Types of Radio Jobs
A radio announcer job isn’t just about spinning records (actually, most ''disk jockeys'' man pre-programmed digital sound boards that have replaced the old turntables of yesterday). Today, the radio announcer job covers a wide variety of announcing and hosting jobs. Announcers are responsible for hosting programs, introducing music and guests, handling station breaks, public service spots and reading commercials. On-air ''personalities'' also announce the weather, the time, traffic, news and emergency broadcasts. They may work from scripts, but are expected to be good at ad lib commentary as part of the job, as well as taking responsibility to writing some of their on-air materials themselves. In smaller radio stations, they may even be responsible for operating the complex mixing boards that are used to pipe in music, special effects, background sounds and pre-recorded commercials.
There are many different radio jobs. Sports, news and weather reporters concentrate on announcing information and current events; these radio jobs may require the reporter to go out into the field to gather information or deliver an on-site report. This is especially true of sports and event radio announcers, who travel to games and concerts that may be many miles from their home stations. Talk show hosts have a special kind of radio announcer job. They host guests, greet and discuss topics with callers, and often act as commercial pitchmen for products related to their shows. Most talk show hosts develop regular listener followings, and become involved hosting local events beyond the actual broadcast booth.
The majority of on-air radio announcers are what are called DJs; they’re the radio personalities most people think of when they imagine working at a radio job. DJ’s not only play records; they host contests, write jokes, entertain the audience and often operate the equivalent of a small variety show on the air. It’s no coincidence that many popular DJ’s have also been standup comics; the ability to be entertaining and fast on your mental feet is a common skill for both professions.
What’s the Job Like?
Working in a radio announcer job isn’t for everyone. The hours can be long, especially for those working in a news or sports radio job. In the past, new hires were assigned late night or weekend shifts, although with an increasing reliance on automated broadcast systems, this is no longer the standard. Even so, hours are irregular, with tight deadlines and pressure to maintain a high audience rating ''share'' for the station. But the radio announcer job also has its perks; you get to meet lots of people (some quite famous), be creative in your job, and build up your own loyal group of fans on a local or even national basis. As a radio announcer, you’ll work in a climate controlled, soundproofed office, with lots of computerized systems for playing music, announcements and interviews. If you are in a small station, you may be responsible for running the ''board'' (slang for the digital broadcast systems used in radio stations), but most stations have personnel to handle this aspect of the radio announcer job, leaving the on-air personalities to talk to the audience.
Qualifications
A great voice is a start, but with the chance for fame and fortune in the balance, it’s not surprising that competition for a radio announcer job is high. There’s no formal educational requirement, but since radio announcers work with the public, they are generally expected to be well spoken and have a reasonable level of knowledge about many topics. A broadcasting degree from a technical school, broadcasting school or college is advantageous, although the main requirement for an on air position is several years in the broadcasting field first. Working as an intern at a local station, or as an on air personality at the college radio level are excellent ways to gain the needed experience, although it may still be some time before you’ll get a slot as an announcer. You’ll often start with service announcements or other pre-recorded jobs first, then, if your skills are solid, work up the ladder substituting for radio announcers who already hold on-air positions.
Salaries
Because radio announcer jobs cover a wide variety of markets, salaries are also widely variable. Base salaries tend to be low and on an hourly basis, with the typical median salary around $11.69 an hour, with lows at @ $6.55 hr. and the highest 10% of earners coming in at @ $29.69hr. National on-air personalities are typically contracted at far higher yearly salaries, but these positions are relatively rare.
As of the 2006 US Department of Labor survey, there were around 71,000 radio announcer jobs in the United States. Roughly 42% were part time, with roughly 30 working as freelancers working on assignment to stations, ad agencies, event sponsors and music clubs. Another 54% worked in full time TV or radio announcer jobs. Radio announcer jobs are expected to decline in the coming years, as more stations move to automated systems or centralized broadcasting facilities. With far more applicants than available jobs, competition is expected to remain high for the foreseeable future.
Potential for Advancement
With a backlog of on-air talent in the top ranks, many experienced announcers are unable to find ways to advance their careers beyond the local level. As more stations fall to automated formats, even these positions may be drying up, causing long periods of unemployment in the field.
Conclusion
If you’re one of the few people with a golden voice and a winning style, a career as a radio announcer may be the path for you. Expect to face some stiff competition on the way, but if you’re willing to tackle other lower end radio jobs first to gain needed experience and have the drive to develop your own dedicated audience, a radio announcer job offers good pay, creative work, and the chance to find fame and fortune on the airwaves!
