilities of each role, as well as the qualifications, career progression opportunities, and personal attributes required to be successful.
2. Radio Presenter
What does a radio presenter do?
Radio Presenters are the voice of a station or programme. Most
presenters are self-employed, working on fixed term contracts.
Working hours are varied and may involve early mornings, late
nights and overnights, as well as working weekends or holidays. In
some roles Presenters are expected to travel to work on location,
both within the UK and abroad. A Radio Presenter’s specific
duties vary depending on the programme or station. They may
present live or recorded shows, scripted and unscripted. They
may conduct interviews live on air, or simply just house a music
radio station. They should be able to operate various radio
studios, and to record audio both in studios and on location.
3. Radio Presenter
What qualifications do I need?
To become a radio presenter you do not need a
degree. Employers will want you to have hands-on experience
and to have developed technical and presentation skills, along
with a distinctive personal style. If you do have a degree,
employers won't necessarily expect it to be in a media-related
subject.
4. Radio Presenter
What can this job lead too?
Radio presenting role can lead to many different places in the future. If you
start off from a less known radio station, you can work your way up to the
top. You may also choose to move into television or combine working in both
media. Alternatively, you could choose to move into programme production
or into a management role.
5. Radio Presenter
Is this the right role for me?
For this role, you will need excellent presentation and performance skills, as
well as being able to communicate well with an audience. You will also need
to understand how to use your voice well for radio purposes and learn how to
use a wide range of recording equipment. You will also need to be able to
work calmly under pressure, react quickly and meet tight deadlines. You will
need an understanding of the law, ethics and industry regulations around
radio production. Finally you will need strong IT skills, including word
processing and data handling, and also ideally, audio editing. If you feel you
already possess these traits, or are close to it, then this could be the job for
you.
6. Radio Producer
What does a radio producer do?
• A radio producer’s job is to create content and
manage the whole radio production process for
both live and recorded programmes.
• They will have to generate original ideas, carry
out research and identify suitable ideas from
others.
7. Radio Producer
What qualifications will I need?
You don’t need a degree to do this job role
however most of them are graduates. Employers
won’t necessarily expect you to have a degree in
a media related subject. Some schemes are
focused for graduated students, but not all.
These are mainly the higher courses.
8. Radio Producer
What can this job lead too?
If you make good enough progress and gain a bit of
experience, you could move on to a bigger radio
station. This station may have a larger audience, they
could be a local or national service. You may also
aspire to be a Presenter or Programme Editor, so you
could move into management roles.
9. Radio Producer
Is this role right for me?
If you have the following, then this role is perfect for you:
• Be able to generate original ideas and think creatively
• Have excellent writing and storytelling skills and be able to adapt
content for different audiences
• Be able to learn how to use different recording equipment
• Be able to coach and develop others
• Have confidence to overcome obstacles and pitch ideas to senior
colleagues
• Be able to work calmly under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Understand the requirements of the relevant health and safety
measures
• Have strong IT skills and data handling.
10. Radio Broadcast Assistant
What does a Radio Broadcast Assistant do?
• They can offer support to radio producers and
presenters within the radio studio.
• They also perform a wide range of key administrative
tasks, to ensure smooth running of the radio
programmes.
• They also help with research for radio shows and help
plan what will happen. This also links to helping with
production.
• They understand the purpose and format of their station or
programme and need to be aware of the characteristics of
the target audience.
11. Radio Broadcast Assistant
What qualifications will I need?
It is not essential to have a degree for this role however
it may help. It doesn’t necessarily have to be media
related either. Given the competition for jobs in radio,
many Broadcast Assistants are students and some are
post graduates. Some courses are proffered and have
been rigorously assessed by the radio industry. These
courses often provide the best knowledge to prepare
you for a radio career.
12. Radio Broadcast Assistant
Where can this job lead to?
Providing you gain valuable experience and a
broad range of skills, you could progress to a
larger radio station. This would mean wider
audiences from local or national radio shows.
You could also switch between roles if you
wanted to try something new such as a
producer or presenter.
13. Radio Broadcast Assistant
Is this role right for me?
If you have the following, then this role is perfect for you:
• Strong organisational skills
• Pay close attention to detail and think creatively
• Have confidence and tenacity to pursue information and overcome
obstacles
• Be self motivated and be able to work under pressure and meet
deadlines
• Have a basic understanding of the law, ethics and industry regulations
• Have strong IT skills and understand audio editing
• Be able to learn how to use a variety of recording equipment
• Have knowledge of the requirements of health and safety.
14. Radio Commercials Producer
What does a Radio Commercial Producer do?
The only role that a radio commercial producer does is creating radio
advertisements and station promotions for radio stations.
15. Radio Commercials Producer
What qualifications do I need?
You can work your way up from an entry level to become a radio commercial
producer, without a degree, however some employers may want you to have
a degree in business management, radio production, marketing or
communications.
16. Radio Commercials Producer
What can this job lead to?
You can move on from the Commercials Producer role to a larger station, or
from your local station to a regional or national commercial production
department.
You could also move into an external organisation providing a service to a
range of different broadcasters.
Finally, you could also switch to TV and film commercials, or change to more
general radio production roles.
17. Radio Commercials Producer
Is this role right for me?
If you have the following attributes then it is the right role for you:
• Having a strong interest In advertising and an understanding of how radio can be
used to promote or sell goods.
• Be able to generate original ideas and think creatively.
• Have knowledge of the radio market, programme styles and audience
demographics.
• Be able to manage budgets and ensure efficient use of resources.
• Have confidence in your work and be able to pitch your ideas to other clients.
• Be able to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Have knowledge of the law and industry regulations around advertising.
• Understand the health and safety legislation and procedures.
• Have strong IT skills and ideally, have experience with audio editing and image
manipulation software.