Broadcast Technician
Broadcast technicians bring us live broadcasts of television and radio shows, concerts and news reports. They set up, operate and maintain the equipment that regulates signal strength, clarity, and range of sounds and colors. One needs to have an associate degree in broadcast technology, electronics or computer networking in order to work as a broadcast technician. Broadcast technicians earned a median annual salary of $32,960 in 2009.Learn More About Becoming a Broadcast Technician
News Anchor
News anchors present, and often analyze, stories on television news broadcasts. To work as a news anchor one usually needs a bachelor's degrees in journalism or mass communications but some employers will consider candidates who have majored in other subjects. News anchors earned a median annual salary of $50,400 in 2009.Learn More About Becoming a News Anchor
Photographer
Using pictures to tell stories, photographers capture images of people, places, events and objects digitally or on film. Entry-level photojournalists and commercial and scientific photographers need a college degree in photography or a field related to the industry in which they want to work. Freelance and portrait photographers usually need only technical proficiency. Photographers earned a median annual salary of $29,770 in 2009.Learn More About Becoming a Photographer
Public Relations Specialist
Public relations specialists, also called communications or media specialists, relay information from companies, organizations or governments to the public. They often use the media to spread their messages. Although there are no standard educational requirements to work as a public relations specialist, many employers prefer to hire job candidates who have a college degree and some experience, usually obtained by doing an internship. Many public relations specialists majored in public relations, journalism, communications and advertising in college. Public relations specialists earned a median annual salary of $51,960 in 2009.Learn More About Becoming a Public Relations Specialist
Reporter
Reporters investigate news stories and then deliver reports of what they find, either in writing or on television or radio, to the public. A reporter first gets a tip about a story and then tries to get all the facts about it by interviewing people, observing events and doing research. Most employers prefer to hire reporters who have a bachelor's degree in journalism or mass communications. Others are willing to hire job candidates who have other degrees. Reporters earned a median annual salary of $34,360 in 2009.Learn More About Becoming a Reporter
Translator or Interpreter
Translators convert written words from one language to another while interpreters do the same with spoken words. Many employers hire job candidates who have earned a bachelor's degree. To work as a translator or interpreter, one must be fluent in two languages, but does not need to major in either one in college. Translators and interpreters earned a median annual salary of $40,860 in 2009.Learn More About Becoming a Translator or Interpreter
Writers and Editors
Writers and editors bring us the content that appears in print and online media. Writers create the material and editors evaluate it and select the content that will be published. Many employers prefer to hire writers and editors who have a college degree, generally in communications, English or journalism. Some find a liberal arts degree acceptable. Employers may require writers and editors who specialize in a particular field to have a degree in that subject. This is particularly true for technical writers. Translators and interpreters earned a median annual salary of $53,900 in 2009.Learn More About Becoming a Writer or Editor
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ and
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/ (visited May 18, 2011).
Explore more Careers By Field or Industry
| Comparing Communications Careers | |||
| Minimum Education | License | Median Salary | |
| Broadcast Technician | Associate degree | None | $32,960 |
| News Anchor | Bachelor's degree | None | $50,400 |
| Photographer | Bachelor's for many full-time jobs | None | $29,770 |
| Public Relations Specialist | None required but college degree preferred | None | $51,960 |
| Reporter | Bachelor's degree | None | $34,360 |
| Translator Or Interpreter | Bachelor's degree | None | $40,860 |
| Writers And Editors | None required but bachelor's degree preferred | None | $53,900 |
