Careers in Television Production

MANY OF THE MOST EXCITING, LUCRATIVE and prestigious careers available today are available in television production. The field includes producers, directors, cinematographers, writers, editors, camera operators, special effects experts, and sound engineers. Many TV professionals work at studios and production companies in the major entertainment centers of Hollywood and New York City. Others are employed in smaller cities, creating local news programs, morning talk shows, instructional videos, web-based video series, and commercials. Could you be successful in the television industry? Talent - creativity, imagination, the ability to tell a good story - is an important qualification. Add some training on the technical and artistic aspects of TV, supplemented by practical experience as you learn the business, and you will be ready to start. Do you enjoy the creative process? Could you work well in a collaborative environment, teaming with fellow creative workers to guide a show from initial idea through broadcast? Can you handle constructive criticism? Are you persistent? If so, you could be successful in a TV career. A four-year degree is not required but is typically helpful to get started. Some TV professionals start out in film school, but others get their training from traditional colleges and universities. A degree in TV production, journalism, or mass communication will give you a broad overview of the industry. More advanced technical training will be required for certain specialties, such as camera operator or sound engineer. TV professionals work for major production studios, local television stations, corporations, not-for-profit organizations, marketing firms, and advertising agencies. Some are employees of production houses or studios, working as part of a team that creates each week's episodes for a series. Others are contractors who move among different studios to tackle individual projects. It is not easy to break into television, as competition is fierce for the limited number of positions available. There are about 130,000 positions available in television productions, with average annual earnings of about $70,000. You will need talent, training, and determination to succeed. If you are willing to spend the necessary time studying the industry, learning the basics of TV production, you can achieve the personal and professional satisfaction that accompanies a career in television.