Broadcast Journalism Key Terms

Some basic terms for getting involved in broadcast journalism
By J. Stoltzfus, writer/programmer, LOCAL CITIZEN For those who want to work in an exciting field, broadcast journalism is a popular choice. However, trends in economy and media make it hard to land a job in the television or radio journalism industry. Businesses that want to get a message out to the public often get engaged in broadcasting, so it pays to know some of the common terms that apply. Learning some of the important aspects of broadcast journalism can help businesses that collaborate with broadcasting companies.

Federal Communications Commission, or FCC

The FCC is the government regulatory agency that monitors public broadcasting. Every business that wants to make broadcasting a part of its operations should first and foremost be aware of FCC regulations and how they affect the industry.
Try:  Learn more about the FCC's role and other critical components of broadcast journalism at the U.S. Dept. of Labor's broadcast journalism industry overview page.

On the air, or on-air

Being "on-air" just means that a person's voice or recording is being played over the airwaves, which is what constitutes a broadcast.
Try:  Find out all about getting pieces of recorded content on-air at the Alaska Broadcasters Association.

Deadline

A deadline is a time limit for producing a piece for broadcast. Broadcast journalists have to be very attentive to deadlines, as they are a major part of the job. Businesses working with broadcast journalists also have to keep deadlines in mind.
Try:  Read more about deadlines as an aspect of broadcast journalism at StartinTV.com.

Internship

An internship is an entry-level position, often temporary, at a company. Internships are generally designed for students and are a way to get some experience. However, internships are especially important for broadcast journalism because broadcast employers commonly want beginners to start with an internship and move up. So, a legitimate internship opportunity at a TV station or radio station is something many young people prize.
Try:  Read about internships at International Education. Find broadcast journalism internships at pages like this one from JuJu.

Specialization

In broadcast journalism, professionals often specialize in either TV or radio. There are also anchor, weather and investigative journalism broadcasting specialties.
Try:  Read up about broadcast journalism specializations from the Journalism School of Columbia University.

Resume tape

The resume tape is a critical resource for individuals entering broadcast journalism. The resume tape includes some of an anchor's, reporter's or other broadcaster's best work. It serves as a portfolio and marker of accomplishments that could be valuable to a potential employer.
Try:  Get a definition and details on the resume tape from Professional Writing Resources. See more on resume tape production at the Television News Center.