Media : Overview

The industry in a nutshell

In the UK, the media sector employs 550,000 people and encompasses opportunities in animation, computer games, film production, interactive media, radio and television.

Increasingly, skills are sought in multi-platforming where television, digital and interactive media combine to support TV programmes with interactive websites or computer games are created following successful film productions. The media and telecommunications industry is regulated by the Office of Communications (Ofcom) .

The development of new technology has ensured that this has been a growing industry over the past decade, although a recent survey by Creative Skillset: The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Industries  has suggested that the media industry has been affected by the recent recession. In 2009, there was a decline in employment across many sectors although independent television production and cinema exhibition continued to grow.

What kind of work can I do?

• Broadcast television - is going through a period of change with increasing digitilisation and interactive media cooperation. The biggest broadcast TV stations remain the BBC and SkyTV but these are supplemented by 250 cable and satellite TV stations and 1,100 independent television production companies. (Skillset, August 2010) This is a rapidly growing sector with cable and satellite and independent companies doubling in the period 2000-2008. This is a broad profession where 34% are freelance and people are judged by the quality of their work rather than their formal qualifications. Despite this, 70% have at least an undergraduate degree.
• Radio - the airwaves are dominated by the BBC , which has 12 distinct radio channels. There are also 120 commercial radio stations and 180 community stations broadcasting. 40% of personnel working in radio are based in London and opportunities exist beyond creativity and production in areas such as finance, HR and IT.
• Film - the majority of film production personnel (87%) are based in London and 91% are freelance. They work mainly in the production of programmes, film shorts or commercials. There are also opportunities in areas such as accounting, publicity, casting, special effects, stunts, catering and transport.
• Animation - expensive to produce but generates high revenue and the UK is one of the leaders in the field. In 2009 the sector employed 4,700 people (as opposed to just 1,300 in 2000) and almost half have a postgraduate degree.
• Documentary film making - relies on multi-skilling, i.e. directing, shooting and producing. Determination is required in this area to acquire the skills and gain recognition as much of the work is about gaining recognition and funding for initial ideas. The Documentary Filmmakers Group produces the online guide How to Get Ahead in Documentary , which may be helpful.
• Commercials - freelance staff are usually selected through advertising agencies for commercial productions.
• Corporate production - comprises mostly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Projects include using film, CD-ROM or DVD formats for training, PR and sales. These are more likely to be found distributed across the country because of the smaller scale of the film production involved.
• Facilities houses - own and maintain high-value ‘kit’ for highly specialised forms of film production, which they supply to all sectors of the audiovisual industry. The main jobs are in maintenance, preparation of equipment and a small number in ‘out with the kit’ positions.
• Interactive media - comprises collection of areas including web and internet, offline multimedia, electronic games and interactive TV. There are opportunities to work in IT, telecommunications, broadcasting, design and publishing. Employers welcome graduates with backgrounds in games programming, animation, computing science and design.
• Game design - the UK has one of the largest gaming industries. 48 of the world’s most profitable studios are based in the UK. The industry is expected to grow by 7.5% from 2009-2012. Around 80% of video game workers have a degree. 

What’s it like working in this sector?

• Working in the media sector can be very demanding. You may be required to work long hours and spend periods away from home. The percentage of people working on a freelance basis can be very high with subsequent competition for contracts, periods of unemployment and responsibility for personal tax, VAT, etc. The vast majority of contracts are obtained by word of mouth so talent, ability and networking skills are paramount.
• According to Skillset (2010), around 7% of people working in the industry are from ethnic minority backgrounds working mainly in studio operations, editorial, journalism and sport.
• The Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network (BCIDN) , which is part of the Employers' Forum on Disability , and the Cultural Diversity Network  are organisations that work to correct the diversity imbalance of the workforce.
• Women in Film & TV (WFTV)  represents the voice of women in the creative media providing information on job opportunities as well as reports, statistics and national awards. Although the percentage of women working in the industry has fallen between 2006 and 2009, they represent half of those providing legal expertise in the industry and the vast majority of personnel in areas such as costume, make up, hair and design. All figures vary according to industry and job role.

How big is this sector?

• Skillset’s research that a total of 550,000 people work in the media industry. Interactive media (computer games, online multimedia, web, internet, interactive TV, mobile content) is the largest sector, employing 48,600 people.
• Around 188,000 are employed in the audiovisual industries. If film production and performance were also to be included in this number, the figure would be closer to just over half a million. (Skillset Employment Census 2009)
• The big industries within this sector are terrestrial TV and independent TV production, together employing approximately 56,000, radio employing 23,000 and interactive media employing 40,000. The biggest increases since 2006 have been in interactive media, animation and television production.
• Of all the people working in the sector in 2009, just under a quarter were working on a freelance basis but this varies hugely dependent on sector and role.

Where can I work?

• Jobs are available throughout the UK, but the majority are found in London and the South East, with just over half of the people in the sector working in these areas. Around a third work in other English regions.
• The remainder (just over one in ten of the workforce) are distributed fairly evenly between Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. (Skillset, 2010)
• There are also opportunities overseas; for more information, see opportunities abroad.