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Career Details

27-2012.03 - Media Programming Directors


Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
122,600
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
133,800
Estimate
Change in Employment
+11,100
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+9.1%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Plan and schedule programming and event coverage, based on broadcast length, time availability, and other factors, such as community needs, ratings data, and viewer demographics.
  • Monitor and review programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality.
  • Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in broadcast news, sports, or programming.
  • Check completed program logs for accuracy and conformance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations and resolve program log inaccuracies.
  • Establish work schedules and assign work to staff members.
  • Coordinate activities between departments, such as news and programming.
  • Perform personnel duties, such as hiring staff and evaluating work performance.
  • Evaluate new and existing programming to assess suitability and the need for changes, using information such as audience surveys and feedback.
  • Confer with directors and production staff to discuss issues, such as production and casting problems, budgets, policies, and news coverage.
  • Select, acquire, and maintain programs, music, films, and other needed materials and obtain legal clearances for their use as necessary.
  • Monitor network transmissions for advisories concerning daily program schedules, program content, special feeds, or program changes.
  • Develop promotions for current programs and specials.
  • Prepare copy and edit tape so that material is ready for broadcasting.
  • Develop ideas for programs and features that a station could produce.
  • Review information about programs and schedules to ensure accuracy and provide such information to local media outlets.
  • Act as a liaison between talent and directors, providing information that performers or guests need to prepare for appearances and communicating relevant information from guests, performers, or staff to directors.
Supplemental
  • Develop budgets for programming and broadcasting activities and monitor expenditures to ensure that they remain within budgetary limits.
  • Participate in the planning and execution of fundraising activities.
  • Read news, read or record public service and promotional announcements, or perform other on-air duties.
  • Operate and maintain on-air and production audio equipment.
  • Direct setup of remote facilities and install or cancel programs at remote stations.
  • Cue announcers, actors, performers, and guests.
  • Conduct interviews for broadcasts.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Communications and Media
  • 88%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 English Language
  • 87%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 81%
    Knowledge 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.
 Administration and Management
  • 79%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 77%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 76%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Telecommunications
  • 76%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Clerical
  • 70%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Education and Training
  • 65%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 64%
    Knowledge 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.
 Law and Government
  • 64%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Mathematics
  • 54%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 53%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 51%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 Psychology
  • 51%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Production and Processing
  • 50%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Personal computers
  • Tablet computers
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Digital audio recorders
  • Emergency communications scanners
 Duplicating machines
  • Laser facsimile machines
 Personal communication devices
  • Multi-line telephone systems
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content management software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe PhotoshopHOT
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • Avid Technology iNEWS
  • Content management systems CMS
  • FacebookHOT
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Music scheduling software
  • RCS GSelector
 Computer game or entertainment software
  • Broadcast Electronics AudioVAULT FleX
 Information exchange software
  • Email software
  • Twitter
 Data management and query software
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • Scheduling databases
 Development software
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Laurel Ridge Community College