You are required at the end of the semester to submit a final project in the form of a written researchpaper. As part of your final project, you are required to first submit an outline of what you intend to do.Feedback from your mentor will be essential to ensure that you are on the right track before completingyour research paper.

Introduction

The media industry plays a central role in society. The industry has been growing and has
experienced tremendous shifts and changes over time. While the term media began to be used in
the 1920s, media history goes beyond then. The fifteenth century featured various forms of mass
communications, including the wall paintings of medieval times and oral traditions. These
structures had an impact on society. Today, technological advancements have been witnessed in
the media industry. These advancements have made the media to be more efficient and effective
in covering various incidences.

2. The Industry

2.1 Government
The United States government has been involved in crafting various media regulations. In
the United States, court systems, as well as the Federal Communications Commission, have been
tasked with overseeing the freedom of the media. The 1927 Federal Radio Act is one of the main
regulations that helped in the establishment of procedures that would aid in the allocation of
frequencies (Hazlett, 2020). The Act indicated that airwaves belong to the public. In order to
ensure marine safety, Congress approved the Wireless Ship Act in 1910, marking the beginning
of the US government’s official attempt to control broadcasting. This was well before the advent
of broadcast television. To protect passenger safety, this regulation mandated that a qualified
technician and radio operator be present at all times on board passenger ships.
The Communications Act, which was passed in 1934, was the first attempt by the
government to adequately control both radio and TV transmission when broadcast TV first
became widely available in the late 1920s (Baladron & Rivero, 2019). The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) was established by the Act as the crucial, independent

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regulatory body in charge of establishing regulations, controlling the use of the airwaves, and
issuing operating licenses.
The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 is another important regulation in the history of the
media. The regulations gave the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) a Congressional
corporate charter (Baladron & Rivero, 2019). CPB was granted the authority to disburse funds to
public broadcasters in America. The aim was to ensure that public broadcasting is encouraged in
the United States and that public broadcasting incorporates diversity. Through the Act, public
interest can be served in the media industry of the United States. Press freedom has been
guaranteed by the Act by ensuring that the media is not infiltrated by external interference. The
FCC has also enforced various rules that are designed to ensure that the media runs in an
unbiased way.
The Equal Time Rule indicates that broadcasters have to ensure that candidates running
for office are granted equal time (Baladron & Rivero, 2019). The Right of Rebuttal indicates that
individuals running for office must be granted the right to respond to criticisms. The Fairness
doctrine indicates tha6t broadcasters must ensure that they give equal time to people airing
opposing views. In addition, the Indecency Doctrine indicates that media personnel must not use
profane language during daytime broadcasting when children are listening or watching. This has
been upheld by the Supreme Court, and various media personnel and media stations have been
sanctioned for violating the same.
2.2 The Internet
The Internet is defined as a system that brings together many computer networks. It helps
combine computer systems from across the globe. The Internet has had a huge impact on the
media industry (Dominick, 2012). The Internet has changed the communication system and how

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people consume various types of media. Before the age of the Internet, the audience remained
passive. However, the Internet has changed this, and media companies can interact with
consumers. Social media networks have ensured that media companies interact with consumers,
and in so doing, they have been able to ensure that they tailor-make the content they air to the
needs of the consumers (Dominick, 2012). The Internet has also introduced new forms of media.
An example is online blogs that are maintained by individuals as well as organizations. Blogs are
journals that cover important topics such as politics, sports, and music. Blogs ensure that
individuals engage in virtual conversations. While blogs started in the 1990s, they have grown
exponentially (Dominick, 2012). The young generation has embraced blogs. Blogs are consumed
by young people. Facebook and Twitter have become platforms where people air their opinions.
The Internet has had a significant impact on the economy. More than 1.2 million jobs
have been created by the Internet. The Internet has added to the national GDP. Many people are
increasingly relying on the Internet to undertake to advertise (Dominick, 2012). This has resulted
in more people being employed by the Internet, and this has, in turn, expanded the GDP. While
the Internet allows small companies to expand, it has been dominated by big companies. The
companies include Google, Yahoo, Apple, and Facebook (Dominick, 2012). These companies
are the primary distributors of content. Most user-generated contents are drawn from these
companies. The government has been obtaining high levels of revenue from the Internet.
The Internet has been relied upon as a supplement to news aired by traditional media
stations. The Internet allows users to fact-check any assertions aired by the media. People have
reported incidences on Twitter and Facebook (Dominick, 2012). A good example is the killing of
Osama bin Laden which was widely covered on social media platforms (Dominick, 2012).
Inaccurate reporting by the media has been questioned by social media users. This has made sure

