Media Jobs: The Definitive Guide
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Media Jobs: The Definitive Guide

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The Definitive Guide

Media jobs are many and varied, which is why we at Frame 25 have put together this definitive guide on the subject.

The 'media' covers many separate industries.

And working in them can be fun, challenging and rewarding, and is often at the cutting edge of technology and sometimes you're involved with programmes or projects long before the public even gets a sniff of them.

Working in the media can, however, appear to be a bit of a 'closed shop', where recruitment - especially at entry level - is reserved for 'friends of friends' or strings being pulled.

Plus, how do you know which industry - or even which part of a particular industry - is right for you before you've experienced at least one of them first-hand?

In the TV industry, for example, there's production, post production, transmission, ingest, scheduling, engineering, IT - the list goes on.

And what happens if you find yourself in a job that simply doesn't satisfy you or make the most of your skills and personality?

Well now you can relax, because what you're about to read will help to allay any related fears you might have and put you fully in the picture.

Introducing: The Definitive Guide to Media Jobs

What industries are we talking about? What's it like?

Here's how you get started. When you click one of the chapter links above, it'll jump you to your desired chapter… without refreshing the page.

Or you can simply read on from here...

Chapter 1: Introduction - working in the media

As 'the media' is such a broad term we've focused this guide on broadcast media - television, film and radio.

Broadcast is 'our' industry here at Frame 25, and what we know best.

Also, please note that Frame 25 is a British company and while most of the resources we link to on this page are UK-focused, there are one or two that are not but still offer very good and relevant advice for you if you're in the UK.

So, what's in this definitive guide?

We give you a whole set of resources that will help if you're considering entering the TV, radio or film industry. These include:

  • Job descriptions
  • Interviews with broadcast professionals
  • Links to relevant under-graduate and post-grad college courses
  • Links if you want to pursue further training, professional development or visit other industry-related sites

And we look at many of the various aspects of broadcast media, such as...

  • Production
  • Post production
  • Operations / technical (including IT, engineering and development)

We published an article on this blog in 2015 called Creative Media Jobs and How to Get One, which is still relevant today and features stories from various TV professionals including an editor, a TV comedy executive, a voiceover/continuity artist and someone who was once a runner*. You can read that article here.

*Starting out in broadcast as a runner is a great - if not glamorous - way to kick off your career, particularly if you'd rather not go to college or university for any reason and just get stuck into the industry and work your way up through the ranks.

So here's our first set of resources that give you a great overview of working in broadcast. Enjoy it and good luck!

Want to add a resource to this chapter? Tweet us with “Chapter 1: Working in the media” and provide a link.

Chapter 2: Spotlight on TV production

There are many roles - and personality types - needed in TV production, which is the part of the industry that's involved in actually making programmes and features.

Jobs are many and varied, ranging from make-up artists to floor managers to writers to researchers.

Here are some guides to many of these roles:

Want to add a resource to this chapter? Tweet us with “Chapter 2: TV production” and provide a link.

Chapter 3: Spotlight on TV post production

Frame 25 started life as a freelance agency with a background in broadcast operations and post production, so these areas of the industry are obviously strengths of ours.

And there are loads of other great resources for further information.

Here are some of the best:

Want to add a resource to this chapter? Tweet us with “Chapter 3: TV post production” and provide a link.

Chapter 4: Making an industry work - operations

Operations is an area that provides many media jobs that often go unnoticed by the watching or listening millions, staffed by hardy professionals who are used to simply getting stuff done, often to tight deadlines and under pressure.

Areas within this part of the industry may include transmission & MCR (master control room, where TV feeds enter and leave the building, satellite bookings are made and switches are done), project management and ingest.

Want to add a resource to this chapter? Tweet us with “Chapter 4: operations” and provide a link.

Chapter 5: Lights, camera, action: working in VFX and film

Working in film offers many similarities compared with the TV industry, but there are enough differences to warrant their own section in this guide.

VFX - visual effects - is an area of production that we know a lot about, and you'll find some great resources on that subject here:

Want to add a resource to this chapter? Tweet us with “Chapter 5: working in film” and provide a link.

Chapter 6: Broadcast technology - engineering and software development

If Operations is what makes the industry work, it's the engineers and developers who get the content on air.

Broadcast engineers will usually need knowledge on a range of technologies and areas of the TV business, including different areas of a facilities house, such as studios, playout, edit suites, audio booths and MCR.

They’ll also need to know about the storage, distribution and management of media itself (digital files today, rather than tapes).

Then there's the developers, a role which is becoming more and more crucial within broadcast as the months and years roll by.

Here's a list of great resources on the subject of broadcast technology:

Want to add a resource to this chapter? Tweet us with “Chapter 6: Broadcast tech” and provide a link.

Chapter 7: Working in radio

The radio industry has broadened enormously since the advent of DAB, which of course means more jobs are available.

Here are some great radio industry-specific resources we found:

Want to add a resource to this chapter? Tweet us with “Chapter 7: Working in radio” and provide a link.

Chapter 8: British media courses - where and what to study

The number of media-based courses available in the UK is huge compared to just a few years ago.

Whichever branch of the industry you want to get into, there's a course for you.

WhatUni.com has a great page on broadcasting studies degrees, while the National Film and Television School, in Beaconsfield, Bucks, "operates from its own historic studios running more specialist MA's than any other film school in the world" and is a great place to gain more advanced knowledge.

Here's a selection of other courses:

Film & TV production

The South

The Midlands

The North

Scotland

Post production

Radio

Want to add a resource to this chapter? Tweet us with “Chapter 8: British media courses” and provide a link.

Chapter 9: Brilliant professional development, training and other resources to help you get ahead

Once you're in the industry, you might want (or need) to update your training, learn how to operate new kit or work with new software.

This section contains links to find such training, as well as broader industry-related resources, such as Bectu, the broadcasting union.

Want to add a resource to this chapter? Tweet us with “Chapter 9: Professional development” and provide a link.