Radio broadcast assistant
Radio broadcast assistants provide vital support in the development and day-to-day production of local and national radio. They give practical assistance to programme producers and presenters to ensure that shows run as smoothly as possible.
Radio broadcast assistants undertake key administrative activities as well as assisting in planning, researching and producing live and pre-recorded radio programmes. They often have creative input on the development of new shows or features. The broad scope of the role, encompassing production and technical skills, means that it is a common starting point for a career in radio.
This position is similar to the role of production assistant and the job title may depend on whether you’re working for the BBC or commercial sector, national or local radio.
The job can vary widely between radio stations and even between different programmes within a single station. In particular, day-to-day activities will vary between speech and music radio stations. The breadth of duties undertaken may also differ depending upon the size of the station and production team. Most broadcast assistants will be expected to provide some degree of administrative, technical and production support, but some posts may be more closely related to assistant producer or producer roles.
Typical work activities are likely to include:
You will normally have the opportunity to undertake other ad hoc duties and contribute your ideas. If you work for a smaller station, you may have more creative input and your role could include more high-profile activities, such as:
Although this area of work is open to all graduates and diplomates, a degree, HND or foundation degree in radio or media production may improve your chances.
Graduates from a wide variety of degree, HND and foundation degree disciplines aim for careers in radio broadcasting. Knowledge of a specialist subject, such as science or politics, may give you the edge for certain types of programmes. Generally, however, the subject you study is less important than relevant practical experience and energy and enthusiasm for the industry. These skills and attributes, combined with the right personality, are often more important to employers than education.
Entry without a degree, HND or foundation degree is sometimes possible, but candidates will need considerable relevant experience in programme-making, often gained through voluntary work.
Postgraduate study is not essential, although some entrants complete a postgraduate diploma or MA in radio or media production. Others opt for short practical courses to improve their chances. Creative Skillset: The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Industries provides advice on what to look for when choosing a course.
Pre-entry experience is vital for developing additional technical skills and demonstrating commitment to the industry. This can be obtained through placements and voluntary, holiday or part-time work.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
A good radio voice can be an asset. Computer literacy is essential - requirements vary between radio stations.
A good overall knowledge of the radio industry and the specific output of the station you wish to join is crucial. Keep up to date with developments in the sector by reading MediaGuardian , Broadcast and The Radio Magazine . Listen to a variety of radio genres via analogue (FM and AM), digital audio broadcasting (DAB), cable, satellite and digital TV, and the internet.
BBC Work Experience regularly advertises work experience opportunities online. Other opportunities for building up experience can be found through student, hospital, community or in-store radio stations. Undertaking a period of work experience will help you to make contacts and get known in an industry where many jobs are never advertised. Membership of professional organisations, such as the Student Radio Association (SRA) and the Women's Radio Group , may provide further opportunities to make contacts.
Trainee posts may also be advertised on BBC Jobs . However, there is a high level of competition for posts and recruitment is not on a regular basis.
The Radio Academy organises one-day radio masterclass sessions at universities/higher education institutions for those thinking about a job in radio. These offer a valuable insight into the industry. It also runs the Gary Frisch Bursary to find new or undiscovered talent with the winner receiving a £4,000 bursary and professional work experience as a radio apprentice.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Most training is likely to be delivered on the job or through short courses. Many entering a career at this level will seek to gain skills and support from colleagues, such as other broadcast assistants, researchers, producers and presenters.
Most stations will expect you to start with a good working knowledge of the broadcasting environment and programme production. Any training available usually focuses on the technical aspects of the job. However, the Mediafly Broadcast Training Company offers an evening training course in basic radio skills.
The British Film Institute (BFI) and Creative Skillset: The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Industries co-publish the Media Courses and Multimedia Courses Directory of over 7,000 media courses across the UK. Skillset also subsidises a range of short courses for freelancers.
BBC Academy offers online and face-to-face courses in a range of technical and operational radio skills. The BBC also offers mid-career training to broadcast assistants.
Career progression is achieved by gaining work on a variety of programmes and stations and by providing additional support when required. Take advantage of any opportunities to broaden your skills or to try out other areas of work. This may include offering to cover for colleagues who are on holiday or absent through sickness, or undertaking an attachment.
Radio broadcast assistants can go on to a number of different occupations in the industry, for example, producers, journalists, presenters or researchers. However, most typically they will go on to work as radio producers as this is most related to their work as a broadcast assistant. This kind of progression can take between one and five years, maybe longer, depending on your place of work (e.g. progression in a large organisation, such as the BBC, may take longer because of the extensive competition compared to a local radio station). Geographical mobility is a huge benefit as it will open up more opportunities. No formal qualifications are required to move from broadcast assistant to radio producer but extensive experience is essential.
The BBC 'attachments' system provides the opportunity for staff to work in a related role for up to a year. These opportunities may arise from new projects, peaks in workload or cover for staff on maternity leave, career breaks or other temporary absence. Attachments are frequently used to extend skills, make contacts and as a way to move on to a different type of role or programme. Following an attachment, broadcast assistants may be able to progress to roles as producers or presenters.
Relevant professional bodies, such as The Radio Academy , may offer additional information and support about possible career development.
Broadcast assistants looking to progress may also undertake additional training courses. To investigate emerging skills shortages in the sector see the Creative Skillset: The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Industries website and to investigate relevant courses see the British Film Institute (BFI) / Skillset Media Courses and Multimedia Courses Directory .
In local radio in particular, the turnover of staff is fairly rapid (the average stay in local radio is around two to three years), with many using it as a stepping stone to either network radio or television work.
The BBC broadcasts on 40 local radio stations in England, 6 radio stations in the nations, as well as BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, 2, 3, 4, 5 Live, 5 Live Xtra, 6 Music, the BBC Asian Network and BBC World Service. There are also around 600 commercial radio stations in the UK.
However, this number changes regularly as some of the less-established stations only hold a licence for six months. Some are independent and some form part of larger radio groups. For a list of commercial radio stations, see the RadioCentre .
The country’s regional and national commercial stations are generally owned by a small number of larger media groups, which include Bauer Media , Global Radio and GMG Radio .
DAB digital radio has helped to increase the number of BBC and commercial stations available over the past few years and there are now more than 170 different radio brands broadcasting digitally in the UK and Northern Ireland. For a list of digital stations in the UK, visit Get Digital Radio . You can also search for potential employers using the search directories of satellite, cable, FM and AM radio stations on the Office of Communications (Ofcom) website.
These stations all broadcast a mixture of live and pre-recorded programmes and are likely to need people to perform the duties of a broadcast assistant, although specific job titles may differ between employers. Some commercial and local BBC stations do not usually employ people in a specific broadcast assistant role, with most of the work being done by a programme presenter and producer. Independent production companies specialise in making pre-recorded programmes, which are then sold on to radio broadcasters. They may have similar or related roles available.
Longer term, many people work freelance or on fixed-term contracts and have to be prepared for periods of unemployment. Despite these challenges, those who have made it tend to thrive on the rewards of working in an exciting, dynamic and creative environment.
Although the BBC advertises vacancies, these are not always made available externally. Vacancies for commercial radio are not always advertised and are often filled by people undertaking voluntary experience on shows.
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