What Is the Work of a Technical Assistant in Radio Broadcasting?
Radio broadcasting has had an expansive journey since its first documented transmission, in 1895, by the Italian Guglielmo Marceni, who invented the first radio transmitter. Media communication is technologically evolving, and so employees working within the radio broadcasting industry, such as technical assistants, need to be able to evolve to adapt to a varied workload within a creative and technologically progressive environment.
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Role
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Support the radio manager by undertaking a varied range of tasks relating to the job specification of being a technical assistant. You will be required to help presenters in the recording studio offering technical assistance, as required. You also will be responsible for editing radio shows, organizing play lists and maintaining the music library, together with being involved in program scheduling. Essentially, you will carry out basic technical maintenance and repairs, as well as providing technical support.
Personal skills
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Take a flexible approach to your work, as your working days will be unpredictable, because you will be expected to carry out a wide range of tasks as a technical assistant. You need to be able to work independently on your initiative to carry out your duties, as well as needing to be a reliable and cooperative member of the broadcasting team to help maintain an efficient service. Excellent communication skills are required because you will be working with various departments and meeting a broad range of people. It is essential that you are able to work under pressure to meet unpredictable deadlines and to be well organized in prioritizing your workload. Importantly, you need to have the technical skills and training to work as a technical assistant.
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How to Enter
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Ask whether you can work on a voluntary basis at a local radio station, as this provides valuable first hand experience of working within broadcasting and it looks impressive on a resume. Some hospitals, particularly, in the UK, have their own radio stations to entertain the patients on the wards, and they are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers.
Take a course in Radio and TV Broadcasting, covering all technical aspects of radio production. Two-year foundation degree programs are available in the United Kingdom that are practical and work-based. Bachelor's degree programs in radio broadcasting are available at many universities. Courses in Electronics or IT Technology are also useful. Try to gain the highest qualifications possible to increase prospects of gaining employment in radio broadcasting.
Considerations
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Consider the high competition for jobs in the broadcasting industry, because there are no guarantees of gaining employment in such a sought after industry. Working hours are long and unpredictable, often requiring you to work undesired hours in the evenings, weekends and overnight shifts. You also may be required to work on outside broadcasts.
Salary
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In the United States, the annual salary for a technical assistant in radio broadcasting can range from $17,990 to $66,620, depending on the size of the station, location or experience. In the United Kingdom, the annual salary can range from £13,000 to £23,000 depending on experience, location or years served.
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References
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