One of the best things about my job is that my day-to-day can change and vary, so it's always interesting! Every day though, I make sure our on-air lineup is staffed, I communicate between teams about what's going on for the day, I make sure my DJs have what they need to do great work, and I focus on long term initiatives that involve the training and mentorship of DJs, both new and old.
CAREER
Media Programming Directors
Overview
Salary Median (2023)
$82,510
Projected Job Growth (2023-2033)
+10% (faster than the average)
Career
What Media Programming Directors Do
Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.
Other Job Titles Media Programming Directors May Have
Broadcast Content Manager, News Director, Newscast Director, Production Director, Program Coordinator, Program Director (PD), Program Manager, Programming Director, Station Manager, TV Program Director (Television Program Director)
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
I wake up in the morning in my apartment in Berlin. I roll over to pick up my phone and scroll through the emails that came in overnight; I work for a global company, so part of my team works nine time zones away. Once I've taken care of any urgent matters, I travel to the office by tram. For the rest of the day, I alternate between writing emails and participating in meetings. Every few weeks, I stand in front of my colleagues and share the work we're doing for creators.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Operate and maintain on-air and production audio equipment.
- Check completed program logs for accuracy and conformance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations and resolve program log inaccuracies.
- Read news, read or record public service and promotional announcements, or perform other on-air duties.
- Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in broadcast news, sports, or programming.
- Monitor and review programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Media Programming Directors
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Bachelor's degree (52%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Bachelor's degree
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
Graduate
Sports Communication
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
If you can find a way to learn just enough computer science to be dangerous, amazing opportunities will find their way to you. My current role isn't strictly related to programming, but my knowledge of Ruby and SQL comes in handy on a weekly basis. If technology is the future, understanding its building blocks (and being able to play around with them) will serve you well.
Excel is an immensely useful tool if you can learn how to utilize its potential. FileMaker Pro can be useful as well. Google Docs are great if you work with a team, as they can be live updating and everyone can share information instantly.
Learn the basic skills of professional video editing software - both Avid and FinalCut.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
Middle School Students
Learn Math, Science and Writing! It's a technological world out here and it's changing constantly. You must understand what's "under the hood" of technology to be able to function. Writing is communicating. Your ability to rise in an organization will be limited if you aren't able to convey your ideas in writing. Know about technology, but be great at writing.
High School Students
College Students
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 29.2 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
