Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
"This is Cairo" — in polished Arabic, with a distinctive voice full of calm and gravity, announcer Ahmed Salem opened Egyptian Radio in 1934, making this the first and most famous line in the history of Arab broadcasting. That's how radio announcers should sound — these people we never see, whose faces we can only imagine, need to have a captivating voice unlike anyone else's, and a broad knowledge and deep familiarity with whatever they're talking about. And while all we ever get from radio announcers is their voice, we see news anchors and program hosts on various satellite channels every day, watching how they speak and steer different conversations. These announcers in sharp suits and these presenters with bright, radiant faces are the ones who keep us informed about what's happening in our countries and around the world. Whether announcers work in radio or television, they can specialize in a variety of fields — politics, sports, arts, entertainment, and more. Their job is to report the news and comment on it, and to host analysts and experts to get their take on events and give the audience more accurate information. They might interview heads of state, leaders, football players, or hugely famous singers, so their broad knowledge and how well they prepare for discussions and the questions people are searching for answers to is what determines their standing — and whether they truly deserve to work in this profession.
Meet the Writer: Waleed Abo Omiraa
What You'll Actually Do
The core tasks and responsibilities that fill a typical day.
- Prepare and deliver news, sports, or weather reports, gathering and rewriting material so that it will convey required information and fit specific time slots.
- Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
- Select program content, in conjunction with producers and assistants, based on factors such as program specialties, audience tastes, or requests from the public.
- Study background information to prepare for programs or interviews.
- Comment on music and other matters, such as weather or traffic conditions.
- Interview show guests about their lives, their work, or topics of current interest.
- Host civic, charitable, or promotional events broadcast over television or radio.
- Make promotional appearances at public or private events to represent their employers.
- Operate control consoles.
- Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.
- Keep daily program logs to provide information on all elements aired during broadcast, such as musical selections and station promotions.
- Record commercials for later broadcast.
- Locate guests to appear on talk or interview shows.
- Coordinate games, contests, or other on-air competitions, performing such duties as asking questions and awarding prizes.
- Attend press conferences to gather information for broadcast.
- Provide commentary and conduct interviews during sporting events, parades, conventions, or other events.
- Identify stations, and introduce or close shows, ad-libbing or using memorized or read scripts.
- Develop story lines for broadcasts.
- Write and edit video and scripts for broadcasts.