Understanding Media - Assignment 4

Job Roles and Contracts in the Media

The media industry is jam packed with job opportunity's; often there is roles you would never think of when you hear the word media. In this blog I will explaining all the different contracts you can get in the media, alongside what styles and jobs you can get. A contract is a legal document which acts as an agreement between the employer and the employee. Because it is understood and signed by both parties, there is a legal binding. Therefore, if you as an employee breach a contract it could result in a termination which means your are sacked. It can also go the other way which means if your employer is in fault you can take legal action against them. Often resulting in court cases or a law suit. For this section lets first of all lets take a look at the contracts. In the media there are 5 contracts to be considered:

1. Full time contract
2. Part time contract
3. Freelance
4. Hourly Paid
5. Piece work

Full Time Contracts

A full time contract is where a person will work between 35-40 hours a week. These shifts will often occur 9-5pm and will have designated breaks to reduce any chance of over working employees. This is a total of 8 hours. Which means the average full time worker will work 5 days a week to make up the 40 hours and will get the weekend off; for recovery time.Any shifts worked over this time period is classed as Overtime, Employee's can choose to work extra, but the employer does not legally have to pay extra wages for the extra hours. It is all down to what the employer thinks; this is often agreed during the hiring process and will be wrote in the contract. Employers average pay must not go below the national minimum wage. Which currently stands at 

Year	21 and over	18 to 20	Under 18	Apprentice*
2014 (current rate)	£6.50	£5.13	£3.79	£2.73

As part of a full time contract an employer must: 

• Give employees a written statement of employment
• At least give the minimum holiday pay
• A payslip showing income and expenditure (money gone to taxes)
• The set given time of weeks off (an average of 4 weeks off)
• At least the minimum sick pay
• Pay/leave for looking after a child
• Employees don't over work maximum hours (unless giving overtime)
• Pay at least the minimum wage 
• Provide liability insurance
• Provide a safe working place
• Avoid discrimination of all kinds
• Makes changes if the employee has certain medical conditions or is disabled. 
• Hire inland customs to deal with payroll, tax and any work requests.
• Some employers will also provide a contribution to an employees pension. 

A full time employee will have a regular pay schedule as they are paid part of their salary every month; some employments provide weekly pay. Salary meaning the fixed/total amount you can earn per annum (year). For instance you could work out the hourly rate of pay by looking at the salary of a worker. 

The first stage is to find out the basic hours worked; which is sometimes set in stone in the workers contract. You then divide this by the number of times you are paid (which is 12 if you are paid monthly) this then gives you the average numbers of hours per payment. You then divide the amount by the payment in each month which gives you an average figure for hours worked in a month. For instance Marks contract states he must work 1,850 hours a year; he gets a salary made up of the minimum wage of £6.50. Mark gets payed monthly, so we would divide 1,850 by 12.  Which is an average of 154 hours a month. This means Mark will be paid at least £1,001 a month. As £1,001 divided by 154 makes £6.50. Lets take a quick look at some examples of full time contracts out there:

We can easily look for full time job contracts on the guardian website. In fact, their is a whole section dedicated to media jobs and all the various contracts. In this case there is currently 138 full time contract jobs on offer; lets take a look at two instances. 

 The first is a one year first contract with the BBC, This means you will be on a full time contract working 35-40 hours for the BBC. Then after a year your contract will end for that job; meaning the employer can decide to keep you on and renew your contract; or let you go. It all depends on whether you impress the boss and do a good job. No numbers have been stated yet the salary is:Competitive salary. Which means they will pay better or the same as other companies in that market. Which in terms of the BBC is ITV and Sky. The job role is described by the BBC as:

"The Country Research Manager plays a key role in ensuring that research conducted in BBC Media Action is delivered to the highest quality, providing great value for money, and offering contextual insights and products to meet the organisation and the sector’s needs. The Country Research Manager therefore works to make sure that our research is relevant, applied and useful to stakeholders across the organisation both in London and in country." and is looking for someone with: "This position requires strong qualitative and/or quantitative research skills, and experience of designing and managing mixed methods research to support and inform practical outcomes. " Which means that the ideal person for a research manager must have a good understanding of research methods and has experience in producing effective and clear data from a series of methods. Such as quantitative and qualitative research,

Again another one year contract, full time contract, job is of a Head of Press and Communications for the British Academy. Which has the same logistics as the previous example. However, this time the worker will earn 40k a year. Which is roughly 3 1/3 grand a month. This is only a one year job due to being a cover for a maternity leave. Of course; the employer may offer a different job to the employee at the end of year if they are impressed with the standards of the worker. This time they are looking for a head of communications in which they state: 

"The UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences is seeking an outstanding individual to lead the work of its small press and communications team. The successful candidate, who will already have senior level experience in a comparable organisation, will take responsibility for the overall management, planning and delivery of the Academy’s press, public relations, brand management, marketing and digital communications, including the website and social media."

They look for someone to effectively promote the Academy's range of activities; whilst also looking at ways to build up a profile and public awareness.With the aim of renewing and revamping the Academy's website.

Part Time Contracts 

A part time contract is where a person will work less hours than an average full time contract. There is no set hours of a part time worker and they will get the same treatment as a full time worker. They have the same respect and treatment..Any shifts worked over this time period is classed as Overtime, Employee's can choose to work extra, but the employer does not legally have to pay extra wages for the extra hours. It is all down to what the employer thinks; this is often agreed during the hiring process and will be wrote in the contract. Employers average pay must not go below the national minimum wage.

As part of a part time contract an employer must: 

• Give employees a written statement of employment
• At least give the minimum holiday pay
• A payslip showing income and expenditure (money gone to taxes)
• The set given time of weeks off (an average of 4 weeks off)
• At least the minimum sick pay
• Pay/leave for looking after a child
• Employees don't over work maximum hours (unless giving overtime)
• Pay at least the minimum wage 
• Provide liability insurance
• Provide a safe working place
• Avoid discrimination of all kinds
• Makes changes if the employee has certain medical conditions or is disabled. 
• Hire inland customs to deal with payroll, tax and any work requests.
• Some employers will also provide a contribution to an employees pension.

Notice how it is exactly the same as a full time contract. Employers cannot segregate benefits due to the workers having different hourly contracts. As a mother may go on a part time contract to fit in her children; whilst a women in her 20's may be on a full time contract as she has no child commitments.The only time an employer can treat the two differently is if  it has been justified and agreed upon. 

A part time employee will have a regular pay schedule as they are paid part of their salary every month; some employments provide weekly pay. Salary meaning the fixed/total amount you can earn per annum (year). For instance you could work out the hourly rate of pay by looking at the salary of a worker.  This time lets reduce the hours by half to see how it effects things.

The first stage is to find out the basic hours worked; which is sometimes set in stone in the workers contract. You then divide this by the number of times you are paid (which is 12 if you are paid monthly) this then gives you the average numbers of hours per payment. You then divide the amount by the payment in each month which gives you an average figure for hours worked in a month. For instance Bruce's contract states he must work 925 hours a year; he gets a salary made up of the minimum wage of £6.50. Mark gets payed monthly, so we would divide 925 by 12.  Which is an average of 77 hours a month. This means Mark will be paid at least £500.05 a month. As £500.05 divided by 77 makes £6.50. Lets take a quick look at some examples of the part time contracts out there:

We can easily look for part time job contracts on the guardian website. In fact, their is a whole section dedicated to media jobs and all the various contracts. In this case there is currently 6 part time contract jobs on offer; lets take a look at two instances. 

This part time job is for advertising sales. They want someone who is experienced but not as a manager. Their company was set up in 1904 and is one of the market leaders for advertising. They offer the chance to work from home and have a series of projects available to work on. They look for sales people who:

• Have a proven track record in advertising or other intangible sales
• Are able to dedicate themselves to reach set targets
• Are ambitious and committed to achieving high earnings
• Have an excellent telephone manner

They offer a commission salary which ranges from 2,300 euros per month up to 16,000 euros a month. And is split up into 5 different grades. This company is willing to go up to 30% of the commission salary.

This part time job is for the city of Edinburgh. They want someone to help create a renowned film collection by speaking to festivals. Which is to start out working in London and then be based in Scotland. They want some one to do day to day management, speaking to clients and arranging events, deal with the press, and maintain social networking pages. They are looking are earning £20,000 annually (a year).

Freelance

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A freelancer is someone who is self employed. They will not work for a company full time, instead they may be hired by different companies for certain jobs. I,E making a short promotional video or a drama work. Because you rely on networking and finding clients, freelancing is not guaranteed to make an income for you. You also have to manage your own money and declare your income. You must register with the inland custom (HM Revenue and Customs ) as self employed to calculate you own tax.Freelance can have its advantage such as working around your own time and often getting better pay as you can negotiate your rates with the company.

Freelancers work by getting jobs from clients and marketing themselves in order to build a reputation. By having a better reputation means you are more likely to get the bigger clients. Clients will often give the freelancer tasks and then pay them either for the set piece or by the hour. If you don't manage to find work then you will not get a pay. If you hire a freelancer it means:

• They are self employed
• They have to look at their own tax and national insurance
• They might not have the same rights as normal workers (minimum wage,pension, etc...)
• The company they assist are responsible for their health and safety

A good instance of when someone is on freelance is when setting up independent business. As you are taking matters into your own hands by making money for producing work for clients and big business. This can also be seen in independent film makers as they will make products for clients. I.E a band might want a music video making so they turn to an independent film maker. The film maker will then have to see if there is enough in the the budget so they comes better off; as after all they are making the piece as a living. Another instance of freelance is a graphic designer may me asked to create a logo; upon completion the freelancer designer will then get paid.

