Career Overview
Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.
Also Known As
- News Director
- Program Director (PD)
- Program Manager
- Programming Director
Alternate Job Titles
- Broadcast Content Manager
- Broadcast Director
- Broadcast Operations Director
- Cable TV Program Director (Cable Television Program Director)
- Digital Media Director
- Educational Programming Director
- Entertainment Director
- Media Coordinator
- Media Director
- Media Planning Director
- Media Relations Director
- Media Strategy Director
- News Director
- Newscast Director
- Paid Media Director
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities 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.
- Prepare copy and edit tape so that material is ready for broadcasting.
- Coordinate activities between departments, such as news and programming.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Communications and Media
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Telecommunications
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Coordination
- Time Management
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Management of Personnel Resources
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Fluency of Ideas
- Originality
- Speech Recognition
- Deductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Leadership Orientation
- Innovation
- Adaptability
- Social Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Photoshop
- Google Analytics
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Tools & Equipment
- Audio signal processors
- Desktop computers
- Digital audio recorders
- Emergency alert system EAS equipment
- Emergency communications scanners
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Sound mixing consoles
- Tablet computers
Work Environment
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Producers and Directors occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Media Programming Directors.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $43,060 |
| Median | $83,480 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $198,530 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 145,270
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Media Technical Directors/Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $83,480
Producers and Directors
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $83,480
Information Technology Project Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $108,970
Public Relations Specialists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $69,780
Public Relations Managers
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $138,520
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.