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Media Programming Director

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AVG. SALARY

$52,330

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EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree or higher +

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

Media Programming Directors Career Video

About This Career

Directs and coordinates activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.

This career is part of the Arts, Audio-Video Technology and Communications cluster Performing Arts pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Plans and schedules programming and event coverage, based on broadcast length, time availability, and other factors, such as community needs, ratings data, and viewer demographics.
  • Coordinates activities between departments, such as news and programming.
  • Directs and coordinates activities of personnel engaged in broadcast news, sports, or programming.
  • Monitors and reviews programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality.
  • Checks completed program logs for accuracy and conformance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations and resolve program log inaccuracies.
  • Establishes work schedules and assigns work to staff members.
  • Prepares copy and edits tape so that material is ready for broadcasting.
  • Monitors network transmissions for advisories concerning daily program schedules, program content, special feeds, or program changes.
  • Confers with directors and production staff to discuss issues, such as production and casting problems, budgets, policies, and news coverage.
  • Develops ideas for programs and features that a station could produce.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly at a distance
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Irregular hours

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Newscast Director — Responsible for successfully presenting a newscast on the air.
  • Production Director — Brings together the many complex pieces of a production - the script, actors, set, costuming, lighting and sound and music - into a unified whole.
  • Program Coordinator
  • Program Manager
  • Programming Director
  • Station Manager — Directs and coordinates activities of railroad station employees and authorizes departure of trains.
  • Television Program Director (TV Program Director)
  • Program Director — Oversees the coordination and administration of all aspects of a program including planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling program activities.