For instance you can use https://www.freelancer.co.uk/. To look for either work or to hire somebody as a freelancer worker. When clicking on work it asks to connect for Facebook. From their you can browse jobs that match your skills, apply for the work and then complete the work and get paid. When clicking hire you can post your project under a given category, compare prices to other work that is similar and then you have the open the pay tor worker at the end of the process. 

Hourly Paid/Time Work

Hourly pay is where someone is paid on an hour by hour basis. This means the pay is worked out by multiplying the rate by the hours. Hourly works can also work overtime, but they have to work 40+ hours a week. This has the major advantage of being paid for every hour you work; whereas on a contract you do not receive additional money for the hours worked. This is also known as time work. For those under this contract, the worker has to be paid at least the national minimum wage.  This is worked out by looking at the pay pack; which again will be 1 month. For example you are working in a media call center.

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You are 23 and you are covered by the minimum wage rate of £6.50. In the month of July you have worked at total of 160 hours. This means that in July you will have earned at least £1,040. As a worker you can work as much as you want; although the law says you don't usually have to more than 48 hours of work on an average week.  For instance those who are part time are often paid using the hourly system; while those in full time work are covered by an annual salary. 

Piece Work

Piece work is any type of employment in which you are paid a fixed piece rate for your work instead of the time you have spent developing it. I.E a company might want a website produced by the end of the month; yet if you spend 10 or 100 hours into the website the final outcome will stick to that agreed upon. The employer must pay them on a fair rate for their work. You can tell whether it is time work or piece work by seeing if a worker has select hours to work. If they clock in and out everyday then it is time work and not piece work. 

One way to work out a fair amount is by working out the fair rate. This allows the worker to be paid the minimum wage per hour if they work at an average rate. This is done by looking at the rate of work. How long does it take to produce a task or piece? Divide this by 1.2 which means new workers won't be at a disadvantage if they are not up to speed.Then divide the hourly rate of minimum pay by that number to work out the pair rate for each item.

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For instance, workers are paid for each camera they make. On average they make 3 cameras per hour. So 3/1.2 is 2.5 camera. If workers are covered for the minimum wage then you would divide £6.50 by 2.5 to get £2.60. So for every camera you make you will earn £2.60. This is for mass production. Some graphic designers or film makers may given more in bulk because of a higher product.

A big instance of when piece work is used; is when making big films. As its impossible for the film maker to do everything; it would take years. So they hire select people and companies to help do the work for them. I.E one person might be given the task of putting the special effects onto a video clip that will be put into the movie. One graphic designer may have to make a poster to be in the background of a shot. One newspaper company might be given the task of making a fake newspaper to be used as a prop in the movie and so on. 

Job Styles

Not only are there a variety of contracts within the media; there are also a variety of areas to work with in the media. In fact there are 8:

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• (1) Creative: These styles of jobs are where the flair and ideas of a person are used to make a media product come to live. They will set the scene by laying out what they want to produce and how. For instance directors and camera men will decide how they what the media to look; a graphic designer will have wild ideas in his head to which will be transported onscreen to make a final product. They may not have all the knowledge but they will have a big imagination which is put into the genre of media making it look professional.For instance you may see the following jobs under creative: film director, assistant director, make up artists, camera operator, cinematographer, screen writer, set designer. The main recurring theme is the idea of design. As each of these jobs will require a person to think in their own ways to which they will translate into a script, story board, shot list and then a final movie. Or a designer might start off with a mind map, then a storyboard and then a final design which a builder may use to create a set or if its a graphic designer they will turn into a piece of art such as a poster, billboard or web flyer. 

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• (2) Technical:being technical is all about understanding how to use the technology around a media department or set; by using the equipment during working hours or during the set up. For instance camera operators will have to be highly technical understanding what each setting does and how to altar the settings. They must then know what the lenses do and how the camera responds to different locations and lights. Sound guys will also have to be technical as there is a vast amount of recording kit to use in production. Sometimes you may need to use a Boom or a radio mic; others you may record directly into the camera. Without having a good understanding how to use the technology/ fix it then any media product will struggle as a result. For instance other jobs will include: transmission engineer, production sound mixer, boom operator, sound designer, camera operator, light operator. 

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• (3) Editorial: People under the editorial style will go through the process of picking and selecting what goes where. An editor style looks at all forms of media for written (newspaper), visual (TV, film, short video etc...) and will convey the information through correcting, condensing, organizing or modify a medium so it is presentable to an audience. For instance the main job roles you get are video editors, script editors, newspaper editors, title designer or post production crew. As a video editor will look at all the clips available and will cut material down and into an order to follow a brief. Which will include what they creator wants and who the target audience is. A script editor will make sure their are no mistakes and will cut down scenes or sequences so that it will fit in the final cut of a media work. A newspaper editor will make sure the facts are correct and everything follows the rule of the English language (or any other language) to make sure the audience is getting professional news. Post production crew will also make sure the final video product is ready to be broadcast in cinemas, online or in on the TV.

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• (4) Marketing: Sales and marketing are jobs that require people to communicate with other brands and bushiness in order to sell and promote products. This will bring in an income for a product which in turn will remove the costs of creating the product; turning the expenditure into an income. The role of marketing requires good communication skills as other wise people will not take them seriously; resulting in the lack of a sale in the product. Marketing can also mean creating adverts to be shown to the general public in order for them to buy the product off them. These styles of jobs are normally very competitive. For instance you may have the following jobs: public relations, film promoter, publicist, marketing executive. This is because all of these jobs will involve one person selling a product in a way that appeals to mass audiences. For instance an advert will easily help sell a product; which is why TV shows and films have trailers. Adverts will also appear in magazines to catch the readers eye; although their are people who must sell the advert to a larger company to print in their magazine. Which is why people will pitch the advert to larger corporations before the public.

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• (5) Managerial: management is about getting a group of people together and to get them to work in a way which is effective and efficient with the materials supplied. This is so a business or organisational group can get their desired task completed. Managers will be in charge and will help organize, get staff and control the group. For instance you may have the following jobs under managerial: production manager, catering manager, transport manager, producer/executive. casting director, unit manager, distributor. This is because all of these jobs involve looking after huge sections of a production. For instance a transport manager will have to make sure all the right modes of transports are on site, staff know which one to get one and the drivers know where they are going. Without the manager it would be a lot harder to manage and wouldn't be as effective.

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• (6) Administrative: in a business term admin consists of managing the performance of an operation and will often make the decisions in a company. They can often be defined as the universal process of organizing people and resources effectively to produce a product. Again this links closely to managerial styles of jobs.Admin will cover a wide range of jobs from accounts, casting, health and safety, locations , transport and catering as without admin in these sections a product can easily fall apart. As the accounts will make sure the product is being financed so worked can be carried out, which then means those involved will need a pay which will be handled by admin. Admin will also make sure any cast members that are needed will be done through a casting session and so on for the other examples. Paperwork plays a key work in admin as it makes sure everything is in order 24/7 for any media product.

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• (7) Legal: By having a job in the legal section of media means working to making sure all media products are created within the boundaries of the law. For instance a health and safety team is hired to make sure that everybody is safe; as if someone does get injured and there is no risk assessment or precautions in place the comapany could be sued and loose a great deal of money in production. You might also be working in a regulatory body to make sure the media is fine for everyone to watch; as we have previously learnt from the other blog posts.Other jobs may include: working as a lawyer for a major corporation, working as part of health and safety, working as a media regulator,dealing with accounts to make sure everyone is paid correctly and the general running of a media product; assessing its content and preparation throughout.

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• (8) Financial: this is all about money. As finance is the management of large amounts of money. Whether your are an owner of a shop, or a CEO for a national company. This ties in nicely with managerial as with finance your are managing sums of money. Finance also includes saving money and will often look at the concept of lending money to make money. You will often look into things such as time, money and risk whilst also budgeting how money is spent. Jobs will include items such as production accounting, producer, sales agent and unit publicist. All of these areas will look into how much money the production of the media has and how it can be best spent. The first draft will be done by a budget and if the budget matches the cost of the film then its fine to go ahead. Other wise these people in these jobs will look at ways of cutting costs to help the company make a larger profit; by stretching every penny. 

TV Industry - Jobs

In order to get a full understanding of how this works. Lets take a look at the TV industry. I will now research 10 different jobs that can be found in the industry and will explain what the role is, who you work for, what requirements are needed(skills, training and qualification), can you start from the bottom up. In terms of contracts I will look into what contract the job provides and how much you could possible earn. All this information will come from: www.prospects.ac.uk

Camera Operator

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A television camera operator will work with the latest digital film camera and will produce footage for directors by using their technical and creative skills. An operator might work in a studio; where the operator follows a script and shot order. The main skill in studio work is quickly interpreting what the director wants by shooting it effectively and in a short amount of time. They may also record live events such as football, the Olympics or a gig. And like the studio, they may be shooting items out on location; with the operator sometimes suggesting shots for the director. 

