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Radio Jobs. What is the Outlook for their Future?
What is the Future Outlook for Jobs in Radio? There are a lot of broadcasters who would predict that the future of radio employment looks bleak, but I think in many ways the future never looked better.Competition always breeds innovation.
The boom of Internet and satellite broadcasting has garnered many predictions that the end of radio is nigh. A short history of radio will show that we’ve heard this all before. TV was supposed to kill radio. After all, who would want to listen to the radio when you’ve got pictures! Well,it didn’t quite work out that way. TV caused radio to change. Instead of radio being the domain of network centric broadcasts filled with huge stars, took a different path. It became more localized and filled with music and talk programming that focused on the communities it served. Radio is far to mature of a medium to be “killed off.”
Radio will change again.
The real challenge of the Internet and satellite to radio is advertising dollars. More and more dollars are moving to the new media space and that means less dollars for not only radio, TV and print media are feeling the crunch too. Radio may never see the days of double-digit returns from mega-broadcasting groups, but the medium will survive and thrive. How? The same way it always did. Radio will be “forced” to return to its roots, with local programming that serves its communities. How do you do that? With compelling and entertaining talent that understands how to communicate and touch local listeners. Once radio starts to shift back into this sphere, there will be an even bigger demand for talented radio personalities.
The economy and new media.
Radio will continue to downsize and the employment forecast for the immediate future will continue to darken. But eventually some smart managers will get their product back to the basics and invest in talent, not with dollars, in vision. Radio will continue to not only survive but to thrive again, targeting their communities with live local entertainment. It’s eventual. With the competition in the entertainment sphere, radio can not continue to become an “also ran” jukebox of content that can be found on other mediums. Talented communicators who know their craft and understand how to reach through the speakers and grab the listeners with compelling content will always be at a premium. That premium will rise as radio returns to its roots as the original modern social medium. The need for talent in radio will only continue to expand.
John's extensive career in the Broadcasting industry includes roles as a Program Director, Talk Host, DeeJay, Creative Service Director, Producer and Consultant in multiple top 10 markets and on the Network level. John has held positions in management and as a talent at: WIOD-Miami, ABC Radio Networks, WLLZ-Detroit, KZPS and KDGE Dallas, WSHE and WZTA Miami, Greenstone Media and as the VP of New Media for Sabo Media. John also has worked with numerous traditional print and new media clients as a writer and as a consultant overseeing Internet start-ups with Parade Magazine, National Geographic and APB News.com. He currently lives in his hometown of Fort Lauderdale, Florida pursuing his passions as a Production and Programming Consultant, Talent Coach, Writer, On-Air Talent, Webmaster and Songwriter. John can be found on-line at JohnFord.net
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