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that the media owners are kept in check and misinformation is not spread with ease. However,
the Internet lacks gatekeepers. Misinformation, as well as worthless information, can easily be
spread on the Internet. There are certain privacy concerns that have arisen in the age of the
Internet. Privacy breaches have become common.
2.3 International Community
The Internet has improved the distribution of television channels globally. Technology
has greatly advanced, and this has meant that content can easily be made and distributed to the
whole world. Faster connections on the Internet have been possible (Dominick, 2012). Movies
are now distributed by streaming services like Netflix globally. Unlike cable or satellite TV, it is
relatively easy to start an Internet TV channel (Dominick, 2012). One does not have to set up an
expensive studio, and this makes it easy for more content to be created. Television and Computer
have also converged due to the emergence of Internet TV. Politics has changed, and people can
easily access the political news of different countries over the Internet (Silva & Greene-Colozzi,
2019). For example, Hilary Clinton announced her candidature on her website. This meant that
her message could be passed to the whole world.

The Profession

3.1 Educational Requirements
A news producer is expected to have a college degree at the entry-level. This, combined
with some experience and knowledge, comes in handy. Education programs for a news producer
at the entry-level are usually undergraduate programs. A bachelor’s degree in communications,
English, or journalism is required for an individual to qualify as a news producer. Having a
political science or business background is also an added advantage as one can specialize in

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producing news in these areas. These programs are useful not only to those individuals who want
to serve primarily ad news producers but also to those who wish to advance their careers or take
on teaching roles in the field of news production. While most learning institutions do not
customize their programs to news production, the degrees offered focus on specific news media
such as print journalism, radio, or television. An aspiring news producer may select a program
that explicitly covers a medium that interests them. Thus, while a bachelor’s degree provides one
with the necessary skills to work as a news producer n a particular medium, one may require a
master’s degree if they intend to advance in their career and take on higher roles.
3.2 Duties/Roles
A news producer is responsible for several duties that may differ depending on the media
they serve. Primarily, the individual is in charge of producing and distributing news (Coleman,
2021). A news producer takes all content collected by reporters in a day or for a certain story and
then edits it, adding certain elements and rearranging it to create a story that flows well. The
news producer also checks stories brought in by reporters for grammar and accuracy. The
individual works closely with other members of the department in charge of the entire production
team. The news producer is responsible for maintaining contact with the field team and
collecting news (Coleman, 2021). This ensures that news items are produced on time for the live
broadcast. The individual is also in charge of ensuring that each news item takes the required
time so that the news program can end at the recommended time. Most importantly, a news
producer must be passionate and knowledgeable about storytelling and be capable of working in
a fast-paced environment (Ryan, 2019). The world of media and news production is very
dynamic, and one must be capable of working in a fast-changing environment to succeed in the
role.