An operator will work under a director or cinematographer (director of photography) and may have an assistant. Typical work includes:

• Set up film equipment before filming. I.E setting up the cables, monitors , tripods, lenses and headphones.
• Converse with directors to offer their viewpoints on shots that may work.
• Planning and practice shots before they happen. I.E a shot where cars are blowing up and moving across the screen. As it would be expensive to keep recreating this type of shot.
• Practicing with the kit available so on the day the shots can be gathered quickly and effectively. 
• Studying a script and its breakdown so they are prepared for the day.
• Solving any problems when shooting; I.E the level of light being too low in one location. 
• Work under pressure to get shots recorded quickly and effectively. 
• Keeping up to date with filming techniques and equipment.
• Know how to repair kit. 

As part of the job a camera operator must set up a good working relationship with the other crew. Not only must you get on with the crew you will also have to have a good working set up with the cast.In terms of salary most operators work on a freelance basis. The current rate for an operator according to the BECTU (broadcasting entertainment cinematograph and the ate union) is £285 on factual TV, £411 for adverts and £227 for TV news. For a 10 hour day. Although you may be able to negotiate a pay based on any previous experience. You must be able to work on long hours sometimes (12-14 hours) and will often be at random periods throughout the day. Both evening and night. Work is often based in London, Manchester,Glasgow, Cardiff.Bristol,Birmingham, Leeds and Liverpool. Work can be hard to get when starting off and the job can be physically demanding. You must be able to cope with tight deadlines and repeating takes can often be frustrating. 

Although the job is open to any graduate; it is recommended to have studied any media work such as: media studies, performing arts, film and TV etc... etc.. You can get in with a degree but in order to get to the top you will need to learn the skills from starting from the bottom up. You will often start as an assistant before becoming a operator. A portfolio of stills, shot photographs are needed as part of a portfolio in order to show your interest to an employer. Employers also look for: 

• sound theoretical, practical and technical knowledge of cameras;
• the ability to frame and compose shots;
• the ability to perform camera moves accurately;
• interpersonal and communication skills;
• the ability to multi-task and take direction from others;
• teamworking skills and the ability to lead and motivate others;
• tact and diplomacy;
• the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines;
• flexibility;
• creativity;
• patience;
• attention to detail.

It is recommended to make up a network of links within the industry as the job is very competitive. New entrants will start at an assistant level and in order to gain experience you will watch other crew members work. Some places will also set up their own training schemes for their staff. The best way to work up is to build a network, build good relationships with working staff, show off your flair and skill, keep up to date with the industry and market yourself well. If you get your name on good projects then you may well be able to advance past a camera operator. In the UK you could be employed by the follow companies:

• The BBC (UK's largest company)
• ITV
• BSkyB
• Any production teams for channel 4 and 5
• S4C

There may also be some independent companies looking for camera crew. These companies will be working on TV, short films, videos for big corporations, adverts and promotional pieces.

Lighting Technician 

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This is someone who sets up and operates the lighting equipment in the TV industry. They may work inside or outside of a studio. Without the lighting a TV show will loose its atmosphere and wouldn't help set a scene. As lighting is a big part of any TV show. This is a highly technical skill, but isn't as creative as other jobs. They have to listen carefully to a brief and will work with heavy kit which may need to be fitted at height. Health and safety is a big key as they must be careful of live wires and other kit operating on site. On a day to day basis they will: 

• Set up the lighting requirements of a director.
• Work with the director and other members of staff to recreate the lighting design wanted.
• Layout the location of all the lighting.
• Fitting lights and filters on demand.
• Making sure all the kit works.
• Carry out risk assessments.
• Make sure all the cables are sealed.
• Checking the light works to standard before filming.
• Operate and look after kit during shooting.
• Changing any lighting between shoots.
• De-rig any kit at the end of a production and making sure its stored correctly.
• Work with a large production team.
• Review the footage to see if any changes are needed for the next day or another shoot.

If you have been in the industry for years you may be involved in the lighting budget, decide on how many lighting peers are needed and what equipment is needed for each shoot. Visiting locations for planning purposes to see what kit should be brought on the day.Pay will often vary on the type of production and the level of experience. Salary's often start of £25k up but to start off in the industry you may start of lower gaining experience first.

Again this work is freelance so you may be able to negotiate a higher pay. BECTU think £240 is okay for  a 10 hour day with a break, with £35 for every hour afterwards. Which means they may earn more than a permanent member of staff; although their work won't be under a full time contract so they work is irregular. Locations are mainly set down south so moving for a job may be expected. You could be in a TV studio all day or you may be out on location. Again work is set in locations mentioned before: London, Manchester,Glasgow, Cardiff.Bristol,Birmingham, Leeds and Liverpool. You will be under a lot of stress, you must be careful as the more mistakes the higher the more responsible you become. 

You do not need a degree although degrees in electrical engineering or physics is recommend for the technical side of things.  It is also recommended to look into lighting technology. It is also vital to getting use to working on lighting before going into a job through either work experience or by using the skills in a student film. Employers look for: 

• excellent colour vision;
• good technical knowledge;
• attention to detail;
• creative flair;
• the ability to work as part of a team;
• effective communication skills;
• problem-solving ability;
• patience and sensitivity to the needs of actors and other professionals on set;
• awareness of health and safety issues at all times;
• a good level of physical fitness.

You can learn most of the skills on the job; by observing, questioning and working under an experienced worker. You will work under the supervision of a lighting director, gaffer or a director of photography. You may learn skills from a course. Although. if you do attend courses then you will have to cover the costs and time on your own as you will be a freelance. Which is why its recommend to learn on the job.  You may lead onto jobs such as the senior electrician (best boy) or chief electrician (gaffer) after working in the industry for a number of years. Typically in over 10 years of experience you could move on to a lighting director, lighting designer or a director of photography. 

Jobs can be found in these major TV production companies:

• The BBC
• ITV
• Channel 4 
• Channel 5

Again you could be working for an independent company but these jobs are infrequent and very competitive.  

Floor Manager 

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Floor managers make sure everything is ready and safe to use before filming. They will make sure all the sets, props and technqiual equipment is safe to use and is in place ready to record. They have a job of a coordinator as they are the link between the director and the production team. They will pass on cues to presenters and guests to make sure timings and are met and the production goes through smoothly without any problems. They will keep up the spirits of those involved and will make sure everything fits in the schedule. The majority of the work takes part in the studio, day to day a floor manager will: 

• Check all the equipment; such as cameras, microphones so that they work before recording
• They will make sure the audience (for gameshows etc...) is seated
• Use floor plans to make sure everything is in place. 
• Talk between sections such as the floor room and the control room.
• Keep everyone informed of what is going on, mainly the director.
• Assist with the planning.
• Oversee the production crew.
• Rehearse shows before they go live on air.
• Give cues to presenters.
• Control the runners.
• To start preparing for future shows.
• Giving out the briefs.
• Looking at the audience by making announcements on timings and safety.
• Dealing with any problems.

Again, the majority of floor runners are freelance and their salary will be an hourly pay. For either a daily or weekly rate. Depending on your experience and past as a freelancer you can negotiate a rate. The general pay is from £150-£400 a day. If you get a permanent job you can expect £25,000 per annum but those without experience may start lower and work up with experience. Pay also depends on location, company, experience,demand and length of contract.A floor manager is excepted to stay until a job is done working evenings and weekends; sometimes on a 14 hour day. Work is mainly studio; but sometimes you may be on location for TV works such as sports coverage. Again jobs are down south and work can be pressurized as there is tight schedules and studio bookings. There is also chance to work abroad.

You can enter with any degree or HND but its helpful if its in: media studies, theatre studies and any form of media production. You may be able to enter without a degree but you typically have to work your way up from a junior role. Practical work is cared about more than a qualification. Experience before entry is recommended such as a runner, assistant floor manager or a sound or lighting role are always considered. To be considered for a job you must have experience in the industry as the job is very competitive. Employers look for: 

• the ability to foresee, solve and avoid problems under pressure;
• a friendly disposition and an air of calm authority;
• excellent communication skills to receive, interpret and convey information accurately and concisely;
• interpersonal skills, in order to quickly judge how to get the best out of different people;
• good organisational skills and the ability to multitask.

A driving license is considered useful and language skills are needed if you work abroad. You cannot get to this job under direct entry. So expect to take up multiple jobs in order to gain experience first. You have to get your foot in the door before going through it.Training is gathered through the job on a junior role there is no direct training for a floor manager; although there is some courses available in the industry. 

Floor managers are one of the highest roles which has been earned from working their way up. You will often start off as a junior and will make your way up by making contacts and networking. After a while in this role it is possible to specialize. I.E some floor managers may work in sports, game shows ,entertainment shows etc.. etc.. After being a floor manager for a couple of years in the industry you may work your way up to a producer or director; after being an assistant director/producer. 

Independent TV companies will employ a small number of floor managers; whilst the BBC empolys more directly; They will be used first choice for any programme they are producing. When the BBC runs out of their own staff they will then hire in freelances to cover any gaps. Other employers are satellite,cable and digital broadcasters. local TV stations and news stations. Most managers are freelance and will be on contracts lasting from days to months. If you make a good relationship with a director you may be requested for future programmes.

