Television Work

Television is one of the most important media through which people find their daily source of entertainment, news, information and other snippets. A large number of people behind the scenes are involved in television work and they strive hard to bring out high quality television programs to the general audiences. From a basic level studio technician to a high profile television producer, the types of jobs found in television work are as diverse as any other avenue in the media industry.

With the advent of the Internet, the impact of television on our daily lives may have reduced to a certain extent; however it still plays a large role in providing passive information to the general masses. This onset of web media has also extended into the television industry as many television programs and channels have started promoting their online portals and social networking pages during the broadcast in order to gain more Internet traffic and higher visibility in this highly connected world.

Description

Owing to the diverse nature of the jobs found in television work, it is difficult to club all jobs under a similar job description. A television cameraman's basic job functions greatly vary from that of a writer. Given below are responsibilities of some of the professionals working in the television industry.

• The job of a television producer is one of the highest profile positions in this industry and their main function is to oversee the entire operations of a television program. Selecting the director and other important members of the crew as well as managing the shooting and other production schedules are the responsibility of the producer.

• A television director is responsible for the overall content and quality of the show and similar to film directors, he/she is the captain of the ship. Visualizing the scenes before shooting, ensuring accurate detailing in every step, coordinating with other technicians such as sound and light engineers are some of the tasks carried out by directors.

• Camera-persons are required on every television production set and they are responsible for handling the camera recording equipment, which is used to shoot the episodes showed in a television program. Based on the exact nature of their job, they may shoot sports events, television dramas, sitcoms or news broadcasts.

• A television anchor is a person who presents a show to the audience and engages them in the show by displaying excellent interpersonal skills. News anchors present daily news broadcasts to the world by giving information about the latest happenings around the world.

• Broadcast engineers are responsible for handling the several types of equipment that are required on a television set. Sound engineers specialize in the handling and maintenance work of sound equipment while camera technicians are responsible for the video and photography equipment on the set.

• A television writer prepares the drafts of the outline story for a television program and communicates with the director regarding any updates to the storyline. They also create scripts for television game shows and news broadcast programs.

Requirements

Those involved in the work of a technician behind the scenes may be required to possess a bachelor's degree in engineering or a similar field. Most directors and other associated profiles are required to have a degree in creative film making with prior experience in the field as an assistant or a full time director. Actors and anchors in television programs may not be required to have completed formal education, however most hiring studios insist on a technical course in acting and presentation to sharpen their skills as actors.

Work Conditions

The daily work schedule on a television set can be extremely chaotic with a large number of people working in tandem in order to meet strict deadlines of the television producers and network channel officials. During shoots, they may have to work in harsh outdoor weather conditions for weeks at a stretch. Most studio based jobs do not have a fixed work schedule; however executives who work in corporate offices of television studios work in a 40 hour week schedule along with occasional overtime hours.

Similar to the movie industry, many people aim to work in the field of television due to its glamour content and undeniable growth opportunities.