Radio and Television Announcers

Those wishing to enter the field of announcing should obtain as much experience as possible in high school and college by participating in internships, working at their school's radio or television station, or by volunteering or working part-time at a local station. 

You must have a pleasing voice and personality in order to find success as an announcer. You must be level-headed and able to react calmly in the face of a major crisis. People's lives may depend on an announcer's ability to remain calm during a disaster. There are also many unexpected circumstances that demand the skill of quick thinking. For example, if guests who are to appear on a program do not arrive or become too nervous to go on the air, you must compensate immediately and fill the airtime. You must smooth over an awkward phrase, breakdown in equipment, or other technical difficulty.

Good diction and English usage, thorough knowledge of correct pronunciation, and freedom from regional dialects are very important. A factual error, grammatical error, or mispronounced word can bring e-mails and phone calls of criticism to station managers.

If you aspire to a career as a television announcer, you must present a good appearance and have no nervous mannerisms. Neatness, cleanliness, and careful attention to the details of proper dress are important. The successful television announcer must have the combination of sincerity and showmanship that attracts and captures an audience.

Broadcast announcing is a highly competitive field. Station officials will pay particular attention to recorded auditions of your delivery or, in the case of television, to video-recorded demos of sample presentations.