Location Manager 

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Location managers are those people who are involved in making all the arrangements for TV shoots outside of the studio. Because shows are filmed at a series of locations, location managers need to research, identify and organise access to the location of filming. As well as arranging site use, the location manager will help manage the site throughout the production process. By looking at the budgets, time limits and keeping up the safety on site. To do this, the location manager will work with crew and cast in order to meet demands. Day to day they will: 

• Read through scripts and analyse storyboards to get an understanding of the locations needed.
• Meet with the director and designer to discuss the project.
• Managing a series of resources in order to effectively research locations.
• Visiting locations and taking photos whilst also making sure they fit the budget and will be safe to shoot on.
• Asking about access and parking spaces on site.
• Arrange travel and items such as hotels for the cast and crew to stay in.
• Meeting with crew to make sure everything is possible to film.
• Making deals with land owners so they can film.
• Organizing this with local authorities such as the police.
• Schedule crew arrival dates and times.
• Making sure all technical specifications for kit and power are on site.  
• Handing out maps and directions to locations for kit movements.
• Providing all estrangements in a letter of information.
• Dealing with the public who may interrupt the shoot.
• Making sure the wrap runs smoothly and thanking the site owners.

Most location managers are freelance and are paid on a contract basis. They will start off as a assistant manager or location scout and will start off on a lower salary. The pay ranges widely on experience, reputation and whether its a low or high budget. High budget means a higher pay. For a week you are looking at £937 - £1297. On a shooting day the location manager is the first and last to arrive so hours are long. Part time is rare as they are constantly working. Work is normally offered through networks. They must find locations in a short period of time so it can be a lot of pressure. There is a big chance to shot abroad as on screen cities may not match the actual city.

Any one with a degree/HND can be a location manager, although degrees in media studies, photography and film/tv studies is recommended. It is possible to get into the career without an academic qualification. But all those who apply should be able to show knowledge of the media industry.Employers look for:

• excellent communication skills, including the ability to work with a diverse range of people;
• adaptability, to deal with external factors when organising the environment required for the shoot;
• a diplomatic approach, to encourage or persuade people as the situation demands;
• dependability and excellent organisational, planning and administrative skills;
• a passable knowledge of architectural styles;
• for specific jobs, a strong knowledge of the region where filming will take place;
• knowledge of health and safety regulations;
• the ability to problem-solve and think laterally;
• artistic/creative awareness and competence as a photographer;
• stamina and flexibility in order to work long hours under pressure;
• a full driving licence and preferably ownership of a vehicle.

Most of the training is done on the job as there is limited training sessions related to location management. Those who want the job will have to find the training for themselves. Location managers should also make sure to keep up to date with health and safety courses as it is a legal matter when working on set.

It takes time to make a career in location management; as it requires you to find work based of media contacts. You should make yourself known to production companies and working flexible. Location managers will often work as a runner, assistant director or camera operator early on. The common route is to go from location runner, to assistant, to scout and then to larger productions, unit manager and then location manager. You could go into specific areas of TV such as drama or adverts; but first you will start on small production teams before larger ones.After being a manager for so many years, some may set up their own company or location agency with those from the industry. Some may also go on to become producers, directors or production designers. 

The following organisations look for location managers: independent production companies, post production houses, community film projects and film companies. Projects include: corporate, education, entertainment, marketing, promotional and trailers. These provide work for location mangers who will use this to develop their skills as a freelancer. They may chose to work on a series of productions at once. Big broadcasting companies such as the BBC will commission freelancers to help make specific programmes. Again, film companies may pick them up to work on a project due to reputation in the industry.

Programme Researcher 

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A programme researcher is there as support to the producer and production team. They will help contribute with ideas for programmes, source contacts and contributors and will collect information for TV producers.They may work on a wide variety of programmes or just focus on one. They will also organize, plan and research anything that will happen during the programme. I.E who is goes to be interviewed, where it is , who is there and whether the budget will work. They have the responsible to check the facts, writing briefs for presenters and making sure there is enough information relating to the production. The job is often seen as an apprenticeship for the producer role. Day to day they will:

• Meet with producers, directors, designers and presenters to discuss the research needs.
• Generating new programme ideas.
• Conveying findings in briefs and reports.
• Sourcing and researching facts and figures using both primary and secondary research methods.
• Assessing the credibility of sources for the programme.
• Booking resources and facilities.
• Hiring freelance staff and negotiating fees.
• Helping with administrative support such as typing, answering phones, dealing with contracts.
• They will also brief scriptwriters and presenters on topics; they will also update scripts.
• Sourcing copyright footage and music.
• Providing the research in a clear and precise format.
• Finding interviewees to and getting vox pops to current events.
• Directing a small shoot and carrying out editing.

It is common for researchers to have a minimum pay, or work for free before getting a full job. Freelance and short term contracts are common and freelance rates may vary. The basic rate for a junior is £415 for a 48 hour week and experienced workers may get up to £650. Staff jobs are hard to get and researchers will be for certain jobs. Meaning as a freelancer you will have to work your way up. Some companies like the BBC will hire researchers on a permanent contract. Some researcher may work for a 7 day week for long hours. They may spend the day typing in a office, to interviewing in the street.Travel is also common.

The area of work is open to all graduates. But work experience and contacts will often help increase the chance of a job.Degrees in media, design, art, architecture, theatre, journalism, public relations, English and history may increase you chances. Graduates are preferred but experience plays a key role. Most graduate researchers will have worked in newspapers or radio a journalists to gain experience. Employers look for: 

• the ability to generate new ideas, accommodate other peoples' ideas, be resourceful and motivated;
• excellent written communication, interpersonal and organisational skills;
• visual thinking and the ability to be adaptable yet methodical;
• the capability to work well in a team and under pressure;
• excellent IT and research skills;
• an instinct for a good story;
• confidence and patience;
• knowledge of legal and ethical principles in relation to the media and copyright, as well as health and safety procedures.

In order to be a successful freelancer, you will need to be skilled in self management and self promotion.Most training is done on the job, but the majority is learnt whilst on the job.As a researcher there is no fixed career like the previous jobs. But the nature makes it a good starting point. You may start with one job and then progress to work on variety of programmes. On a big project you will be working with experience researchers whilst allows you to also maintain a high level of contact with the producer and director which may help you move into a senior research role. Because of the assistant producer roles, researchers aren't being hired as much. With some being more hands on, shooting ,sound recording and even directing alongside the typical researcher roles.

All these roles are competitive.To really progress you will need to learn new skills on the job, meet new people, make new contacts and show hard work and commitment to the job. Because it is a small area you will need to make good relationships in order to get the high earning jobs.

Producer

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A producer cannot just work in the TV film industry; producers can also be saw in the film and video industry. They will oversee a project from an initial idea to a completed production. Some producers also follow it through to the marketing side of the equation. They will work closely with directors and crew on a shoot. They may need to have director skills; as it is possible to do both roles. Producers focus on arranging funding for each project and are in-charge of keeping to  a productions budget.  They have a high creative input and level of decision making varies from the brief and the client. Day to day producers will:

• Look at methods to raise funds for a project.
• Read, research and assess ideas for scripts whilst overseeing a final script.
• Hire writers and secure film rights for a project. I.E a book being turned into a film.
• Create a series of contacts that may come in useful during production.
• Discuss the project with the funders.
• Using the latest software for screenwriting, budgets and schedules.
• Hiring a crew, and most importantly a director.
• Control the budget.
• Getting all aspects of the crew together to highlight what they are doing in this project.
• Organise shooting dates, such as booking into studio spaces or going out on location.
• Troubleshooting at problems that arise.
• Make sure health and safety is in check.
• Holding meetings to check the rate of production against the plan.

Overall, the producer will deal with all the practical sides of the project so the director and crew can focus on the creative side. The starting salary will start from around £18k-£25k. Although over the years you may work your way up to between £40k-80K plus other benefits. If you are a freelance producer then you may vary considerably due to your experience. For instance a large block busters company may have you on permanent contract and will pay you more than a smaller production. Although these days the job is mainly freelance as permanent jobs are hard to come by. You aren't always working in the same environment; one day you could be in the studio or the next out on location.It is very competitive so you may not get a break in your career until later on in your life or at all. There is an equal opportunity for both genders. Most job roles are in London,Manchester,Cardiff,Edinburgh and Glasgow. In terms of location you could be anywhere in the world.You must be motivated and very responsible as you are dealing with a great amount of money.

This job is available for all graduates, although its recommended to have a degree or HND level in communication and media studies,photography/film/tv, IT or broadcasting. You can get in without a degree, but those in the industry will be at least at a degree level.Work experience is a key to improving your chances and any contacts in the industry should be exploited. A recommendation by those in the industry is to help out with TV and film festivals if you can to get your head in the game.

This job requires experience, a first time producer will have worked elsewhere in the industry. Whether it was as an assistant producers, researcher or a script wiring. You are expected to have several years of experience. Employers look for:

• confidence in their own ability;
• strong communication and people skills;
• presentation and pitching skills;
• strong time and resource management skills;
• creative ability;
• the ability to cope under pressure;
• a strong head for figures;
• leadership skills.

There is no longer a direct training route you can take. Because of the vast changes within the industry you have to be more flexible. Some producers have often when on to take a director role.This has created a higher level of playing for those who want to get into the industry; also meaning that the job security has decreased. You will need several skills in order to increase your chances in the industry. Training is provided mainly through the job, although short courses are available. Some government and industry funded schemes such as the Creative Skill set can help provide training opportunists. There is also training by the Indie Training Fund (ITF) which is for independent TV and digital media production companies.

