what kind of degree would you need to work in radio?

Question

my dream would be to work in radio as a music director,show producer,promotions director,or program director.....i would not like to be the on air personality but i would love to be the one to put it all togther...someone said that communications would be the way to go but there are many communication degrees and im not sure which one is right? any help on this would be great...thanks

Answer 1

You don't have to have a degree, but it can't hurt.

Here's my brief version on how to get in radio. Take it from one who started this way. If you want to try radio as a possible career choice, It's easy, really easier than most think. Go to all the local radio stations and tell them you're willing to do anything for little or no money (at first). Including interning (though those are usually for current college students in a broadcasting major). In LA, that's going to be more difficult because it's such a big market, but not impossible.

Maybe they need a Gofer, or a production or promotion assistant. In the old days you used to be able to 'hang out" at a station. That's still a possibility (usually at night) in a small town, but in a bigger city, it's hard because the stations are in office buildings. Anyway, so maybe you get a Gofer or promotion assistant job. Or maybe you're just the kid who hangs out and will go get burgers. Then as people leave for bigger better gigs, you move up. Radio's a very fluid business. People move a lot. Because the only way to really get promoted is to go to a bigger market.

Give it a try. You've got nothing to lose. Study all the stations where you live. Visit some of the websites I'll put below. Go around to all the stations (obviously start with the ones where you like the music - but don't leave out religious stations, foreign language stations etc. anything to get experience and something legit on your resume). Because you've studied the station and listened to their format, you'll impress them with your knowledge; go to the remote broadcasts and get to know the promotion people - the ones hanging banners, in the tent and handing out bumper stickers. Sooner or later someone will leave and you can say, "Hey, I can do that, I want his job now that he's leaving." It's important you have a driver’s license & clean record, 'cause you'll be driving the station van. Go 4 it!

Free Radio Newsletters:
www.AllAboutCountry.com
www.AllAccess.com
www.insideradio.com
www.radio-info.com

Other sites:
http://www.radioandrecords.com
www.rbr.com

Also, many colleges and some high schools (especially magnet schools) have radio courses of study and there are private vocational schools like Columbia School of Broadcasting. Emerson College in Boston is the premiere Media College in the US.

If you are interested in a career in radio, check out this great scholarship/intern program from the John Bayliss Broadcast Foundation. It could mean $5,000 towards your tuition and/or an internship at a real station!

Answer 2

This may seem obvious, but you can get a degree in radio. It usually falls under the Communications department of a college. Some colleges offer hybrid radio/television broadcasting degrees also.

Answer 3

Most of the people I've met who have come to do your ideal jobs was to work from the bottom through the ranks to those positions with no college.

But those are older times perhaps but most small town radio is like WKRP, town to town up and down the dial learnign the business.

But for others, a degree in some sort of mass media communications would be your best bet. As most get their degrees while also doing work on the side for a real station.

Looking at the local college, They recommended a Journalism degree that provides for either print or radio/tv

The FCC license that another quoted was needed years ago when on air people had to "watch the meters" as well as be on air. These days, all of the meters are automated and no one other than maybe the chief engineer if they have one, has a FCC license.

Answer 4

Usually Broadcasting or a Communications degree. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Having a degree in broadcasting/communications helps quite a bit, but most stations look for experience as well. You might want to look into stations that offer internships in connection with whatever university you want to attend. Also, if your university has a student-run radio station, get involved with that as well.

Answer 6

I would eye the broadcast journalism degree; getting the best of both broadcasting AND journalism ( TV and or radio). And most colleges allow you to earn not only the degree, but a valid FCC First Class broadcaster's license, too (it's good to ask about that).

From there, seek work at a small AM station as a first start; going directly into major markets only snags you those BS "intern" jobs---which are a complete waste of time. Why earn a degree to be someone's "gopher"? They can get their own dam coffee!!

You want to be a broadcast Program Director---and they all have started at the bottom, learning EVERY facet of the biz: sales, broadcasting, commercial production, news reporting.

And snagging a small market AM station gig CAN open such doors of opportunity: you gain the experience, building up an impressive resume---backed up by some pretty sharp "on air checks" to prove you have talent!!

After some time, you THEN can launch the thousand resumes and air checks to stations all over the USA---some major market station might just snare you in and hire you.

One's passion for broadcasting earns them sweet rewards.

Answer 7

Broadcast Journalism, but if you're older than seven give it up now. You have passed the gene pool without falling in.

Answer 8

There have been a lot of responses stating that your don't "need" a degree...which is true if you're going for on-air, or Traffic or but from what you've described as your ideal job it would be recommended that you study mass communications or journalism...

There are certain aspects to the radio business that are different from any other type of business out there...

One other thing that I would advise....if your going for a programming director position go for some on-air experience...weather it be at the college station or a small market (or non-rated) station....that way you can get a good understanding of what your "talent" really does.

If you're going for producer...start developing your research skills now...(Journalism classes are good for developing such skills) There is a lot of show prep that goes into even a 15 minutes segment of aired material...

And above all else...start working on developing a THICK skin. There are going to be a lot of days where your going to get your feelings hurt for one reason or another....learn to roll with the punches!!!

Best of luck and if there's anything I can do to help...drop me a line for sure!!

Answer 9

Communications, broadcasting or journalism.

Answer 10

yeah communications, media studies, production and editing

Answer 11

communications