Newscasters who know about business, consumer, and health news may have an advantage. Employment of radio and television announcers is generally not affected by the state of the economy. They will continue to pay their announcers, especially those who have good ratings. Preparation Broadcasting is a very competitive occupation. Formal training in broadcasting is useful, but a taped audition is very important.
Employers listen to the tapes to judge the applicant.
In television, employers also examine appearance and style. In radio, beginners generally start out taping interviews and operating equipment. In television, beginners often start as researchers or production assistants. Most broadcasters start at a small station in a small city then work up to larger stations. A degree in broadcast journalism from a college or technical school is valuable.