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Announcers
Overview » Industry Pathways » Journalism and Broadcasting 
Announcers are the workers who keep you glued to your favorite station because of their humor, controversial discussions, and outgoing personality. They enjoy speaking and using their unique sounding voices to announce radio or television station program information, such as program schedules and station breaks for commercials, or public service information. They usually introduce and close programs and perform a variety of tasks on and off the air.
Announcers read prepared scripts or ad-lib commentary on the air, as they present news, sports, weather, time, and commercials. If a written script is required, they may do the research and writing. Announcers also interview guests and moderate panels or discussions. Some provide commentary for the audience during sporting events, at parades, and on other occasions. Announcers often are well known to radio and television audiences and may make promotional appearances and remote broadcasts for their stations.
Many young people listen to the radio daily have favorite announcers, often called disc jockeys (DJs). Some disc jockeys specialize in one kind of music, announcing selections as they air them. Most DJs do not select much of the music they play (although they often did so in the past); instead, they follow schedules of commercials, talk, and music provided to them by management. While on the air, DJs comment on the music, weather, and traffic. They may take requests from listeners, interview guests, and manage listener contests. Their main job is to entertain you and keep you from switching the station.
Newscasters, or anchors, work at large stations and specialize in news, sports, or weather. Show hosts may specialize in a certain area of interest, such as politics, personal finance, sports, or health. They contribute to the preparation of the program’s content, interview guests, and discuss issues with viewers, listeners, or the studio audience.
Announcers at smaller stations may cover all of these areas and tend to have more off-air duties as well. They may operate the control board, monitor the transmitter, sell commercial time to advertisers, keep a log of the station’s daily programming, and produce advertisements and other recorded material.
Announcers held about 59,000 jobs in 2006. More than half were employed in broadcasting, but some were self-employed freelance announcers who sold their services for individual assignments to networks, advertising agencies, and other independent producers. About a third of all announcers work part-time.
This is one of those occupations that many consider glamorous. Competition for jobs as announcers will be strong because the broadcasting field attracts many more jobseekers than there are jobs. Small radio stations are more inclined to hire beginners, but the pay is low. Applicants who have completed internships or have related work experience usually receive preference for available positions. Because competition for ratings is so intense in major metropolitan areas, large stations will continue to seek announcers who have proven that they can attract and retain a sizable audience.
Announcers who are knowledgeable in business, consumer, and health news may have an advantage over others. While specialization is more common at large stations and the networks, many small stations also encourage it.
If you are interested in this occupation, it is important to note that employment opportunities are expected to decline through 2016, due to the lack of growth of new radio and television stations and consolidation of existing stations. Some job openings will arise from the need to replace those who transfer to other kinds of work or leave the labor force, but getting a job in this field will surely be an uphill climb. Even when they find employment, some announcers leave the field because they cannot advance to better paying jobs. Changes in station ownership, format, and ratings frequently cause periods of unemployment for many announcers.
Entry into this occupation is highly competitive. Formal training in broadcasting from a college or technical school (private broadcasting school) is valuable. Most announcers have a bachelor’s degree in communications, broadcasting, or journalism. Station officials pay particular attention to taped auditions that show an applicant’s delivery and—in television—appearance and style on commercials, news, and interviews.
Those hired by television stations usually start out as production assistants, researchers, or reporters and are given a chance to move into announcing if they show an aptitude for “on-air” work. A beginner’s chance of landing an on-air job is pretty slim. In radio, newcomers usually start out taping interviews and operating equipment.
Announcers usually begin at a station in a small community and, if they are qualified, may move to a better paying job in a large city. They also may advance by hosting a regular program as a disc jockey, sportscaster, or other specialist. Competition is particularly intense for employment by networks, and employers look for college graduates with at least several years of successful announcing experience.
Advances in technology make it possible for announcers to do some work previously performed by broadcast technicians. At many music stations, the announcer is simultaneously responsible for both announcing and operating the control board, which is used to broadcast programming, commercials, and public-service announcements according to the station’s schedule. Visiting a local radio station and watching these workers for an hour can be so entertaining and a great way to learn more about this occupation!
Persons considering enrolling in a broadcasting school should contact personnel managers of radio and television stations, as well as broadcasting trade organizations, to determine the school’s reputation for producing suitably trained candidates.
Salaries in broadcasting vary widely, but generally are relatively low, except for announcers who work for large stations in major markets or for networks. Earnings are higher in television than in radio and higher in commercial than in public broadcasting.
Typical hourly earnings of announcers in 2007 were $12.53.
If you are interested in this occupation or are wondering about related occupations, use the links below to continue your exploration. Always remember, the more effort you put into exploring possible careers, the easier it will be for you to discover the best career choices for you!
For career information and links to employment resources contact:
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Occupational Information Network, O*NET Online: http://online.onetcenter.org/
National Association of Broadcasters: http://www.nab.org
For information about planning and paying for college, visit Junior Achievement’s Financial Aid Center
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