Those who work in the industry will tend to work as self employed freelancers. They have the chance to work between a series of roles throughout the industry. There is no fixed promotion for a producer, but it depends on looking out for opportunities. Some producers will create a studio or go on to a higher role of execute producer. The next role up from a producer is the director. Who is the most important person in the programme production process.The best advice is to learn about the whole industry, and work on as many volunteer projects as you can before working in the industry.

The biggest broadcaster in the UK is the BBC. Who create programming for the public state, which i funded by the license fee. They have a whole host of programmes producers could work on. Another company is ITV which also looks at creating TV content for broadcast.Other TV channels you may be working for are BSkyB, Channel 4, Channel 5. There has been a large increase in digital content over the years, with some people just focusing on content for sites such as YouTube. Which is also one route to consider. Last of all, you may work for an independent production companies, production and facilities houses, community projects or a film company.

Broadcast Journalist

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Broadcast journalists are those who research, investigate and present news and current for the TV, They aim to present information that is balance, impartial and accurate whilst also making it interesting for the audience. They will also do side roles of editing, reporting, presenting, producer and being a correspondent. Day to day they will:

• Generating ideas for new stories, follow up sources by investigating into the police,public and press conferences
• Pitch news stories to editors
• Research, verify and link evidence together to support a story
• Writing scrips for headlines and reports 
• Select locations, pictures and sounds for creating a story
• Finding all the resources and deploying a crew to film on locations
• Asking as a director for pieces telling them what to film
• Using cameras to record footage for broadcast
• Prepare and presenting material for broadcast
• Find potential clients for an interview, prepare interview questions and then conduct the interview
• Decide on the running order of a story
• Working with editors to get their news piece out there
• Making contacts with local sources for future projects
• Sticking to the codes and conventions of the interview during production.

For a local and national broadcasters, the starting salary ranges from £16 - £24k. The higher you get up in the food chain (senior level) you can start to look at, at least £30-£60k and even high profile journalists can earn from £80+. This is a higher pay that a radio presenter. Many broadcasters are on a short time contract; but some stations may hire presenters for certain things. I.E a permanent job presenting the breakfast news. Although. many journalists work as a freelancer finding story's for different stations.

There are a series of ways into becoming a broadcast journalist. There is direct entry through a traineeship. Moving from print journalism across to broadcast. And pre-entry by completing a degree or postgraduate qualification. Again, although its open to graduates, it is recommended to have a degree in:  journalism, business, fiance,economics, government or politics. Employers look for:

• an interest in people, news, current affairs and a good general knowledge;
• excellent written and oral communication skills;
• confidence in front of a camera and an 'on air' presence;
• an understanding of appropriate technical equipment and relevant editing software;
• ability to work under pressure, both within teams and individually;
• outstanding analytical skills and ability to absorb, extract and present information in a clear and understandable way;
• ability to build rapport and to handle interactions with sensitivity, empathy and diplomacy, while maintaining impartiality;
• excellent interviewing and listening skills;
• an eye for a story, with an ability to generate original ideas and the confidence to pitch to senior editors;
• tenacity, persistence, resourcefulness and creative problem-solving skills.

It is recommend to get experience whether it is paid or not. As it can help develop skills employers look for. Stations such as ITV and BBC will often run regional traineeship schemes, but competition is fierce. Which is why starting early is a good idea. If you enter through a course, it is expected that the basic training will have already been covered. Those who haven't will normally get training in media law and health and safety. Some training will be on the job, by starting off with basic task before going into the job full time. This will often include working on autocues and fetching tapes and resources for others. Short courses can also include negotiating contracts, public relations, editing and interviewing skills. 

Before becoming a journalist, you will often begin as a newsroom assistant or researcher. Once you gain experience you can start to specialize. Some may go into senior broadcasting looking after staff and budgets; whilst others may become an anchor or presenter. Some also may become a correspondent aiming to be a senior correspondent on news networks. This role is very rare. Investigative or documentary journalism are other routes and those who want to work behind the scenes may become an editor or producer. Progression often includes working for larger networks.

Employers of broadcast journalists include: BBC, Bloomberg, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITN, ITV, Press Association and independent production companies. Competition is tough, although digital broadcasting has opened up more jobs. Such as 24 hour news channels and niche programming.

Production Coordinator 

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A TV production coordinator, is responsible for the admin, organisation and secretarial work for producing a TV programme. Work will vary from production to production: Work includes: assisting actors and crew, issuing scripts, organizing all the equipment and supplies, sorting out travel and accommodation and sorting out any concerns. They will work on all sorts of programmes from news, reality and games shows and much more.They can also be known as a production assistant, script supervisor or a production secretary. Day to day work includes:

• Going to meetings
• Setting up a production office
• Typing, editing, copying and handing out scripts
• Organizing travel
• Sorting out hotel arrangements
• Creating schedules
• Assisting cast and crew, by running errands
• Dealing with budgets
• Setting up insurance 
• Checking scripts and running orders
• Setting up pre recorded material 
• Making shot lists and carrying out any other paperwork

Starting salaries start from £14-£16, where as an experienced coordinator will earn between £20 and £25K. With senior level topping of, of up to £30k.They will typically be freelance and will get paid on a contract basis. The job will vary from an office, to a studio to on location. Jobs are mainly down south in London. But Manchester is one of the keys for broadcasting in the north.  It is a demanding job and can be unpredictable. Work can also be irregular and travel may be expected.

This is open to all graduates. No specific qualification are required  but the industry is competitive and will need to have an interest in media. A post graduate degree may help with practical skills but is not essential. Gain experience from university of a film making society to sell yourself out from others.Volunteering is also recommended.Employers look for:

• excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• the ability to work effectively as part of a team and alone;
• stamina, persistence, enthusiasm, motivation and a proactive manner;
• the ability to remain calm and level-headed under pressure;
• initiative, flexibility, adaptability, common sense and problem-solving skills;
• sound administrative and organisational skills;
• a good level of numeracy and fast, accurate word-processing skills;
• the ability to prioritize and cope with last-minute changes (e.g. to scripts) while under pressure.

The BBC also offers limited work experience but is very competitive. Channel 4 also offers the same chance.They will receive most of the training by shadowing the experience coordinators in the industry. And attending the training sessions set up by the production company.Other organisation such as the BBC Academy, Creative Skill set and Cyfle offer additional training. 

You are more than likely to start as a runner before moving onto a production coordinator. This is competitive so you will need to work your way up. There is no structured route for this career and the freelance elements make it more unpredictable. To progress you will need good networking skills and motivation. Take all the opportunities you can to show your commitment. Contact companies on a regular basis to look out for jobs. This job can often lead to a senior production coordinator or a production manager finical manger, assistant director, director, floor manager, producer, unit manager, location manager or a vision mixer.

Within the industry the main broadcasters offering jobs are: BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and other cable and satellite broadcasters such as BSkyB, There are also independent companies such as HIT, Tiger Aspect and Endemol UK who make programmes for larger channels. These are usually found in London and the South East but there is also regional companies; who hire freelancers.

Broadcast Engineer

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A broadcast engineer is a technical job that works with hardware and broadcast systems for TV. They make sure that programmes are broadcast on time and to a high quality. They will also update and repair equipment for broadcast. They will work in a series of locations and situations. They may be in a studio working on a set or in an office carrying out post production. They will work with crew members such as producers, studio managers and presenters.Day to day they will:

• Maintain specialist equipment for production, broadcast and transmission. 
• Set up and monitor audio visuals
• Install new software and equipment
• Set up and work with editing facilities 
• Analyse and fixed any technical faults
• Minimize failure time on live broadcasts
• Learn about new equipment that comes into the industry
• Set up transmission links 
• Repair hardware and software
• Design circuits for systems
• Work with health and safety standards
• Read and complete instructions for requests of producers, directors and crew
• Communicate with all those on the production
• Make a series of contacts whilst on jobs

Starting salaries will start from around £18K; but those on the training schemes will only earn around £11.5K plus. This comes with the plus side of getting a degree whilst working. By working your way up and becoming experienced you could be earning from £30k to £60k. You may end up on higher salaries if you work in a senior role for a large company.  They tend to be freelancers and will be experienced professionals, work can be unpredictable. Working hours can be long and tiring. Extra hours are expected if there are faults, as you cannot leave until they are. Due to the situation of booking out studios. Locations vary from warm studios to cold conditions outside for location shooting. You will need to be highly organised and skilled in your area. Without self management you will struggle as a freelance.  You may get a break in your career but that may take several years by working with the same company.

Most will enter as a trainee through schemes by broadcast companies. But you normally need one of the following degrees: broadcast engineering, electrical engineering or electronic engineering. Other graduates may enter if they have good A levels in maths or physics. An interest and skill in the job is also vital. You may get on a scheme with a HND or foundation degree, they may also accept someone without a degree if they have the relevant A levels.Runners can also go on an internal scheme to become a broadcast engineer. Companies such as the BBC Work Experience, 4Talent and Tiger Aspect Productions Work Experience will over work experience. Which is another quality employers look for. They also look for:

• experience in electronic engineering and using communication equipment;
• sufficient colour vision and hearing;
• the ability to apply digital (and analogue) theory and work from diagrammatic information;
• excellent IT skills;
• the ability to work well in teams;
• fault-finding skills and the capacity to solve technical problems in a creative way;
• strong communication and people skills;
• excellent attention to detail;
• time management skills;
• flexibility;
• the ability to remain calm under pressure;
• a proactive and results-focused approach to work;
• stamina and physical fitness;
• a knowledge of health and safety in the workplace.

