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Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Occupation Detailed Description

Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

The main tasks and work activities of Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys are to report news to the public, edit written materials, gather information for news stories, determine presentation subjects or content. In general, for the Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys, speaking, active Listening, reading Comprehension, critical Thinking and other 10 skills are required.
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Job Description
EducationMost of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related ExperienceA considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
ExampleMany of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys jobs. 6.77% of Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 0.68% of Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
9.45%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
6.77%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.68%
Some College Courses
10.14%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
10.10%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
62.86%

Tasks and Work Activities of Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

  • Prepare and deliver news, sports, or weather reports, gathering and rewriting material so that it will convey required information and fit specific time slots.
  • Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
  • Select program content, in conjunction with producers and assistants, based on factors such as program specialties, audience tastes, or requests from the public.
  • Study background information to prepare for programs or interviews.
  • Comment on music and other matters, such as weather or traffic conditions.
  • Interview show guests about their lives, their work, or topics of current interest.
  • Discuss various topics over the telephone with viewers or listeners.
  • Host civic, charitable, or promotional events that are broadcast over television or radio.
  • Make promotional appearances at public or private events to represent their employers.
  • Operate control consoles.
  • Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.
  • Keep daily program logs to provide information on all elements aired during broadcast, such as musical selections and station promotions.
  • Record commercials for later broadcast.
  • Locate guests to appear on talk or interview shows.
  • Describe or demonstrate products that viewers may purchase through specific shows or in stores.
  • Coordinate games, contests, or other on-air competitions, performing such duties as asking questions and awarding prizes.
  • Attend press conferences to gather information for broadcast.
  • Provide commentary and conduct interviews during sporting events, parades, conventions, or other events.
  • Give network cues permitting selected stations to receive programs.
  • Moderate panels or discussion shows on topics such as current affairs, art, or education.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Report news to the public.
  • Edit written materials.
  • Gather information for news stories.
  • Determine presentation subjects or content.
  • Inform viewers, listeners, or audiences.
  • Interview others for news or entertainment purposes.
  • Host events.
  • Promote products, activities, or organizations.
  • Operate control consoles for sound, lighting or video.
  • Maintain logs of production activities.
  • Perform for recordings.
  • Coordinate logistics for productions or events.
  • Operate communications, transmissions, or broadcasting equipment.
  • Write material for artistic or entertainment purposes.
  • Organize informational materials.

Skills and Abilities for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Speed of ClosureThe ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
  • MemorizationThe ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Time SharingThe ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
  • Media control systemse.g. Audio control consoles
  • Media control systemse.g. Audio playback equipment
  • Compact disk players or recorderse.g. Compact disk CD players
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Digital voice recorderse.g. Digital audio recorders
  • Earphonee.g. Earpieces
  • Microphonese.g. Headset microphones
  • Headphonese.g. Headsets
  • Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
  • Microphone stande.g. Microphone stands
  • Audio mixing consolese.g. Mixing desks
  • Special purpose telephonese.g. Multi-line telephone systems
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Audio turntablee.g. Record turntables
  • Mobile phonese.g. Smart phones
  • Tablet computerse.g. Tablet computers
  • Visual presenterse.g. Teleprompters
  • Touch screen monitorse.g. Touch screen computer monitors
  • Communications and MediaKnowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • TelecommunicationsKnowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
  • GeographyKnowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
  • Sales and MarketingKnowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.