Media Technical Directors/Managers
Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.
Also known as: Broadcast Director, News Director, News Technical Director, Newscast Director, Operations Director, Operations Manager, Production Director, Production Manager, ...
Annual Salary
Median annual wage (May 2024)
Job Outlook
Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Faster than average)
What You'd Do
- Test equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Monitor broadcasts to ensure that programs conform to station or network policies and regulations.
- Observe pictures through monitors and direct camera and video staff concerning shading and composition.
- Act as liaisons between engineering and production departments.
- Supervise and assign duties to workers engaged in technical control and production of radio and television programs.
- Schedule use of studio and editing facilities for producers and engineering and maintenance staff.
- Confer with operations directors to formulate and maintain fair and attainable technical policies for programs.
- Operate equipment to produce programs or broadcast live programs from remote locations.
- Train workers in use of equipment, such as switchers, cameras, monitors, microphones, and lights.
- Switch between video sources in a studio or on multi-camera remotes, using equipment such as switchers, video slide projectors, and video effects generators.
- Collaborate with promotions directors to produce on-air station promotions.
- Direct technical aspects of newscasts and other productions, checking and switching between video sources and taking responsibility for the on-air product, including camera shots and graphics.
- Set up and execute video transitions and special effects, such as fades, dissolves, cuts, keys, and supers, using computers to manipulate pictures as necessary.
- Discuss filter options, lens choices, and the visual effects of objects being filmed with photography directors and video operators.
- Follow instructions from production managers and directors during productions, such as commands for camera cuts, effects, graphics, and takes.
Top Skills
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Knowledge Areas
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level
Technology & Tools
Software and tools commonly used in this role
In-Demand Technologies
Other Tools
Work Styles
Personality traits and work styles important for this career
Key Abilities
Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Activities
General types of job behaviors occurring on this job
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Environment
Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work
Related Careers
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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.