Of all communications media today, radio and television are together the most powerful. In a fraction of a second, their transmissions can reach millions of people over a wide geographic area. Using sound and visuals, they overcome the limitations of illiteracy in the dissemination of ideas. They are, therefore, widely used to entertain, inform and educate.

In India, radio and television networks are controlled by the government. Private television companies can produce programmes, but only broadcast them if the broadcasting network is owned by an Indian company. There are several television companies now that provide software for satellite transmissions from outside the country.

The work

Work in radio and television broadcasting broadlyinvolves planning, producing and airing programmes of popular interest. Employment can be in a technical or non-technical area.

Production covers a very wide area of responsibility and includes programming, which involves planning and selecting programmes; commissioning, which involves getting independent producers to prepare suitable programmes for the network; directing programmes by in-house teams; and other jobs like controlling finances, marketing air-time to advertisers or programmes to other networks. There are also jobs in script writing for radio or television, presenting or anchoring programmes, news reading or newscasting, and so on. These are largely non-technical job areas.The technical tasks in radio and television include the operation and maintenance of all equipment for recording, editing and transmitting programmes. In addition, in the area of television, there are jobs in graphics, which are used to enhance the programme.

Radio and television, which are organs of mass media, cater toaudiences of varying tastes and preferences from diverse social, economic, cultural and educational backgrounds. Most networks, therefore, present a range of programmes that target segments according to age, sex, language, occupation, special interest, and so on.

Professionals who join this industry can work for a variety of programmes--entertainment, which includes music, drama, soap operas, radio plays and game shows; news and current affairs programmes, comprising news broadcasts, various forms of news coverage, interviews, panel discussions, talks shows, and so on; educational programmes on specific subjects for school and college broadcasts; specific interest programmes, which could cover gardening, cooking, beauty, household tips, etc; sports programmes, which cover news and live broadcasts of sporting events within and outside the country; and, documentaries, which make an in-depth study of a variety of topics.

Entry

Several jobs in radio and television broadcasting, particularly inproduction and direction, do not require any special training except for graduation in any discipline. Technical posts, however, demand appropriate skills and qualifications in the area of entry.

Most openings in All India Radio and Doordarshan are filled through the Union Public Service Commission, or through admission to the Indian Information Service, while announcers, music instrumentalists and newsreaders are selected through auditions.

Besides academic requirements, it is also important to possess certain intrinsic qualities for a satisfying career in this field. This includes basic creative instincts, communications skills, a keen sense of the taste and interests of the general public, and an ability to work with people and under stress.

Training

While professional training is essential for all technical jobs in radio and television, production skills can be gained through hands-on experience. Formal training in this area could, however, help to discipline and sharpen inherent skills andthus prove beneficial in the long run.

Eligibility for application varies with the course and institution selected. In general, undergraduate courses require a minimum pass in the 10+2 examination, while a Bachelor's degree in the appropriate discipline is necessary for admission to post-graduate courses.

Various institutes around the country offer courses in television technology and radio journalism and production. A two-year, post-graduate degree in Mass Communications, which includes training in radio, television and film production, is offered by the Jamia Millia Mass Communications Research Centre, New Delhi. There are also post-graduate diploma courses offered by the Xavier's Institute of Communications, Mumbai, the Indian Institute of Communications, New Delhi, the Film and TV Institute of Tamil Nadu at Chennai, and Sophia College, Mumbai.

Career prospects

All India Radio, the national radio network, covers almost the entire population, with 160 stations spread across the country.Special broadcasts also go to listeners overseas around the world. The News Service Division broadcasts news bulletins in 19 languages in India, and 23 languages for its External Service Division. There are also 32 commercial broadcasting centres.The FM station of AIR, mainly broadcasting music programmes, has become immensely popular over the last couple of years. A majority of programmes are produced by private producers, which are then broadcast by AIR.

There are also some foreign radio stations, like the British Broadcasting Corporation and Voice of America, which have representative officers in India, mainly for news.

In television, Doordarshan, our nationalised television network, currently reaches approximately 84 per cent of the population, with a national channel, a metro channel covering several metro cities, and a regional network of local language channels.

Satellite television has made it possible for viewers to catch programmes from stations within and outside the country through theirdish antennae or by cable relay from a centralised local receiver.

The advent of satellite broadcasts and cable television has opened up enormous opportunities of filling up broadcast time for television software producers. While international TV production companies have employed local talent to set up shop in India, there are also numerous large and small production companies providing a variety of programmes from documentary and current affairs to music, entertainment and soap operas for national or international networks. This has also resulted in the mushrooming of video studios with sophisticated equipment providing a range of services, and consequently, career opportunities for those with technical training in this field.

Other jobs in this field could include recording of music in audio and video format; specialisations in sound and/or lighting for live and recorded programmes; design, manufacture and sales of hardware and software like video games, compact discs, etc., for home entertainment;production of advertising commercials and emerging areas like interactive videos and tele-conferencing.

Technology in radio and television broadcasting is developing at a phenomenal pace in terms of coverage and reach. This means growing employment opportunities for those with an interest in electronic communications and broadcasting.

The writer is the author of The Penguin India Career Guide, Vol I & II. She is also a newsreader on Doordarshan and the producer of Hum Honge Kamyaab.