Frequently-Asked Questions: The Radio-Television Sequence

• What type of work do people do in radio and television?
• What kind of background is important?
• What type of hands-on experience might I get while I'm in school?
• How do you benefit from learning from faculty who have had practical experience in the field?
• What other qualities and skills are valuable?
• Where do Missouri Journalism students get internships?
• What kind of jobs are graduates getting with a radio-television emphasis?
• What are the salaries and working environment like in this field?
• What is one tip you would give incoming students about this sequence?
• How can I apply to MU and find other undergraduate journalism information?

What type of work do people do in radio and television?

"Broadcast students serve as reporters and videographers covering news in Columbia and Mid-Missouri. These students also suggest story ideas and take specific assignments from faculty editors. Then they go out with camera gear and a student partner to produce the story. This is identical to a typical workday for any American television or radio station. Our students cover politics, social issues and community events." Kent Collins Radio-Television Journalism Chair

"Most students in broadcast end up working in newsrooms at local TV or radio stations across the nation and around the world (mostly our international students). They work as reporters, producers, anchors and videographers. Some pursue other careers in the television business, such as promotions and productions, where they shoot and edit commercials or live TV shows." Greeley Kyle Radio-Television Journalism Faculty

"Missouri Journalism alumni are working all over the world and are represented in every level from top management to entry-level. You might want to check out the Profiles in Success on this Web site. Alumni share information about their jobs, what they've learned and other highlights in these features." Brian Brooks Undergraduate Studies Dean

What kind of background is important?

"Radio-Television students must develop good writing skills. Writing with clarity is the most important thing we do at KOMU-TV and KBIA-FM. Missouri Journalism has a reputation around the world for good writing. Good writing makes for good stories and good anchoring. Students also need to learn how to collect and prioritize many facts and opinions. We teach writing and reporting skills every day here in our classrooms and newsrooms." Kent Collins Radio-Television Journalism Chair

"It is important to have good reporting skills and to be able to recognize newsworthiness. Students also need to develop skills to tell good stories and have the ability to really 'perform' the stories they tell." Sarah Ashworth Radio-Television Journalism Faculty News Director, KBIA

"It is important to be prepared for criticism and to have a desire to learn and learn fast. Teachers are always correcting students, and it is important not to be hyper-sensitive to criticism and just learn from it. Also, there is often not time to rewrite assignments so it is important to be able to work quickly under pressure." Carolyn Rauen Radio-Television Journalism Student Cincinnati, Ohio

What type of hands-on experience might I get while I'm in school?

"The broadcast news sequence is completely hands-on. At first, broadcast students learn how to use a camera and they also work at KBIA, the school's radio station. When you're in Broadcast II, you work 12-hour shifts at KOMU as a reporter. When you are further along in sequence you have the opportunity to do producing for KOMU." Carolyn Wagner Radio-Television Journalism Student St. Peters, Mo.

"Hands-on experience is what make the journalism school what it is. There are many opportunities to get real journalism experience at the school's various media outlets. KBIA, the Missourian and KOMU-TV all provide atmospheres where you can create excellent journalism." Jonathan Coffman Radio-Television Journalism Student Lee's Summit, Mo.

How do you benefit from learning from faculty who have had practical experience in the field?

"You are bound to run into at least one member of the faculty that shares your interests and has perhaps had the job you are aspiring to have. They are more than willing to offer insight and advice on job hunting, resumes, and to help you get your foot in the door." Alyson Bradshaw Radio-Television Journalism Student Springfield, Mo.

"Members of the faculty who have been out in the 'real world' bring with them special connections and can relate what we're learning in class to issues and problems that may come up after we have graduated. By seeing and reading specific cases where theory and practice have helped them, we can learn from their example." Jonathan Coffman Radio-Television Journalism Student Lee's Summit, Mo.

"The Missouri School of Journalism provides practical experiences. The faculty have all experienced what we are learning to do, and they are able to give us guidance and insight about the field." Katey Walls Radio-Television Journalism Student St. Louis, Mo.

What other qualities and skills are valuable?

"When you work in the broadcast field, you need to be able to let criticism roll off your back. There is always going to be someone criticizing your work, and you need to be able to let it go. It is also important to look for depth in stories. Sometimes you are better off missing a deadline in an attempt to make your story better." Sarah Ashworth Radio-Television Journalism Faculty

"Time management is one of the most crucial skills to have in this degree. You never have time to get everything done so you must learn to prioritize." Alyson Bradshaw Radio-Television Journalism Student Springfield, Mo.

"Our students have the best of both worlds: a liberal arts education and ample opportunities to practice radio and television journalism." Brian Brooks Undergraduate Studies Dean

Where do Missouri Journalism students get internships?

