A Career in Television
Television is big business. The industry employs thousands of men and women with a wide variety of interests, experience and educational backgrounds. They produce video that features the latest in programs to educate and entertain: news, sports, politics, economics, fashions, fads, lifestyles, showbiz, music, plus more!
Television, more than any other media, has had a great Impact on the thinking and actions of viewers. It entertains and informs, shapes opinions, affects values, and teaches. The television industry requires people with enthusiasm, knowledge, fresh ideas and professional working ability.
Who Belongs in TV?
Many different positions are available to those seeking careers in television, and jobs are available for almost every possible interest.
Television is a 'world of sound and sight' that offers great opportunities. Television is a challenging career that will likely mean starting at the bottom and require hard work, long hours and sometimes demanding days. But it's exciting and rewarding work.
If you are interested in people, if you are creative and quick thinking, a job in the television industry could be for you!
The TV Studio CourseWestern Broadcasting Corporation offers an intensive course in Television Studio Production. The program is designed to develop skills and give comprehensive insight into TV studio practices. The Western Broadcasting Corporation Television Training program offers a strong emphasis on skills development in utilizing contemporary broadcast TV Studio equipment including cameras, switching control boards, Graphics Character Generator, and TV Audio equipment.
The WBC-TV course offers the advantage of acquiring good working skills with all the areas of TV production -- a must for those pursuing careers in Television. Western Broadcasting Corporation students will have opportunity to operate contemporary Broadcast TV Equipment and discover its vast potential. They will experience the countdown to 'showtime' in the master control room and on-the-set as they produce interview shows, commercials, game shows, talk shows, news-sports-weather packages and more! Camera shots, scripts, cutting techniques, control room procedure, shot lists, picture composition, chroma-key, program planning and director's commands. Right from the opening 'cue' of each production to the video taped playback, WBC's staff of professionals will give continuous guidance, helping each student develop skills in all areas of TV Studio Production. Below are descriptions of the training roles. |
The DirectorTelevision is a group effort that requires coordination and team-work. One person is assigned the responsibility of being in charge.
In the control room, the director is hard at work analyzing the video monitors of each camera. He chooses the shot desired and issues the command to the switcher who presses the right buttons. Being a director means thinking ahead, directing the shots of the 2nd and 3rd camera, anticipating the cut from the first camera. The director is in constant communication with all the members of the production crew, issuing commands to create the desired visual effects that are pleasing and entertaining to the audience, & that move the video to well-coordinated conclusion |
TV Audio
|
Studio Camera Operator
Camera operators need to develop skills to control motion, moving smoothly when panning left to right, tilting up or down, and zooming the lens in and out for the various shots. Camera operators are people who need to be alert, creative and quick to react. They are a vital part in the success of all TV production. Camera operators need to develop skills to control motion, moving smoothly when panning left to right, tilting up or down, and zooming the lens in and out for the various shots. Camera operators are people who need to be alert, creative and quick to react. They are a vital part in the success of all TV production. |
Switch Operator
The switching control board has all the capabilities for selecting the video sources to be utilized from any of several cameras, video tape, film, slides, colored background, and letter characters. The switcher operator can change from any one of these video sources to another through 'cuts', effects, wipes, dissolves, fades, and computer effects. A good switcher needs to have a good sense of rhythm and timing, and be able to carry out the directives for a creative visual product |
News and Sports Anchor
But the requirements of the real job of anchoring go well beyond reading in front of a camera. The job also demands that anchors must be well-read and knowledgeable in politics, economics, technology, the sciences, as well as fads, fashions, lifestyles, showbiz and the human interest side of news. As a news anchor, you cover every part of the human experience.
But the requirements of an sports anchor go beyond being informed. The job requires stamina, quick-thinking and the ability to stay cool under pressure. People setting their sights on a career under the TV lights as a sports anchor have proved that they have the grit needed to be in the spotlight. |
Versatility is vital in today's television industry. The demand is for people with capability to operate and understand ALL video equipment. While every role is unique, they are all integrally related. Television production is a team effort requiring tightly-timed coordination and understanding all facets of the industry.
In a Television production, this person is the Director. The director makes the decision about how to present the show, and after studying the script, then plots the camera shots. He decides what is to be seen and the overall composition of the final finished video project.
The audio operator is responsible for all the sources of sound in a television show. The audio operator positions all microphones, cues the musical background and show themes, and controls the volume levels through the audio mixer.
The basic fundamentals of becoming a good camera operator are learning proper techniques of framing. The key word in any good photograph is composition, plus the balance-and-unity in any given picture. The camera operator should be so familiar with the various methods of composing a pleasing, well balanced picture that he adjusts camera angles and views automatically.
The switcher operator is in charge of a complex piece of equipment in the master control room called the Switching Control Board.
Being in the spotlight in front of a TV camera, anchoring the daily television news or sportscast is clearly a glamorous and prestigious job.
A SPORTS ANCHOR will need to be extremely well read and knowledgeable in all areas of all sports and to be familiar with the latest info about players, the statistics, the standings. . and more.