Most trainees will learn the skills in the firs year and a half by attending the courses set up by the employer. You may also gain skills by working with those in the industry. The BBC offers apprenticeships which last for 3 years alongside a degree and a work experience. Although there is no definite job; although you get paid your university fee and a salary. If you are hired you will be on regular courses to learn about new technology. If you are freelance you will do this yourself.

After being a trainee you may move on to be a network operations assistant before becoming fully trained. Some will specialize in one form of system or technology. You could also move onto a team leader role by being promoted through merit. Moving up to a senior broadcast engineer. This is a competitive field and hiring is often based through networking. So by gaining contracts you are more likely to progress from a broadcast engineer based off this and reputation. Some places also offer the progression from an engineer to a management role.

The main employers consist of BBC, ITV Channel 4, Channel 5 and S4/C. There will also be a series of smaller companies who work on production content for the channels. Other companies consist of digital ones like BSkyB or those abroad. The main media locations outside of London is Salford after the recent move.

Film/Video Editor

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Freelance editors will use the latest digital technology to assemble raw material into a structured and finished product, which will later be broadcast. Not only will you be working on video footage, you may also be working with  dialogue, sound effects, graphics, text and sometimes special effects. The skill of the editor will often be shown in the finished product. You will work close to the director to match this thinking process. You are more than likely to be on a short term contract for a post production or TV studio. You can then also apply these skills to a feature film, TV, music videos or even an advert.

Day to day you will:

• Recieve briefs, shot lists and scripts to use as a guidelines when editing
• Assemble raw footage that has been ingested ready for you
• Input rushes and sounds, then synchronizing them up with the correct video file
• Cutting on digital software
• Creating rough cuts ready for the final cut
• Tweaking the content and order if needs be to create a logical and smooth running order in the video
• You may also over see the audio and video engineers
• Design and play around with graphic elements
• Writing a commentary/voice over
• Selecting or suggesting music to use for the edit
• Correcting faulty footage
• Grading and coloring footage
• Adding special effects

You will normally do office hours but it depends on the type of production. You may work at night time if the editing suites are booked out at night. When it comes close to deadlines you will be working longer and more stressful hours. There will be times of inactivity so keep looking out for jobs as competition is fierce. You will normally work alone or with a director, on bigger projects you are also looking at sound effects editors, music editors and assistants. You will normally work in an edit suite, but it your are freelance you could do it at home with your own kit. All the major editing work is London based, but there are independent companies working all over the UK.

You do not need any form of degree to be an editor. But you must show commitment and determination to get into the industry. You will need to show your skill so a degree maybe helpful in doing this. The subjects respected are normally: communication and media studies, film/tv/photography, fine art, IT and graphic design. You will need good skills in editing programmes such as Avid or Final Cut Pro. There are courses for various skill levels but they can be expensive. Employers look for:

• a keen eye for detail and a critical mind;
• creativity and a passionate interest in film and video editing;
• patience and concentration;
• the ability to listen to others and to work well as part of a team;
• a high level of self-motivation, commitment and dedication;
• organisational and time management skills;
• the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines;
• communication skills, both written and oral.

To be good in the editing field you have to show your willingness to get involved and to even help out with the basic task. Work experience helps you show commitment; as pre entry experience is expected. A portfolio or showreel is a good way to show employers what you have worked on. You will not normally start as an editor, students and graduates often start as a runner then work their way up. Most editors work for: post production companies, independent companies, broadcast companies, video game companies, animation companies and film companies.Some places will offer long term contracts, film companies often employ their own team of editors and but the majority all use freelancers.

The best way to progress in the industry is by making a good reputation and a strong series of links and contacts. You will not start at an editor so you will often start on a lower salary, such as minimum wage as a runner. You then may work up to an assistant editor, but the full job. For a starting salary you are looking at £18-£25k. Then with expirence you are looking at £20-£35k. At a senior level you could then be earning from £37-£70k but you will need to be a senior level on high end projects.Working is one of the ways to train, but you cannot always learn all the editing skills from observing professionals. There is courses in use of editing, post production audio, visual effects and finance for freelancers available for editors out there.
In terms of career development, you are looking at being a runner or trainee, then an assistant and then an editor.  In a post production company you may go from a runner, digitizer, assistant editor, editor , then senior editor. This will take time as a freelancer so build up a good reputation to help you progress in the industry.

Routes into Jobs

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As we have found out by looking into the various job roles there is no set route into the industry. For this section I will sum up our finds so far. In order to get your dream job you will need to be studying subjects related to your career. For instance the common occurring degrees that employers want are:

• Media studies
• Photography
• TV studies
• Film studies 
• Tv and Film Production
• Set designer
• Art style design courses (Costumes, props. etc...)
• Law degrees (If you are going onto the financial side of things)

They also look for a minimum of a C in GCSE maths in English .Which is also required for college studies and university. For instance you could go from GCSE-BTEC-University, GCSE-BTEC-Apprenticeship, GCSE-BTEC- Work experience (volunteer work also included) or GCSE-BTEC to Employment. No matter which route you take you will need to undertake training on the job as it is a fast moving industry. Thus, summing up the findings so far. 

Ways to Apply for Jobs

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Because the industry for media is so large and the modern era is evolving rapidly. There are now a series of ways you can apply for jobs. In this section I will break down all the ways in which you can apply for a job. 

Job Application 

A job application is a document that you can retrieve from an employer. You will then complete the fields inputting all your data such as name, address, previous employment,  your education, questions on why you want the job/what you have to offer, a list of references (Contacts of the people who will give an accurate and honest opinion of you to an employer). Although these forms can be lengthy, you need to make sure they are accurate, honest, legible and make you stand out. As this is a quick way an employer can judge somebody; before they give you the chance to an interview. They can be very comprehensive, but it allows the employer to get a brief understanding of your character. 

Employers also use them because its a very systemic way of comparing candidates. As they can pull out the key details about a person from the information you give them. This way they can narrow down the candidates before putting time and money into hiring people to go through interviews and the selection process.They are often quicker than CV's and are in on format. Where as there is a whole variety of styles a CV can follow. The employer may also ask for a CV to go alongside the form to get a full understanding of yourself.

The form also acts as a test to the employer. As through that form they can assess spelling, grammar and punctuation. To see what basic skills you hold. To make sure you are fit to work in the country. To check the background of yourself, making sure your education is complete and also to check your criminal background (if you have one). For instance on ITV Careers you can fill out this form online, in order to get to the form you first of all need to sign up to the website. 

CV and Cover Letter

CV stands for the Latin words "Curriculum Vitae" which means course of life. It is a summary of your working life, your skills, your education and holds a personal statement about yourself. In the personal statement you have the chance to tell the employer about yourself. The key is to sell yourself to the employer through your skills and experiences. A typical CV is normally around 1-2 sides of A4 long, depending on your experiences. For instance a younger person may have a much smaller CV to a middle aged man; due to different life styles and age.

You must remember to put all the key details into your CV. The first being your contact details: full name, address, contact number and email. This way the employer can contact you, in order to tell you whether you are successful or not in getting the job. Sometimes employers will keep your CV on hold to contact you at a later date. You must also list your education this includes: dates and locations of education, also include your qualification you have earned. A good tip is to place your most recent form of education at the top of the list. Again, include at least two references. This is the people who can provide honest comments on your previous employment and experience. 

List your skills, every skill you can do is vital on a CV. As it can set you out from the rest. For instance can you work in a team? Multi task? Manage groups of people? Do you have good customer skills? Do you have good IT skills? Last of all what experience have you had? Those who look for work experience and do volunteer jobs show of their commitment to an employer. And already gives them more of a chance to get the job. Again add the most recent experience to the top of the list. 

You do not need to include the term curriculum vitae, CV is enough. A photo is only needed if the employer asks for one. You also don't need your date of birth for safe guarding reasons. For your personal statement stick to around 200 words. As this is a good amount to be short and snappy whilst also selling yourself. Include your hobbies, this is a good way for an employer to get to know more about you. If you have a weird and wonderful hobby, this also makes you stand out from the crowd as you may be unique. Basic hobbies such as reading ,going to the cinema or listening to music are very generic. Whereas learning a language sets you out from the crowd.

In order to write a good CV you need to do the following. Check your work, make sure there are no mistakes. As this proves you understand basic grammar, punctuation and spelling. Use a spell checker or even getting someone else to read over it.Show of your language, use formal and fancy words instead of slang and "street talk". Layout your CV in a way to which it stands out. Use formal fonts that stand out, don't be afraid to add color. As long as it looks professional you can do anything you want. Keep it neat and tidy and that it looks easy on the eye. Avoid the font Comic Sans, a common point size to use is 10pt in Verdana or Lucida Sans. Last of all, never ever lie on a CV. Not only does it set you across as being dishonest. You could also receive a prison sentence. For instance changing a degree grade. Now lets take a look at an example CV: 

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Although its not the best CV is has all of the things we looked at earlier. It is also set out in a nice layout and is easy on the eye. It may not be the best font for headings but simple things such as bold for key information really makes this stand out. In order to improve this they could of also added a personal statement telling the employer about themselves. As currently there is no full understanding of the women behind the CV. We just have short sentences and a bullet point list. You would normally give this to an employer alongside an application form. Now lets move onto a cover letter.

