Task 6 – Job Roles and Contracts

By Ben Matthews

Introduction to the jobs available in the Media Industry

There are a diverse range of jobs throughout the Media Industry. There are a variety of different methods of employment, which gives people the flexibility to find a job role that is suited to them. To find your preferred job you can enter the industry down a number of different routes, which is one of the advantages as it gives every individual a chance to prove themselves.

Job Roles

• Management• Creative• Editorial• Technical• Research• Financial• Organisational• Administrative

Management

Management is the process of getting people together to either achieve a goal or an objective. To be an effective manager you have to make good use of your resources. An example of the types of jobs in the media that are available are: Production Managers and Marketing Manager. A Marketing Manager work on the process of advertising and promotion. These people are vital assets to the company as they sole purpose is to promote the companies brand/product.

Creative

Creative based work is basically employees who develop new and innovative ideas and products. The type of creative jobs available in the media include: Film Producers and Music Creation.Film Producers are the only individuals who are involved in the making of a film from start to a finish. He makes sure that all workers know what they are doing and where they should be. If a film is successful it is down to the producer as he has selected the right people and made sure that they are always on task.

Editorial

Editorial is workers who look at a product/service and make changes according to how they believe it can improve. A example of the type of job available in the media are a: Film Editor and Sound Editor.A Sound Editor will analyse the audio, check for any imperfections and then alter accordingly. They are vital to ensure the level and quality of music/sound is appropriate for its purpose.

Technical

Technical work usually requires qualified individuals as it requires people to work with the latest technology. An example of the types of jobs that are available are: Technicians and Lighting Directors. Lighting Directors are needed on film sets and decide on how lighting should angled to portray the actors/prop in the correct light.

Research

Jobs in Research is vital as it important for people to have the correct background information on a topic/genre before they start work. Research can stop people from making costly mistakes and produce a better product as they will have a wider range of ideas to work with. The types of jobs you can get that involve research include: Marketing Researchers and Script Writers.Before a TV program is produced, Marketing Researchers will need to research what content will go in the program and the most appropriate actors to act the role. Also they will need to find out whether there is an appropriately sized market, that will watch the program.

Financial

Financial involves the management of funds and looks at how the money is distributed throughout the company. An example types of jobs that you can get in the financial side of the Media Industry is: Financial Controllers and Accountants. Accountants manage your money for you, help you to set a budget for your company, take care of your taxes as well as doing a variety of other things. Sky News will need accountants to look at the amount of funding they have left and if any finance could be issued to reporters for transport e.t.c. to get the scoop on the latest news story.

Organisational

Organisational jobs require individuals who have the ability to manage people or objects. They usually are in charge of positioning of items or people. An example of these jobs would be Stewards or Floor Managers.Floor managers within television companies ensure that everyone is knows what to do, while communicating with various other members of staff to check everyone is in the correct positions and no issues are occurring on set.

Administrative

Administrative is very important as it works on producing material or a service to help people and companies. It can focus on organising data and/or assisting people with their enquiries. An example of jobs available in administration is Personal Assistants or a Receptionist.A receptionist is a job role that is found throughout many companies. It basically involves talking to customers and trying to direct them to the correct person to help assist their enquiries. They also may produce documentation such as booking details.

Contracts

• Shift Work• Fixed Term• Office Hours• Freelance• Irregular Pattern• Hourly Rates• Piece Work

Shift Work

Shift work allows employees to work throughout certain periods of the day at different intervals such as: Night Shifts; Day Shifts. This method allows employees to rotate their working hours rather than having a specific work schedule. Shift work can be a motivating factor for employees as they feel they have greater flexibility over their working schedule. Lighting Directors for productions will often be employed on a shift work schedule as they will only be required usually for when the show/production is taking place. Therefore it is common for Lighting Directors to be having to work nights and weekends.

Fixed Term

Fixed term working is where employees will be employed for a pre-arranged period of time. This is a good method to use as employees like to have a sense of job security.Main actors in films are fixed term workers as they will be employed for a certain period of time during the making of the film. Their contract will state how long they will be with the company for.

Office Hours

Office hours typically run from 8am to 5pm, and means that employees have to be work for that set period of time on a daily basis. People may be likely to work better as they will get used to working during that set period of time, however it may have negative effects as people don’t have the flexibility to complete work at their preferred time. People such as Receptionists will be employed under office hours as they are a member of staff that need to with the company all day long to assist customer needs throughout the day.

Freelance

Freelance is where you work independently and rather than having a set working schedule you will aim to receive temporary contracts from a variety of different employers throughout the year.Script Writers are freelance workers as they will be working for themselves rather than a employer and will rely on receiving temporary contracts from companies to earn money. An issue with freelancing is that you are never guaranteed a yearly sum of money which means you are always under pressure to find work.

Irregular Pattern

Irregular pattern is whereby you will be working at different hours, according to when your employers request you to work.Creative work is mainly based on irregular pattern work. For example a Wildlife Photographer will work for 4 months while animals are in their natural habitat. The rest of the 8 months of the year he will then have off to maybe find employment in another area of work.

Hourly Rates

Hourly rate is when employees get paid by the amount of hours they work rather than receiving an annual fixed salary. Often film companies will draft in Camera Men who will be paid by the hour rather than for a fixed period. This is mainly due to the company not knowing how long filming will take. Therefore by paying hourly, you will only be paying the Camera Man for however long you need him.

Piece Work

Piece work is where you are paid according to how much you produce, so the payment you receive will depend on your productivity. An example of employment that is based on piece rate pay could be a Set Designer, who is paid for the amount of individual objects that he produces for the set. This is usually good as it motivates employees to finish their work quicker, however it has disadvantages as quality of products may suffer.

TV Producer

To become a TV Producer you will need top qualifications, experience in working in television and good interpersonal skills. TV Producers are responsible for all the business elements of a TV show. They need to be aware of finances; how staff are managed; filming schedules, scripting and much more.

Higher Education

Higher Education is normally needed for most production jobs as the knowledge they learn during Higher Education proves to be invaluable in later life. High school students who are interested in the Media Industry can get a head start by taking courses such as: TV and Film Studies or even a qualification in Broadcasting and Radio. By taking courses such as these, it can give students a competitive advantage and gain a broader background of the media world.

University

A University Degree will be vital for students who want to receive top end TV Producer jobs. The degree course will allow students to develop skills and gain an idea of what is involved in the day in the life of a TV Producer. An example of Universities that support Media by offering degrees in the area are:

Working as an Assistant or an Intern

After gaining a degree you can look at getting some experience in the media industry to help you on the path to becoming a TV Producer. You can then apply to become an Assistant or an Intern within a company, which will be vital for you on your road to success. Once you have developed your knowledge of the media world, you can then look to applying for a TV Producer job.

Becoming Established

To become a TV Producer you have to become established first. Now you have all the qualifications and skills required, you need to working on promoting yourself as an individual and become recognised. If you compile all your work experience into a portfolio, it will be a valuable tool for you to move up the company ladder. Then finally you will be able to become a TV Producer and get all the benefits that come with it.