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Radio producer: Typical employers/vacancy sources

Typical employers

Typical employers include:

• BBC Radio ;
• large commercial radio groups - the RadioCentre website lists all the main radio groups;
• independent radio groups;
• independent production companies - a list of companies from whom the BBC commissions work for Radio 4 is available at BBC Commissioning ; see also Radio Independents Group;
• community radio stations. The Community Media Association website lists all stations licensed in the UK.

The BBC has a structure of local radio networks, as well as its main central network. Both the BBC and independent radio broadcast live, as well as producing pre-recorded programmes. BBC local radio is mainly talk-based, with around 80% of its air time dedicated to speech, while independent radio is usually more music-focused, using mainly pre-recorded music. As a result, the demand for producers in independent radio is low in comparison with BBC local and national radio.

Independent production companies tend to specialise in making pre-recorded programmes, which are sold on to the broadcasters. In commercial radio, only larger stations tend to have a production department.

The growth of digital radio has created new opportunities with the establishment of new stations. The Digital Radio Development Bureau (DRDB)  provides a list of digital stations, news and links.

Sources of vacancies

Search graduate jobs on this site.

• The Guardian (Mondays)
• Broadcast  
• Broadcast Freelancer
• BBC Jobs  
• Ariel (BBC internal newspaper)
• Media UK  
• Media Week
• The Radio Academy
• Grapevine Jobs .

All BBC vacancies are advertised, but not always externally. Vacancies for commercial radio are not always advertised and are often filled by people on voluntary or work experience placements. Approximately 40% of people working in radio got into their jobs through contacts or by becoming known at a particular station or show. To increase your chances of gaining work, break into the industry as soon as you can through a period of work placement and by making contacts.

See also job hunting tips and applications, CVs and interviews.

AGCAS

Written by Anna Lomas, University of Manchester

Last updated:

August 2009

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