Cover Letters:

A cover letter is a document that is normally paired with the CV, it allows you to personalize your application whilst also highlighting the key areas of your CV in more depth. Keep this document brief and emphasis why you are the best for the job. A good way to create a cover letter is by breaking it down into 3 paragraphs. The paragraph is all about why your are writing the letter,state what your applying for, where you found the job and when you can start. The next paragraph is all about why you want the job, what work you want, what interests you about the company, what you can offer and how your skills match the specifications of the job description. Last of all,the final paragraph show indicate your desire for a interview. Finish of by thanking the employer and how eager you are for a response. Direct your letter to the employer. 

Key tips include: Keeping it concise, use the same paper as your CV, include a named contact, relate your skills to the job, proof read!, layout it out in an easy way, check to make sure all the data is accurate and use your own language and avoid cliches. Avoid: repeating what you have put in your CV, leaving in mistakes, including unnecessary personal details, concentrating on your qualifications rather than your skills and don't forget to make your letter suited to the job your are applying for:

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Although the layout isn't the best. This is a really good example of a cover letter. As they follow the 3 paragraph steps mentioned previously. They go over the job they are applying for, they then highlight there skills and how they match the job and they finish leaving their contact details.

Portfolio /Website

In the media industry, it is not longer acceptable to just have a CV and a cover letter. To show of your work experience and skills you are often required to present a portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of your work present in a neat and tidy format. The employer can then go through your work and question you on it during an interview. Asking you what you think of the work, can it be improved and what is your thinking during the creative process. By not only showing off your skills, you can show the employer you can critically evaluate your own work. 

For instance a independent film maker may set-up a Vimeo page and will select their best work to show employers. They could also turn them into a showreel to sell themselves to employers. It doesn't always have to be on an electronic basis. For instance a graphic designer may have a folder full of print offs, to which they could photocopy and hand to employers. It all depends on the job you are applying for. A portfolio is often required to be brought along to the interview as it can help further narrow down potential employees. 

The best way to create a portfolio is to not only show your greatest moments, but perhaps include your first piece of work to show your improvements over the years. As an employer wants to see how you will improve over the course if they selected you to work for them. It also shows how you can adapt your work over time. It is critical that you are honest about your portfolio. You cannot put other peoples work in your portfolio as it is false and dishonest.

 You may do if you helped with certain parts of a production but you must give the appropriate credits. For instance you did some editing work for a project, you can only talk about those skills to the employer and not the lighting, acting or composition etc... There are a whole series of places you can put your portfolio: Online, printed into folders, on DVDs/CDs and even on a memory stick/hard drive. The key is to make it portable as that way you can easily spread your work and instead of you going to an employer, they may come to you instead.

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Take this example of an advertiser. By putting in the images onto a website. You can easily look at all the work somebody has done. It also helps you get an understand of what they have done in the past. These skills could then be adapted for jobs you are applying for. Making this example a really good instance of a strong portfolio. As the layout is neat and is easy on the eye.

Professional Website:

A website is a great way for freelancers, and any worker in the media, to get themselves out there. As we saw earlier your portfolios and show reel can easily be uploaded online for a mass audience to view. If your work is to a high standard then you may find yourself a job through the media buzz. As on you website you could include a profile on yourself, contact details such as an email and phone number and your collection of work. This way if you have gained a good reputation the work will come to you rather than you looking for work.

Although, this is often a rare opportunity and work must be of a standard where those in the industry would be proud to share it. (See networking later on for details). If you are lucky enough to get contacts in the media, send them your website link and within a click of the button they can get an understanding about yourself without you having to give them a CV or interview. As it will be there and easy to access.See above for this sections example.

Online Networking/Recommendation From Clients

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Networking is simply making contacts with those in the media industry. Once you begin to make links it becomes easier to get work if your can prove your worth. Although you may make contact reality you can then add their contact on social media sites, Skype and even on your phone. You can then bring in other factors of getting a job such as your portfolio and websites. If you can manage to impress somebody in the industry, then its more than likely that the next time a job needs coming you have a strong chance of being offered it.

They may also share your work to others in the industry. No matter if they working a small time production company or it is the BBC. By making contacts you have a good chance of getting work. Don't be afraid to get 1 or 2 contacts contacts, get as many contacts as you can. As the more people you know the easier you can begin to build up a reputation. The higher the reputation, the higher the demand for yourself. Which then also means a higher pay as a result. Throughout this blog we have covered networking in the film sector roles. So this is a nice summary to this method of getting a job. 

But how do you begin to network? Well if you manage to get into the industry as a runner, make friends with those higher up. Show your commitment, show yours skills and give yourself a professional behavior (see below). Even if you don't manage to get along with the producer or the director get to know the crew. Because as we saw earlier there is a huge range of jobs on offer. Another means could be a film festival. If your work has managed to be entered, talk to the other contestants, try to get to know the judges and so on. As even if you are nominated you are still showing off your skills. 

One last example could be a local event, if there is a series of production teams created your own video and then shared it with the event organizers. That way the people who attended the event can comment and judge you on what you have created as they were there. If its really good work then you can say you had the backing of the organizers and you may even make friends with those from other production companies working on other videos. The key is to self advertise in any means you can. Then don't be afraid to show those in the industry your work. Even ask them if they know of any projects running you could be involved in. It can also work the other way around, if you are high up you could create a project by networking and pulling in others. Even if you don't know anyone to pick from in your networking and your looking for others check out their websites and hire people off your own accord.

Recommendation from clients works very closely with networking. If you produce an outstanding piece of work and you not only impress the clients but those who viewed the product. Not only are you more than likely to get hired again, but the company will gladly tell others of your service. Which is the same concept as networking, Not only have you made one contact, but then you have made more contacts through the recommendation. 

Which brings it back into the loop. The key to remember from this section is, you never know who you are going to meet. So always have some version of your work handy so in every situation you can show of your efforts. Put work onto a website, usb , DVD, CD and even a hard-drive. This also shows that if you work hard on every project your are hired for, if you impress the client then your whole career will be kicked into motion.

Work Experience/Voluntary Work Placement

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Last of all doing the job you want to do for free can be a great way of getting into the industry. As all employers want to see evidence of how well you will be able to do in your given job. By doing work experience in a area you are interested in can help you gain evidence for you to show an employer the skills they are looking for. It can also make you more aware of the industry you want to enter. 

Work experience can range from open days, to shadowing a worker in the media industry and even going full on into the line of the work you are interested in. For instance big broadcasting companies such as ITV, BBC and Channel 4 offer work experience programs which we look at under the jobs roles. Even the smaller independent companies may be able to offer work experience. The more time you work in a company, there is a higher chance of you getting a high level of responsibility. Which then means you get to explore more of the industry you are working for.

Not only can you build up your skills for the role. You can also show employers that you are commitment to your line of work, so committed that you will do it for free. If you work really hard during your placement then this further increases the respect of a potential future boss. It helps you understand the world of work and further helps you push your skills and knowledge in a given area.This helps you massively stand out from the crowd as you can say you have experience doing the job you are applying for. Which cannot be said for everyone that applies for jobs in the modern era. If you really impressive the people you work for as part of the experience, then you could potentially be working for them one day. Even if its a volunteer company you can show other potential bosses  the hard work and effort you put into the industry, just to give yourself a better understanding.

Professional Behaviors

Now that you know how to get a job, lets take a look at the key skills them employers look for. These skills are the vital foundations to having a successful career. Without them your duration in the industry could be shorter than expected. For this section I will make references to all the jobs we look at earlier.Typical behaviors employers look for are:

• Reliability: Being reliable means being: "consistently good in quality or performance; able to be trusted." This is one of the essential back bones of a good employee. Not only are you doing your job but you are constantly keeping up to date with the work you are being given to a high standard. You can also be trusted to do your job without having someone come in every 5 minutes to get you to work to the correct level. Not only does this reassure the employer as they will have hard working staff, if sustained it will continue to impress your boss. Which could not only have an effect of a pay rise but also a promotion to a higher job. After all, reliability plays a key part in getting runners from the bottom to the top. If they can show those around them the work they can do, on time, on a high level of detail and correctly to the brief then everyone will want to work with them.

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Being reliable also comes with other benefits. As employers are also more likely to give you larger paying tasks. Not only increasing your skills but also your responsibility. As they trust you will complete the work on time with no errors. If you turned up to work every day late, you keeping leaving your work until the deadline and take breaks every 5 minutes you are not selling yourself as a good employee. By being hardworking you are more likely to earn a higher respect. For instance if you keep sticking it out as a job as a free lance journalist, meeting the deadlines with the latest headlines. Not only are you more likely to get the bigger stories, they may also find a place for you in the company. Resulting in a higher pay, confirmed job and more responsibility within the company.  

• Attendance and Punctuality: In order to help be classed as reliable, you must be on time and present to work. To further set yourself aside, employers also look out for those who want to go the extra mile and come into work early and leave late, whilst also looking for over time. As it helps you stand out from the crowd as you are showing your commitment to your job. Someone who arrives on work on time is going receive more appreciation than someone who turns up late or continues to take days out of work. By being on time to work, your employers will begin to show your the respect you have earned. 