"At most television newsrooms, interns are assigned to be assistants to producers and help out by logging tapes, researching stories, relaying scripts to on-air talent, double checking graphics and supers (names of interviewees, for example) and few interns get practice in front of a camera, writing or editing. I found this to be the case in my internship experiences, both at a medium sized market (Cincinnati, #34) and in a large market (New York, #1). Unfortunately, most broadcast internships are unpaid but provide very valuable experiences." Carolyn Rauen Radio-Television Journalism Student Cincinnati, Ohio

"Our students usually have had at least one internship by the time they graduate. These have been in news reporting, producing, advertising, photography, public relations, magazine writing, event planning, design and much more. The internships are in major U.S. cities as well as in smaller communities, representing the wide range of interests of our students, who, incidentally, come from every state in the nation and from more than 30 countries. You might want to check out a list of almost 300 student internships at media outlets, agencies and other organizations where our students have worked in recent years." Phou Sengsavanh Career Center

What kind of jobs are graduates getting with a radio-television emphasis?

"The largest percentage of broadcast students go to work as reporters for local stations around the country. The reporters usually work general assignment shifts, covering a little bit of everything. After that, a number of students will become local newscast producers, putting shows on at all hours of the day. Additional students will become sports reporters or producers doing the same work as their local news counterparts for local sports departments. A handful of students will graduate to work as news or sports photographers, taking the video you see each night." Stacey Woelfel Radio-Television Journalism Faculty

"A good percentage of our students get jobs at local television stations after they graduate. Our reporters land jobs all over the country in markets like Grand Rapids, Tacoma, Waco, Springfield (Missouri and Illinois), Louisville, Charlotte, and many others. The students who take the producing concentration almost always land producing jobs in bigger markets than the reporters because there's a national demand for producing talent. They find first jobs in places like Memphis, Little Rock, Chicago, Las Vegas and some of the networks like CNN and CBN. We've had some who've specialized in investigative producing who've landed opening jobs at Dateline and 20/20, and a couple of entertainment types who worked their way into E! and Entertainment Tonight. Students who want to be video journalists are able to land jobs in markets similar to starting reporters. Sports reporters tend to get more mixed results." Greeley Kyle Radio-Television Journalism Faculty

What are the salaries and working environment like in this field?

"Salaries depend on the particular job tasks, the size of company you'll work for, and the location or region in which you work. For information on specific jobs in certain locations, two Web sites to visit for more detailed salary information are www.salary.com or www.monster.com." Phou Sengsavanh Career Center

"This can really vary. Graduates usually end up starting out in smaller towns and in the beginning the salaries are low. However, the average starting salary is higher in radio than TV, but radio is usually more competitive because there are fewer stations." Sarah Ashworth Radio-Television Journalism Faculty

"Salaries in broadcast professions vary widely. In a small market a rookie reporter may start out somewhere between $15,000 and $18,000. In that same market, a producer may make $2,000 to $5,000 more. However, as reporters, anchors, and producers get into top 50 markets, salaries increase dramatically. A reporter in a top 10 market may make close to six figures. Anchors in a top ten market definitely make that much. There are also anchors in Detroit, New York City, and other major cities who make seven figures." Holly Edgell Radio-Television Journalism Faculty

"At the end of each semester, our best reporting students get jobs in places like Topeka, Kan., Rochester, Minn., Salinas-Monterey, Calif. and Knoxville, Tenn. paying approximately $25,000 to $30,000 per year. Our best newscast producing students go to larger cities (Kansas City, Mo., Jacksonville, Fla. and Seattle, Wash.) for bigger salaries (approximately $30,000 to $35,000)." Kent Collins Radio-Television Journalism Chair

What is one tip you would give incoming students about this sequence?

"Don't be discouraged. The students here really are the best of the best, so it is easy to feel overwhelmed or that you aren't going to be successful, but the hard work is great preparation for later. The classes and experiences here make you more than prepared for the industry and a step ahead of everyone else." Carolyn Rauen Radio-Television Journalism Student Cincinnati, Ohio

"Take advantage of all the opportunities the School has to offer. There are so many things to get involved with, such as Society of Professional Journalists and RTNDA. Study Abroad is also a program to get involved with." Dustin Blanchard Radio-Television Journalism Student Edmond, Okla.

"If you are passionate for the world of television and radio do not give up no matter how many challenges you face. If you love it and stick with it, then you will be happy in the field you choose." Laci Wollard Radio-Television Journalism Student Liberty, Mo.

"Start thinking about what you want to do after graduation before your senior year. That way you can tailor your experience here to prepare you best for your future. Plus, it will make for a lot less stressful senior year." Alyson Bradshaw Radio-Television Journalism Student Springfield, Mo.

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