First of all, why choose Broadcasting? Well, aside from athletes, Broadcasting carries prestige as one of the most in-demand of sports jobs. In fact, in the US alone there are over 200 applicants for a single opening in the sports media industry. If you want a Broadcasting job, there are some ways to go about it:
1.Try to narrow down your search for sports jobs. Do you want to be in front of the camera as a Broadcaster per se? Or would you accept any other support positions (including writers, cameramen, and control room personnel?) Though you might not get the sports jobs you look for, the industry is vast enough to accommodate many, many people.
2.It helps to know what your qualifications are for sports jobs. Are you relatively pleasant to look at? Look at the Broadcasters who are now employed in the industry – are any of them ugly (or at least, unpleasant looking?) Secondly, do you have a better than average knowledge of any field of sports? A Broadcaster does not simply read statistics from a teleprompter. You may need to make informed and knowledgeable comments about the sport (or sports) that you will be required to cover. The most esteemed Broadcasters are considered authorities in at least one field of sports. Third, do you write well? A Broadcaster needs great writing skills because you may be asked to write your own sports stories too. Fourth, a Broadcaster needs to speak well without any disturbing mannerisms that just plain look bad on TV. If you are on radio, you may not need to be particularly good-looking but definitely you need to speak very well.
3.Are you willing to submit a demo tape (audio and video combined) to your potential employers so they can see how you perform? This is like a preparation for the real thing, but the advantage is you can always do the performance over if you (or whoever is helping you) is not satisfied with one take. If the employer likes your tape, then it is on to #4.
4.Do you have the guts (and the skills) to follow through with a real Broadcasting test? This means actually being on camera in a real television studio, or behind the mike in a radio broadcasting studio, so the people who might hire you can see how you perform under pressure. Remember, there may not be a second chance if you flub on this opportunity, so make it good.
5.What is your asking price? A rule of thumb is that newbies do not get paid as much as seasoned Broadcasters – just like in any other industry. Though the experienced ones may not be so willing to divulge to an applicant they barely know what they are getting, you could do your research among industry journals and newspapers. Though not highly likely, there are instances when publications are able to secure actual figures that apply to real people in the industry. Be patient and ask around.
If you believe that you have what it takes to be a great Broadcaster, then go for it! But if you think you are more suited for other sports jobs, then apply for those instead and cut down on the stress.
Originally posted 2009-10-24 05:45:48.
