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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Broadcaster

💰 $ - $

BroadcastingMediaOn-airJournalism

🎯 Role Definition

A Broadcaster is an on-air media professional who plans, produces, and presents audio and/or video programming to a live or recorded audience. This role blends editorial judgment, storytelling, and technical operation to create engaging broadcasts across radio, television, streaming and social channels. Broadcasters research topics, write and edit scripts, conduct interviews, coordinate with production and technical teams, maintain regulatory compliance, and actively promote shows to grow audience reach and ratings.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Production Assistant or Studio Assistant
  • Podcast Host or Community Radio Presenter
  • Journalism / Communications graduate with internship experience

Advancement To:

  • Senior On-Air Host / Anchor
  • Broadcast Producer or Executive Producer
  • News Director or Head of Programming

Lateral Moves:

  • Voiceover Artist / Narrator
  • Multimedia Content Producer
  • Social Media or Audience Development Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Plan, prepare, and present live or pre-recorded radio and television programs, delivering clear, engaging on-air segments that adhere to the station's editorial direction and brand voice.
  • Research and develop show concepts, scripts, rundowns, and interview questions by synthesizing news sources, press materials, guest bios, ratings data and audience feedback to ensure topical relevance and accuracy.
  • Conduct live interviews with guests, experts, and public figures both in-studio and remotely, managing conversation flow, time allocation, and follow-up questions to produce informative and compelling content.
  • Operate on-air equipment during broadcasts including microphone techniques, mixing consoles, studio talkback systems and teleprompters to maintain professional audio quality and seamless transitions.
  • Collaborate closely with producers, directors, sound engineers and assignment editors to coordinate guest bookings, segment timing, commercial breaks, and technical cues for a smooth broadcast experience.
  • Edit audio and video segments using industry-standard software (e.g., Adobe Audition, Pro Tools, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro) to create promos, highlights and packaged pieces for broadcast and digital distribution.
  • Prepare and maintain detailed show rundowns, cue sheets, and broadcast logs to document content, music usage, and sponsor spots, ensuring accountability and compliance with internal policies.
  • Execute live remote reporting and field coverage for breaking news or events, coordinating logistics, remote connectivity (ISDN/Source-Connect/StudioLink) and mobile broadcast kits to deliver timely on-scene updates.
  • Adhere to broadcast regulations, standards and legal requirements (e.g., FCC, Ofcom or local regulatory bodies), including libel, copyright, advertising disclosures and talent clearance procedures.
  • Coach and direct guests and co-hosts for on-air clarity, timing and audience relevance; provide notes and pre-interview briefings to ensure smooth live performance and professional presentation.
  • Develop and record voiceovers, promos, station identifications and continuity announcements with consistent cadence, tone and brand alignment for use across linear and digital properties.
  • Monitor live audio levels, signal integrity and transmission status during broadcasts and quickly troubleshoot minor technical issues or communicate problems to engineering teams for prompt resolution.
  • Drive audience growth by repurposing broadcast content for podcasts, social media clips, YouTube and on-demand platforms, including short-form video editing and captioning for multiplatform distribution.
  • Produce and present feature packages, investigative segments and human-interest stories by sourcing, interviewing, scripting and editing material to meet editorial standards and broadcast deadlines.
  • Maintain relationships with publicists, PR agencies, news desks and community organizations to secure high-value guests and exclusive content opportunities that boost ratings and brand exposure.
  • Manage timecode-accurate logging, archiving and retrieval of recorded material for compliance, content reuse and research purposes while ensuring metadata and IP rights are properly tracked.
  • Analyze audience metrics, ratings reports and digital engagement data to refine show formats, segment lengths and promotion strategies in collaboration with programming and marketing teams.
  • Lead and participate in editorial meetings, pitch sessions and pre-production planning to shape program direction, identify content gaps and prioritize coverage for upcoming broadcasts.
  • Train and mentor junior on-air talent, production assistants and interns in presentation technique, studio etiquette, editorial research and emergency on-air procedures.
  • Represent the station or network at public events, community outreach activities and promotional appearances, maintaining a professional public persona and aligning external messaging with station strategy.
  • Coordinate commercial read scripts and live sponsorship segments with sales teams, ensuring scripts comply with advertiser agreements and are delivered naturally within program flow.
  • Conduct post-show reviews and debriefs, documenting lessons learned, audience reactions and technical issues to inform continuous improvement in content and delivery.

Secondary Functions

  • Support cross-functional initiatives with social media, digital publishing and marketing teams by supplying show assets, writing episode summaries and participating in content calendars.
  • Assist with studio scheduling, booking maintenance windows and coordinating remote guests to maximize studio throughput and reduce on-air conflicts.
  • Contribute to talent recruitment by participating in auditions, screen tests and feedback sessions for potential new hosts or correspondents.
  • Maintain personal on-air brand including social channels, website bios and professional reels to attract guest opportunities and sponsor interest.
  • Conduct occasional scriptwriting and research support for sister programs or special projects as assigned by the programming manager.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • On-air presentation and voice control skills with proven experience delivering live radio or television broadcasts.
  • Strong interviewing techniques, including research-led questioning and conversation steering to extract meaningful soundbites.
  • Audio editing and production: proficiency with Adobe Audition, Pro Tools, Audacity or equivalent DAWs for multitrack editing and mixing.
  • Video editing and post-production: working knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve for clipping and repurposing broadcast segments.
  • Familiarity with broadcast automation systems and newsroom software (e.g., WideOrbit, RCS, Dalet, ENPS, iNews).
  • Studio hardware operation: mixing consoles, IFB/talkback systems, microphones, compressors, audio processors and signal monitoring tools.
  • Remote contribution technologies: experience with Source-Connect, ISDN codecs, Skype TX, StudioLink or reliable streaming encoders for remote guest feeds.
  • Teleprompter operation and script timing to synchronize spoken content with visuals and production cues.
  • Understanding of broadcast law, copyright clearance and sponsorship/ad regulations applicable to your market (FCC/Ofcom/comparable bodies).
  • Basic camera framing and studio lighting knowledge for multi-camera or hybrid live-stream production environments.
  • Metadata tagging, logging and archive workflows for content management and compliance.
  • Social media publishing and native video optimization for platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and podcast distribution channels.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional verbal communication and storytelling ability; warm, confident on-air presence and rapid thinking under pressure.
  • Strong editorial judgment and news sense: ability to prioritize stories and maintain balance, fairness and accuracy on air.
  • Adaptability and composure during breaking news, technical glitches or contentious interviews.
  • Interpersonal skills and diplomacy when working with producers, guests, sales teams and station management.
  • Time management, punctuality and the ability to meet tight production deadlines consistently.
  • Creative problem-solving and quick decision-making during live broadcasts.
  • Audience empathy and community awareness to create content that resonates with target demographics.
  • Coaching and mentoring aptitude to develop junior talent and support team growth.
  • Collaborative mindset: ability to work in cross-functional teams and accept constructive editorial feedback.
  • Resilience and stress management in high-energy, deadline-driven broadcast environments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent with a proven track record of on-air experience, community radio, podcasting, or related internships.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Communications, Media Production, Film/TV Production, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Broadcast Journalism
  • Communications
  • Media Production
  • Film & Television
  • Mass Communication

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–8 years of progressive on-air or broadcast production experience (entry-level to senior host roles).

Preferred:

  • 3+ years hosting or presenting live radio/television shows or podcasts with demonstrable audience growth, ratings impact or professional reel.
  • Experience in live reporting or field production, digital content repurposing, and working knowledge of newsroom/broadcast systems.
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