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Besides editing stories, a news producer also creates visuals and graphics that align with
the story. The graphics are necessary for content that is broadcasted on air as well as on digital
platforms. Depending on the medium through which the content will be shared, the news
producer creates different types of graphics to align with the content and meet the target
audience’s needs. The individual is also responsible for monitoring news feeds; this includes
engaging with reporters and social media content in search of content and evaluating the
authenticity of a story (Coleman, 2021). they work closely with the news director to ensure that
content is aired or written in order of priority. In the case of television broadcasts, the individual
selects sound bites and aligns them with footage to ensure consistency. They also maintain
contact with the anchors and crew while they are on air. A news producer is responsible for
producing such content in case of breaking news content.
3.3 Salary
The average salary for a news producer changes depending on various factors, such as the
media in which they are operating and their level. The average starting salary for a news
producer who is freshly graduated from college is $50,944 (Papper, 2021). The salary is lowest
at the entry-level. Mainly, this is attributed to the fact that an individual is just starting and
learning the trade. The salary gets better with time and as one polishes their skills and becomes
better at their job. Besides, the producer positions move up very quickly, and one is able to climb
the salary and job rank within a relatively shorter period compared to other positions such as
anchors and reporters (Papper, 2021). The salary also varies from one state to another, with some
states paying higher than others. The pay can go up to $100,942 based on the state and adding
other payments such as cash bonuses and commissions.
3.4 Job Benefits

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News producers receive similar benefits as other employees. Their jobs are usually on a
contract basis. Thus, for the contract duration, which is often one year, they are entitled to paid
vacations, life insurance, medical insurance, and travel expenses while on duty are catered for by
the employers. They also enjoy other perks such as car allowance and business expenses. While
some of these benefits are not received by all, about 71% of news producers in the country enjoy
them (Hamel, 2022).
3.5 Websites/Trade Publications Linked to the Job
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics remains one of the critical government organizations
providing basic information about the labor market across all occupations. The website offers
news producers essential details on pay, work environment, educational requirements, job
outlook, state and area data, and so on. Other websites for different media companies provide
information on job openings for news producers.
3.6 Internships Available for the Job
Internship opportunities for news producers are available in almost every broadcast
station. Every so often, companies advertise internship positions. Successful individuals are
allowed to work with experienced journalists. They participate in the editorial process of news
production and can attend regular meetings. They get exposure and experience and learn what
actually happens in the real job.

Conclusion

The broadcast TV industry has evolved significantly over the years. Various
stakeholders, such as the government, affect operations within the industry. The industry comes
up with regulations to govern how the industry operates and interacts with its target audience.
Other than government regulations, technological advancements such as the widespread use of

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the internet have affected operations within the TV industry. The internet has increased the ways
through which stations interact with their audience. Stations upload a lot of content online on
different platforms, ensuring that the audience can access content in more than one way. Further,
the internet has shaped TV networks because they now enjoy a global audience. Thus, they have
widened their content to cater to the needs of the local audience and the global one.
The TV industry has created many job opportunities, among them that of a news
producer. Individuals at the entry-level level must have a degree in journalism English or
communications. The role of a news producer entails producing news content to be aired during
live broadcasts. The role attracts several benefits, such as medical and travel allowances. One
also has several opportunities for growth and career advancement.

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References

Baladron, M., & Rivero, E. (2019). Video-on-demand services in Latin America: Trends and
challenges towards access, concentration and regulation. Journal of Digital Media &
Policy, 10(1), 109-126.
Coleman, K. (2021). Day in the life of a news producer. In A Complete Guide to Television,
Field and Digital Producing (pp. 3-8). Routledge.
Dominick, J. R. (2012). The dynamics of mass communication: Media in transition (12 th ed.).
New York: McGraw-Hill. 
Hamel, G. (2022). Salary and Fringe Benefits of a Television Producer. Work – Chron.com.
Retrieved 16 August 2022, from https://work.chron.com/salary-fringe-benefits-television-
producer-23413.html.
Hazlett, T. W. (2020). Introduction: The Radio Act of 1927 Turns 90. Review of Industrial
Organization, 56(1), 1-4.
Papper, B. (2021). The Changing and Unchanging Nature and Salary of the First Job in Local
TV News. Electronic News, 15(1-2), 57-66.
Ryan, K. M. (2019). The performative journalist: Job satisfaction, temporary workers and
American television news. Journalism, 10(5), 647-664.
Silva, J. R., & Greene-Colozzi, E. A. (2019). Fame-seeking mass shooters in America: Severity,
characteristics, and media coverage. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 48, 24-35.