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If you fail to be on time then you could miss out on important projects that someone else will have took up as the boss has recognized  their continued efforts. Not only giving them more work but also a higher reputation within the industry. For instance if you work for a newspaper you may miss a big story that could make your career. Or as an advert producer you may miss a once in a life time opportunity with a big client. As a graphic designer you could of been working on the cover of the latest best selling boy band. Or if you are in the video side of things, you could of missed out on working on the music video of the latest best selling boy band. By being on time and turning up to work at the correct time. Not only are you more likely to get the better jobs, but it makes you stand out in front of the crowd with your boss and clients (Increasing your network) which can help you boost your career.

• Commitment: By being commitment something in a job sense, is to be dedicated to your job. You don't need to be there 24/7 like the cliches in the movies. But your dedication for your job is shown by your continued good attitude and work ethic. You will work hard on every task no matter what. Not only is it important for your job but also for your overall mood in life. Because if you are not happy with your job, your work ethic and efficiency will decrease.Not only making you the next target to be out of the door and the working world but also depressed.

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When you are fully commitment you are at the peak of the work speed. Making sure 100% goes into every task, you will reap the rewards. As not only will your clients and employers trust you and give you praise and a fair pay for your service. For instance if the boss is asking for somebody to come and work on the next blockbuster hit, he will go for somebody who has been working hard all year on what ever task is thrown there way. Compared to someone who won't get the task because they show a negative attitude to work and only work on projects they are interested in. People who are higher up also need to remain commitments as if the team they are working with begin to see cracks. The hierarchy begins to diminish and could result in a poor product at the end of it. Say a director starts to loose faith in their team, as the production goes on the work will start to degrade in quality. Resulting in a poor movie and could result in a loss at the box office. The same could be said for a newspaper team, if you start to loose interest in your work then your stories don't become published and it could put you out of work. As you will be replaced with someone who wants to work and will get their work out their because they have a strong working commitment. 

• Efficiency/Time Management: Efficiency is about using your time wisely, whilst also getting the most out of your work ethic. If you are being commitment to your job you will often peak at a rate at which good quality work is being produced in shorts amount of time. This links closely to time engagement. As time management is all about making the most of your time to meet deadlines. Time managing also links into attendance as if you can manage to come into work on time and arriving for the correct period of time you are showing you understand how to work around your social life and work. You can then further show your time management skills by making the most out of a working day.

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If you can show employers that you can efficiently get work done to a high standard during tight deadlines you are more likely to become seen as trust worthy. Then you will begin to get the higher rated jobs that wouldn't off been on offer when you start working in the industry. If you manage to cut down the deadlines before finishing early you can also make a greater profit as in the normal time someone might take to finish one project, you could of finished two. For instance a graphic designer will work with deadlines all the times, making posters for advertising groups, banners for social media or even designing tickets to an event. By being able to multitask and plan out these situations you can effectively manage a work load. Another job that will require time management is working as a producer. As each part of a production will have certain deadlines over a serious of months. As by one stage all the pre production needs to be done, then the production and then the pre production. Not only will they have to show the time engagement skills as it is very tight, in order to be effective they will also have to put in a great deal of commitment, attending on time (as they are near the top of the hierarchy) and being reliable for all those working underneath them.

• Self-Presentation: Self presentation is not only how your dress for your job but is also the way in which you present your work to others. Depending on the type of area you are working in, you will be dressed differently. I.E a presenter will dress differently to a TV presenter. Lets take one look at an example from the news.Men will generally where suits and ties whilst the women wear either a smart dress or shirt and blazer. This is done so they appear professional. This is because if they look formal and smart the audience is more likely to listen to what they have to say. As they appear trustworthy and authoritative. Alongside the neat appearance is a neat hair cut which further aids the news reader in looking professional and presentable.
  
  
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  For instance you wouldn't trust what this man is telling you, if he was dressed in a manner like the picture. As the outfit he is wearing does not look authoritative or presentable; the make up and the disturbing outfit for a man would make the audience feel uncomfortable. Which would not only mean they wouldn't trust what he is saying, they may turn off completely. Which is why the codes of smart dress is a set in place for studio news readers. If you do not look smart or suit the dress code of your job then you may be given a warning or even fired from your position. For instance Rita Ora was given a warning last year on the programme The Voice after dressing in a provocative manner. For the future she was told to cover up more.Now lets take a look at the other form of presentation. If you were a journalist and you sent in work that was unreadable, non printable and didn't make any cohesive sense then you would receive negative feedback from your employer. As not only is it very reliable, it is also untidy, lacking in efficiency it also demonstrates poor communication skills (see next for more). This could have a knock on effect on future jobs, because you didn't think of other people who will need to process your work to complete a project.  It is vital that you continue to keep up the consistency in your work  as this can have a knock on effect on clients, you and your employer.

• Communication Skills:  Communication skills are those in the art of communicating with people on both a verbal and written level. It is vitally important that those in the media have good communication skills as each project requires so. Where it is a small production team working on an advert, to a large press company working on the latest headlines or a radio station that broadcasts live 24/7. Written communication skills often involve sending messages through social media, writing an email, writing a letter or even sending a text. Somebody with good communication skills will use a high level of formal language and will construct their phrase in a cohesive and precise format. Detailing all the information in a quick and easy manner.

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Which is why employers look for a grade C or above in GCSE English. This way it is vital to correctly to be polite use correct spelling punctuation and grammar. Where as to be good at verbal communication you must be good with people. Getting on with those you normally wouldn't whilst keep your self respectable. As you will be speaking to clients or other colleagues as a committed and professional worker. In the media there is a large amount of information passing through the sources to build a final project. Often information may also be hard to access and may acquire you to speak to a whole host of people. This can be made even more difficult if you do not present your findings in a presentable way and because you lack in communication skills. For instance researchers will ask a whole host of people questions, interview them and do big findings using a series of topics. They must then condense the findings so they are easy to understand and so they can then present them to everyone else. Although if you don't make them presentable and you cannot fully explain your research then you could be in deep trouble.

Communication skills also come in useful for directors, as they are in charge of a whole unit of people. If they cannot effectively control a team by telling them where they need to be and when and what work they are doing each day. The team could easily fall apart and the film or TV show would suffer as a result.  

• Team Work: Like we found out in the previous section, a whole host of cast and crew can be working on one project at a time. In order for things to move smoothly, you must have good team work skills as it helps increase the motivation of the product but also increases the efficiency. Making a project very time efficient. Therefore it is vital that no matter who you are working with, you must learn to work with them. As if disputes are created it could slow down project, not only does that waste time it can also have an effect on the amount of money earned as a result. 

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To full make the most of this you must also have good social and communication skills, as again you are working with a large amount of people. By contributing into team efforts not only can you adapt and learn new skills. You can also get a taste for those who also work in the industry. Helping you build up more contacts in the industry. Teamwork is a key skill employers look for so if you can fully harness it put it on your CV! As it shows employers that your are willing to work with those you are unfamiliar with as a dedication to your job. As in a team everyone is as strong as the weakest member.

For instance there will be teams of people working for the newspapers. The chief editor will collect a series of people to make a story for the news. As they may get a researcher to go and find out more about the story, a reporter to then go and fully assess the situation and write up a report, a photographer to help add a visual element to the news and then a editor for the paper will then check over the work for SPaG.

Again, apply it to a team of graphic designers. There may be a leader of the group who will be in charge of communicating from the client. Who will get a series of designers together to come up with ideas for a product who will then compete to get theirs selected. They will then work as a team to produce that final product which will be sold to the client for a profit. 

Last of all, look at the team behind a TV show , the director and producer will work with a huge team of people in order to make a show. In the pre production stages they will work with concept artists, story board artists, screen writers , health and safety, location managers and companies that are willing to fund projects. They will then work with a whole host of new people during production and then again for pre production. Harnessing every last drop of the skills they have in order to make it as as successful as possible.

• Responsibility: To be responsible you are becoming accountable for your own actions. This means if you mess up you must deal with the consequences. You cannot rely on someone else to help you out if it is a drastic measure. This means in all the other skills we have looked at you must stick to the professional behaviors to stay on track. The higher you go up the food chain , the higher the responsibility you have. Whilst responsibility can be a good thing as you get to work on the higher projects and you could often be running your own teams working on projects. The simplest of mistakes can often lead to hurdling side effects. 

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Some people may not chose to take up responsibilities due to fear or even laziness as the simplest of problems overwhelms them. Which is why responsibility is often a skill harnessed by those who work at the top of the ladder. Although if you fail to take the responsibility of doing your job at any level then not only will you fail your job but also fail your team around you. Those who are not good at being responsible will often: have a lack of interest in work, blame others, miss deadlines, avoid the challenging and higher tasks, complain and will lack trust in other team member's. Where as those who are good at taking responsibility will harness all the skills we have covered so far. 

For instance a director will have the responsibility in doing his job of directing a movie, which will involve working with a team in order to get a finished product. Although those with the lower rated responsibility will be there to assist making the movie rather than having the main control over a group. This can be said for any team effort as the leader has the highest stakes in the game compared to those working for them. As they will have the highest reputation and the most to lose in terms of the career. 

We can also apply responsibility to freelancers as not only will they have the duty to do the job for themselves and a client. But you have the whole control over yourself as you work for yourself. If you don't complete a project then you don't get paid. And if you don't get paid then you will struggle to live. You may also get a whole deal of other problems due to lack of income. Therefore you must manage your own work , money and time as you are personal responsible for yourself.

End of Section - Note there was no form to upload with the link. So here I disclose that all of this work is my own and that I completed the work on the 21/5/15. C.Harris.