If you strive to be the next Walter Cronkite, Peter Jennings, or even the next Howard Stern, know that becoming an on-air broadcaster is no easy feat.

Beyond your on-camera looks, voice, and delivery of information there is a whole slew of skills that are required to make it in the competitive broadcasting industry. 

Your job as a Maryland broadcaster is to entertain, inform, clarify, and command an audience yearning to know every little fact that relates to the breaking news happening right now.  More than just a simple desire to broadcast and more than a degree or certificate qualifying you to deliver news to your local city, being a broadcaster demands a special kind of person.

Today we will look at some of the top traits needed to become a successful on-air broadcaster in Maryland. 

Do you have what it takes?

 

What is an On-Air Broadcaster?

Broadcasters can be defined as communication professionals that work in the television and radio industries as journalists or announcers.

 

Announcers

Announcers are the faces of broadcasting in the world of television.  They introduce stories to be discussed, read news and weather reports, open and close programs, announce commercial breaks, and even interview special guests.   

When it comes to radio, announcers go unseen but are the voices of the radio world.  They provide commentary between song sets, deliver breaking news, and announce or even participate in commercials. They also hold local charity events, host special music events, and more.  They are often responsible for bringing the community together. 

 

Journalists

Sometimes referred to as reporters, correspondents, or analysts, journalists take a more serious road when it comes to delivering news to viewers.  Investigating crimes, providing human-interest stories or natural disaster updates, and arranging interviews with witnesses or experts are some of the things a journalist might be expected to do when on-air.  They are also sometimes responsible for researching, writing, and reviewing story scripts before delivering them to their audience.

 

Analysts

Even more so than a journalist, an analyst is an expert at digging deep into a story by analyzing and interpreting even the smallest of details.  They can create angles on stories to present to an audience in a convincing way.  Beyond delivering news on the television, analysts will sometimes lead important panel discussions or provide commentary at important local events.

 

Becoming an On-Air Broadcaster

Now that you have a basic understanding of some of the different avenues you may be able to take when it comes to being an on-air broadcaster the question still remains – do you have what it takes?

 

Personality

People skills and an ability to hold an audience captivated are crucial talents of any on-air broadcaster.  You must also understand what it means to be a part of a team and enjoy working with people to produce a final product for the intended audience. 

 

According to Dan Rosenheim, vice president of news for KPIX-CBS, another important trait to have beyond that of a compelling personality, is the ability to express empathy.  You cannot provide inaccurate information, graphic video, or present in a way that may panic, anger, or endanger those viewing your story.  Your words have power.  They reach a wide audience and have the ability to traumatize those involved in a breaking story. 

 

Looks

In an ideal situation, experience and knowledge would trump superficial looks any day.  However, the reality is that on-air broadcasters are viewed by a diverse audience and looking relatively attractive is a must. 

Lance Strate, a professor of communication and media studies and the director of the professional studies in new media program at Fordham University in New York, states that there is a tendency to favor more attractive people when it comes to the field of broadcasting.  He even goes on to state that once basic requirements for the job are met, “employment comes down to looks and personality.”

 

Versatility

In order to make it in the broadcasting industry you have to be versatile.  You cannot simply know only one aspect of the business and expect to stay employed for long.  Chances are, someone else will come in who can shoot, edit, write, and even produce and broadcast their stories to a captivated audience.

Even in radio broadcasting, it is not uncommon for entry-level broadcasters to take on some administrative or clerical duties, in addition to their broadcasting tasks. 

The key to being employable is having the proper education in all aspects of the broadcasting industry.  Attending a school such as The Sheffield Institute for the Recording Arts will prepare you for a job as an on-air broadcaster.  A combination of lecture and lab courses will educate you on the business side and hands-on portion of broadcasting so that when you enter the job market you will be valuable immediately after graduation. 

 

Tenacity

The field of broadcasting is highly competitive and oftentimes you must work your way up the ranks to secure a solid paying and secure position.  You must be driven to pay your dues and do what it takes to climb the ladder of success. 

In addition, the pace of broadcasting is fast, detail-oriented, and pressure-driven.  Future broadcasters need to have a desire to push through the tough times in order to present a compelling story to the world. 

 

Creative Thinking

As society evolves in the ways it delivers our daily news, broadcasters must keep an open-mind.  With the use of the Internet use continuously climbing, especially when it comes to mobile devices, broadcasters should have experience in delivering news in more non-traditional ways, such as via internet streaming or online videos.

 

Communication Skills

Anyone working as an on-air broadcaster, or even those working behind the scenes, should have excellent speaking and writing skills.  Getting a story’s idea across to a diverse audience in a factual and interesting way is the key to maintaining a loyal audience that continues to watch you over time.

In addition, solid communication helps behind the scenes with the team involved in broadcasting, whether on television or via radio.  The production cannot come together well in the end without good communication amongst the team.  

 

Efficiency and Knowledge

Everyone involved in a broadcast production must be able to work quickly and efficiently to make deadlines.  Finding a good story lead, researching, writing, shooting, and editing it is not a small project and when the news is due, people expect it ready to go. 

A good broadcaster will also be knowledgeable in current issues, names, geography, and history.  These things are expected to be accurate and readily known.  A broadcaster that is not up-to-date on these things can never be taken seriously by the intended audience.

 

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there is a lot more to being a successful on-air broadcaster than just looking good and talking.  In the competitive field of broadcasting, you should enter the workforce only after having a thorough education giving you all it takes and more to be a quality broadcaster.

If you are looking for a broadcasting school in the Maryland area, consider contacting The Sheffield Institute for the Recording Arts.  Preparing students for multiple positions in the field of broadcasting, Sheffield can give you the business skills and hands-on experience required to set yourself apart from the competition.  Call today and see if you can take advantage of all they have to offer the future broadcaster of Maryland.