The Career Clusters in a radio station

August 17, 2023

This Workplace Spotlight takes you through what you might expect when working in a radio station, as well as some of the roles you’ll find.

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Radio stations are broadcasting facilities that serve as platforms for transmitting audio content to a wide audience. The primary purpose of a radio station is to entertain, inform, educate, and connect with listeners by delivering a variety of audio content, such as music, news, talk shows, interviews, discussions, advertisements, and more.

While each radio station is different, they do have some things in common:

Communication is key – getting information across in an informative and entertaining manner is important for success in radio, particularly when you’re relying on verbal communication alone.
Most work is done indoors – but you might have the opportunity for field reporting and research too.
They’re more common in metro areas – but regional and rural areas often have community stations as well.

Entertain and inform audiences

Radio stations play a multifaceted role, catering to the various interests and needs of their audiences while also contributing to cultural enrichment, information dissemination, and community engagement.

Key tasks

Host live shows and interviews
Select and play music
Write and deliver news updates
Edit audio content
Operate broadcasting equipment
Create promotional content
Manage social media presence
Schedule program line-up
Conduct audience interactions
Monitor broadcast quality

You can find radio stations in the information media and telecommunications industry

Radio stations are mostly found in the information media and telecommunications industry. Various radio stations cater to diverse tastes and needs, including music (pop, rock, classical, etc), talk shows, and local news.

You can expect varied hours and on-site work

Varied hours | Work on-site | Jobs more common in metro areas | Moderate job growth

Many radio stations broadcast 24/7, which means they need people on-hand at all times of the day or night to ensure content goes out smoothly. Your shifts and schedules will vary depending on your exact role.

On-site work is typically more common due to the need for technical equipment, but some roles can be done remotely, particularly in administration and marketing.

Radio stations are found more often in metropolitan areas due to larger audiences, resources, and advertising opportunities. However, regional and rural areas often also have local stations catering to their communities’ specific needs and interests.

The Career Clusters you’ll find in a radio station

People from all Clusters are needed for a radio station to run successfully, but Linkers are typically the most common Cluster. In many roles, you might find yourself performing tasks across multiple Clusters.

Makers in a radio station are primarily responsible for installing, operating, and maintaining the equipment that ensures smooth broadcasting operations. For non-live broadcasts, they might also edit pre-recorded content and ensure it’s of a high quality.

Sound Engineers
Broadcast Technicians
Content Editors

Linkers help to connect a radio station’s content to a wider audience. They are the people we hear on the radio presenting programs and talking with audiences. Other Linkers help to promote the station both on-air and through other channels, such as social media, and form partnerships with local businesses and other community organisations.

Broadcasters/Hosts
Partnerships Managers
Social Media Managers

Coordinators oversee many of the behind-the-scenes operations of a radio station, including managing programming schedules, screening phone calls, managing budgets, and overseeing other workers in the station.

Station Managers
Production Directors
Accounts Managers

Informers provide knowledge and information to both other workers in a radio station and to audiences. They might keep listeners up to date with news and events, report on topics and stories of interest, or share their specialist knowledge through commentary and analysis.

Journalists
News Reporters
Special Correspondents

Innovators are responsible for creating a lot of the content that goes out on the airwaves. They might write scripts and copy for broadcasters to read, come up with new ways of engaging listeners, or create pre-recorded content that can be played to entertain and inform audiences.

Radio Producers
Content Creators
Copywriters

Guardians in a radio station screen content to prevent misinformation, offensive material, or content that could negatively impact the station’s reputation. They are also responsible for ensuring the station’s content meets any regulatory guidelines and industry standards.

Compliance Officers
Ethical Standards Officers

How do we expect working in a radio station to change in the future?

The radio industry is undergoing several changes, largely due to technological advancements and shifts in media consumption.

Radio stations are increasingly embracing on-demand content, such as podcasts. This has created lots of new roles in content creation, editing, and distribution, and ensures that radio stations remain relevant in an increasingly digitised world.

Hybrid models that combine traditional radio broadcasts with digital and online platforms are also becoming more common, requiring workers to manage multi-channel content delivery. This also allows radio stations to incorporate visual media into the mix as well.

Advancements in technology have also enabled easier remote collaboration, potentially altering the traditional on-site work model for some roles.