Broadcasting

Broadcasting is a term for the activity of radio and television stations. Technically, these stations send/broadcast ’on-air’ simultaneous real-time distribution of media from one specific source (station) to many recipients (cable, internet, satellite).

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  • Awards
  • Broadcasting Resources
  • Grants and Funding
  • Manitoba Broadcasters
  • Training and Education

Announcers and Broadcasters distribute information and updates to the public such as commercial services, entertainment, news, public service announcements, sports and weather.

There are two main types or systems of Broadcasting: Commercial and Public.

Commercial Broadcasting provides programs that appear to be intended for the general public. However, commercial logic is central and they are funded by advertising revenue. Commercial Broadcasters operate for profit and to make enterprise. They work in the realm of mass media and are very competitive.

Public Broadcasting serves the diverse needs of the general listening and viewing public. They are non-for-profit and are free of commercial advertising. They do however receive funding from the public (donations, license fees).

These two very different systems of Broadcasting both depend upon government regulations, legislation and public support and both have a significant impact on the daily live of Manitobans.

Manitoba Facts:

  • There are 18 Broadcast FM (frequency modulation) radio stations and 5 AM (amplitude modulation) stations in Manitoba.
  • There are 6 locally based and 3 national cable television channels in Manitoba.
  • There are 3 main post-secondary broadcasting education facilities in Manitoba and many high schools offer media training.
  • 27% of individuals employed in the arts in Manitoba work in broadcasting.
  • There 29 cast and crew services and 11 post production services. 
  • Starting wage as a PA is: $16,700 and averaging $38,000.

Some examples of Jobs in Broadcasting:

  • Anchor
  • Announcer
  • Broadcaster
  • Correspondent
  • Disc-jockey
  • Editor
  • Journalist (investigate, gather, report)
  • News Reader
  • Presenter
  • Producer (radio, television)
  • Production Assistant (radio, television)
  • Program Researcher
  • Radio Host (Talk)
  • Reporter (traffic, news, entertainment, weather)
  • Television Host

Starting position in Broadcasting:

A Producton Assistant (PA) gives practical administrative, technical and production support and more often than not become presenters or producers themselves.

Such wide range of activities may involve:

  • Archives (working with material)
  • Arts & culture reviews
  • Bookings (people & equipment)
  • Contact Lists
  • Creative input (smaller stations)
  • Contracts
  • Interviewing guests
  • Logs
  • Planning (music, schedules)
  • Prepare Pre-Recorded Programs
  • Research
  • Transcripts
  • Updating scripts
  • Website updates
  • Writing cues