Career Paths in Journalism and Broadcast Media

News Journalism

The style is direct and precise with a focus on reporting facts, events, and information in an unbiased manner. Each story can be for print, broadcast, and online news.

Magazine Journalism

The style includes reports and articles for all types of periodicals, but fashion and celebrity features are the most popular with magazines. The story is often more conversational than news journalism.

Sports Journalism

The style is detail-oriented and factual with a focus on reporting statistics related to sporting events. Sports journalism also includes interviews with celebrity athletes.

Citizen Journalism

The style is nonprofessional reporting in which everyday people can contribute on news events by using blogs, social media, YouTube, and other online formats.

Photojournalism

The style presents news stories and events through compelling photography.

Sales and Marketing Department

Compile and analyze Nielsen ratings information, coordinate and pitch sales presentations, write and produce promotional and public service announcements, and manage web campaigns and marketing events.

Entry-level positions: Sales Assistant, Account Executive

News Department

Direct and coordinate the presentation of news programming, monitor news developments and coverage, and select assignments to broadcast.

Entry-level positions: News Reporter, Writers Production Assistant, General Production Assistant

Creative Services

Coordinate and execute social media efforts, direct advertising and promotional strategies such as graphic design, voiceovers, and post-production editing

Entry-level positions: Copywriter, Assistant Editor, Graphic Designer

Engineering Department

Manages the technical performance of a station, coordinates the scheduling of studio time, and oversees the operation and care of equipment.

Entry-level positions: Assistant Camera Operator, Tape Room Operator

Source: National Association of Broadcasters Guide to Careers in Television. View the PDF

Marketing and Promotions

Coordinate advertising, distribute marketing materials to audiences, attend and pitch promotional events and concerts.

Entry-level positions: Promotions Assistant, Remote Tech

On-Air Staff and Production

Produce radio programs and commercials, maintain media contacts, oversee program ideas and media guests. The field also involves announcers, news reporters, and on-air personalities.

Entry-level positions: Assistant Producer, Traffic Assistant, Board Operator

Operations and Programming

Responsible for the imagery and sound of a station and the management of personnel. Programming Directors are responsible for selecting music for airplay.

Entry-level positions: Radio Assistant Program Director, Assistant Music Director

Source: National Association of Broadcasters Guide to Careers in Radio. View the PDF

• Broadcast Media and Journalism Career Guide
• Visit Vault.com for information about companies and careers. The site provides the industry context needed to identify your best job opportunities. Use the Research Companies tab to browse popular industries, or search for key terms using the search bar. You will need to create an account using your Colgate email address to view this content.

Prepare yourself

Get involved with on-campus or local weekly publication to learn journalism basics (design layout, writing, interviewing and advertising). Always keep samples of your writing for use when applying to future internship and entry-level positions. A helpful resource to learn more about journalism clips is Tools to Build Your Online Portfolio. *Note: Colgate’s Digital Media Services department hires student workers as Media interns and Media Monitors. To learn more, please visit the Digital Media Learning Center (DLMC) homepage.

Develop a Portfolio

The best way to demonstrate your interest in journalism is to create an online portfolio of your best work, especially if you don’t have formal training in the field. A well-rounded portfolio includes: internship or non-academic writing assignments, video, or transcripts of interviews and featured stories. There are many free websites that allow you to easily create an online portfolio including WordPress, Pressfolios, and Portfoliolounge.com.

Network

Journalism and entertainment are built on personal and professional connections. Conducting informational interviews with Colgate alumni is a great way to make connections and to learn about different career trajectories. The goal is to create a healthy network of industry professionals who are supportive of your career interests.

Focus on career highlights as opposed to a “life story,” and add a professional summary as opposed to an objective statement. In journalism, experience trumps education, so make related experience the focal point of your document. If you have ever impressed anyone in the media/broadcasting business, list them as references (typically included at the bottom of the resume). Potential supervisors would rather hear from someone in the business than someone who is not.

• Writing and editing
• Research and interviewing
• Interpersonal skills
• Ability to work under pressure with strict deadlines
• Experience with software programs (i.e. Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro)
• Attention to detail

Be familiar with these terms and use them in application materials and networking conversations.

Journalism Lingo

• Byline: The name of the reporter.
• Column: An article in which a writer expresses their opinion on a topic.
• Editorial: An article expressing a newspaper or magazine owner's or editor's position on an issue.
• Facts sheet: Information prepared by public relations professionals to help news media cover an event. This is one way for a business to market its products or services to other businesses.

Broadcast Media Lingo

• Lead-in: The beginning part of a story that introduces the story or the reporter.
• Headline: A teaser that is read at the beginning of a newscast to attract audiences.
• Spot: An advertisement that runs during commercial breaks.
• Nielsen: A research firm primarily used in determining television ratings.
• Arbitron: A research firm primarily used in determining radio ratings.

What do you currently do?

I am currently the Producer on "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood", an animated series for preschoolers on PBS Kids. I oversee the production process from scripting, to voice-over casting, design, animation, music, and final episodic delivery to the network. At all stages, in addition to integrating feedback from the show's creator, writers, and research consultants, I provide my own direction from my creative point of view, grounded in Child Development research, to ensure that all decisions are on-brand.

What was your first position out of Colgate and what did you do in that role?

I have been at the same company since graduating from Colgate, but initially started in the Writing Department, as a 'Writing Coordinator'. In that role, I was responsible for collating script notes from Network Executives and research consultants, as well as copy-editing all scripts, and finally delivering them to the Production Team.

How can students prepare themselves while at Colgate to work in your field?

I had a clear idea, early on, that I wanted to work with kids in some capacity. I was fortunate to have studied coursework at Colgate that perfectly aligns with my career — I majored in Psychology and minored in Film and Media Studies. I went on to receive my Masters in Child Development from Columbia University, and am now able to combine my educational background with my passion for television to develop engaging content for a preschool audience. As is usually the case with Producer roles, my responsibilities also include the management of series’ budgets and production schedules, ensuring that all departments meet necessary deadlines. A Colgate student, in any field of study, can (and should) be cultivating these skills, as organizational skills and attention to detail are valued in every industry.

What extracurricular activities, associated with your profession or not, were you involved with while at Colgate?

I enjoyed volunteering through "Liberty Kids" as a reading buddy in Hamilton's elementary school, something I certainly miss today. At my current job, we are less hands-on educating kids, but at the same time, we do have a wider reach. Additionally, I participated in Greek Life as a member and Treasurer of Kappa Kappa Gamma. While it may seem unrelated to Children's Television, networking continues to be a huge factor in the workplace, and it has been great re-connecting with Kappa's from Colgate or elsewhere, at lectures and events.

Zac Coe ’14, copywriter, MTV at Viacom; Mara Stein ’19, east coast page, NBCUniversal Media, LLC