Choosing a broadcasting school usually comes down to three main decisions: where you want to live, where you want to work, and the sort of training your ideal job requires. Broadcasting encompasses radio, television, and Internet transmissions, and schools can train students for all manner of jobs within these disciplines. Anchors and broadcast personalities are some of the most obvious positions, but camera handlers, editors, and script and advertising writers must also be educated. Different broadcasting schools have different strengths and community connections. The best broadcasting school for you is usually one that offers training programs in the sort of work you want to do, and is either located in or well known enough in your desired job market to facilitate easy job searching upon graduation.
There are many different broadcasting schools. Though many look similar at first glance, differences exist in overall program prestige, areas of focus, and career placement opportunities, to name a few. The first thing to do is to take stock of your own goals in becoming a broadcaster. Then, carefully research schools to narrow down a few that seem like they would be good matches.
Broadcasting school is often characterized as something of a trade school. Most will offer a broad education in most aspects of broadcasting. Different schools tend to have different specialties, though. If you are hoping to train as a sports or news broadcaster, you will want a different sort of program than someone who wants to write news radio transcripts, or who hopes to specialize in the production of television commercials or web video content.
It is usually possible to get a sense of a school’s strengths from its promotional material or website. If the school talks a lot about broadcast engineer preparation, voice broadcaster coaching, or camera-readiness, take these as clues into what the program is really about. You should also look at the career placement history of recent graduates. Though not always definitive, this sort of information can help shed light on a program’s primary focus, as well as the sort of students it tends to attract.
Location is also something to consider. Most broadcasting schools are regionally-based and have relationships with local employers. Schools often place students in internships and summer jobs with broadcasting experts in the student’s area of interest. Choosing a school in a place where you would like to work is one of the easiest ways to break into the market.
Nearly every broadcasting school has an admissions office ready to answer prospective students’ questions. Calling or e-mailing for pointed information is one of the best ways to get more of a sense of whether a particular broadcasting school would be right for you. If possible, ask to speak to recent alumni about their experiences as a student, as well as their impressions of the education they received now that they are working full-time in the field. Seasoned broadcasters often have a different perspective than those at the beginning of the broadcasting job hunt.
