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Broadcast Media

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We use the term broadcast media to encompass TV, Film, Radio and Digital programming. According to the latest Annual ScreenSkills Assessment in 2019, there are over 24,000 businesses operating within the screen industries, the majority (70%) of which are small companies with fewer than five employees, with a total industry turnover of £37.5 billion. With a consumer shift towards high quality, on demand content; media companies are investing in new technologies and digital skills.  

There is no one clear route into the industry, making industry knowledge and networking key skills to gain a foot in the door. Some people start with a junior role to gain experience and contacts before working their way up to their desired role, whilst others compete for a limited number of places on large graduate and training schemes.

Many of the roles in this industry are freelance or contract-based, with people working on lots of different projects for different organisations.

All resources are correct at the time of writing (November 2020). For updated broadcast media resources, please visit the UCL Careers Online Library.

Sample roles and careers

Investigating the breath or roles within an industry can really help you understand what you are most interested in and so refine your thinking.

The Prospects website is a key resource for researching job roles within broadcasting. Examples include:

Each job profile contains information on:

  • Types of roles available.
  • Responsibilities and what to expect in the workplace.
  • Salary.
  • Working hours.
  • Professional qualifications required.
  • Transferable skills.
  • Finding work experience.
  • Professional development and career prospects.

Some further informative sector career guides include:

Interviews with professionals

Read through these interviews to learn more about their work, how they got there, and their advice to current students hoping to get started in the industry. You should get a feel for the work and whether it is something which interests you, but also how to break into the sector.

* Will be available to answer questions on Thursday 3rd December. Send your questions in advance.

UCL Careers blogs and news
Sector news and research – where to keep up-to-date with current issues

Throughout your applications and interviews it will be vital to show an understanding of the organisation in the context of the broader industry; what it does and why it takes the approach it does. It will also be valuable to be able to discuss current issues and trends

  • Televisual – publisher of industry news and research for the TV and film industries, including online news articles and a quarterly magazine.
  • Broadcast Now –  publisher of business information about the British TV Industry, in the UK and around the world.
  • The Radio Academy - a registered charity dedicated to the development, promotion and recognition of excellence in UK radio and audio. The website offers news and events.
Professional bodies

Professional bodies are a great source of information, training and support. Just like the above resources, they are a great way to stay informed. In addition, it may be possible to join or create a community of people who can support you to achieve your goals. They also often have ready-made lists of organisations within an industry, these can be used to find work in less well known organisations.

  • The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) – independent arts charity, offering training, networking and events those looking to enter the film, games and TV industries.
  • The Royal Television Society – an educational charity promoting the art and science of television. The website provides tips on getting into the television industry, job profiles, a list of training schemes, and information about bursaries. 
Employer directories and key job sites

These resources are essential to find jobs specific to the sector you are interested. You can also use them to find organisations to approach with a speculative application.

  • BBC – job opportunities at the BBC. 
  • Broadcast Jobs – online job site for jobs in the broadcasting industry.
  • Mandy – online jobs board for the creative industries with opportunities in TV and production. The website also includes an employer directory, TV show directory, and production services directory.
  • Kays – a film and TV information publishing company. The website offer a broad directory of companies and freelance technicians working within the film and TV industries.
  • The Knowledge – a publisher of Film and TV information. The website includes a directory of industry contacts and industry news and updates on productions.
  • Media.info – media directories for the radio, television, newspapers and magazines, plus industry insights.
Sample graduate schemes and internships

These structured programmes can be a useful foundation in the industry, but they are not the only entry-level positions. Your competition will be high and so you may want to diversify your job hunt and look for other opportunities in less well known organisations (see previous sections).

  • BBC trainee and graduate schemes – including the Broadcast Engineering Graduate Scheme and the Production Trainee Scheme.
  • BBC placements – including radio and television.
  • Channel 4 production training scheme – training scheme offering paid places at one of the UK's independent production companies for 12 months. Anyone can apply to the programme, but it is particularly aimed at people with disabilities, or from BAME communities or disadvantaged backgrounds.
  • ITV Technology Graduate Scheme – gain tech training at the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster.
  • RDF Television – run an internship scheme for people wanting to get into the television industry who have left full time education.
Specialist recruitment agencies

Specialist agencies can have quality industry knowledge and so perhaps help you understand roles and improve your applications. When engaging agencies, it is best to find a named person(s) to keep in contact with regularly, so don’t sign up to more agencies than you can manage, and keep them informed if you are no longer looking for work.

  • Agency Central – directory of recruitment agencies, including those specialising in recruitment for the media industries.
  • Creative Access - organisation dedicated to recruiting under-represented talent in the creative industries.
Diversity opportunities and relevant information

Many organisations are proactive in recruiting students and graduates from diverse backgrounds, see below for examples.

  • The MAMA Youth Project - recruits, trains and nurtures young people between 18-25 years of age with limited educational or employment opportunities to secure long-term and fulfilling employment in the TV and media industry.
  • Creative Access – social enterprise dedicated to recruiting under-represented talent in the creative industries, including television and digital media. The website includes a list of opportunities ranging from work experience to senior roles, some of which are restricted to those from under-represented groups in the industry.
  • VERCIDA – an online job site which aims to connects people to employers who place high importance on a mixed staff population. Opportunities are available within the media and entertainment industries.
  • Media Trust – deliver free training and mentoring to young people through a range of initiatives. Some programmes are specifically aimed at young people from diverse backgrounds who are underrepresented in the UK screen industries.

To investigate the attitudes and processes of employers, you can review their equality and diversity policies and check if they are a Disability Confident employer or are recognised as a ‘Mindful Employer’ or as a ‘Stonewall’s Diversity Champion’.