Professionals in the Workplace: Television and Radio Broadcasting and Cable Professionals and Technicians

Transcription

1 Professionals in the Workplace: Television and Radio Broadcasting and Cable Professionals and Technicians Updated November 2014 Even as digital media grows in popularity, television and radio broadcasting remain a constant presence in most American homes. Estimates suggest that the average American watches more than four and a half hours of television per day (not including what they watch on their computer or other devices) 1 and that 92 percent of Americans over the age of 12 listen to broadcast radio at least once a week. 2 The broadcasting industry both informs and entertains as it produces content such as the daily local news and airs prerecorded content produced by television and cable networks. This occupational profile outlines trends, working conditions, and union membership among broadcasting professionals. Employment and Earnings As of May 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated total employment in broadcasting at 287,000 jobs. Broadcasting is a subsector of the broader information industry. The broadcasting subsector, which does not include those working exclusively in Employment in Broadcasting (except Internet), 2013 Internet-based production, includes both radio and television broadcasting jobs, 72,550 and those in cable and 121,910 subscription programming. Television broadcasting is the Television broadcasting Radio broadcasting Cable and subscription programming largest of the three industries, representing 42.5 percent of 92,530 source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, Accessed: July 9, employment in the subsector. 2013[ Radio broadcasting represents 32.3 percent and cable and subscription programming jobs represent 25.3 percent. 3 While there are dozens of different occupations in the broadcasting industry, professional and technical occupations represent more than 62 percent of the jobs (177,970 jobs). 4 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations predominate, representing 73.5 percent, or 130,930 jobs, in the broadcasting professional and technical workforce and 45.6 percent of all broadcasting jobs. 5 Management occupations accounted for 12.7 percent, or 22,660 jobs, in the professional and technical workforce. 6 Professional occupations include, but are not limited to radio and television announcers, broadcast technicians, producers and directors, reporters and

2 correspondents, writers and authors, film and video editors, sound engineering technicians, actors, photographers, and camera operators. 7 Radio and television announcers made up the largest number of professional and technical workers in 2013, with 28,260 jobs or 15.8 percent of the professional broadcasting workforce. Producers and directors came in a close second, with 26,920 workers or 15.1 percent, followed by broadcast technicians with 21,940 workers, and reporters and correspondents with 11,040 workers. There were also 5,930 camera operators, 4,280 photographers, and 4,370 broadcast news analysts in The average annual earnings for full-time workers in broadcasting were $58,960 in Annual earnings for arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media professionals in the broadcasting industry averaged $51,690 in Art directors reported the highest average earnings ($95,750), public relations specialists and film and video editors reported average earnings closest to the median ($51,520 and $51,530 respectively), while public address system and other announcers reported the lowest average earnings ($27,000) in Union Organization Data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) estimate that approximately 5.5 percent of workers in the radio and television broadcasting and cable industry were union members in Data on union membership rates are also available by occupation regardless of industry. In 2013, an estimated 9.7 percent of television, video, and other camera and equipment operators and editors; 8.1 percent of news analysts, reporters, and correspondents; and 12 percent of broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators were union members. 11 There was a significant wage premium for union versus non-union employment in these occupations. In 2012, unionized news analysts reported average weekly earnings 22.5 percent higher than those for non-union workers in the same occupations ($1,259 compared to $1,027). For broadcast and sound engineers and radio operators the premium was even more profound, with union members reporting 45.5 percent higher wages than non-union workers ($1,023 compared to $703). 12 SAG-AFTRA represents many of the news analysts, reporters, and correspondents. In 2013, they reported their largest shop was National Public Radio with over 400 workers. 13 Many of the technical professionals, including broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators and television, video, other camera and equipment operators and editors are members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Other unions representing workers in in broadcast industries include the Writer s Guild of America-East, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts. 14 Radio Broadcasting and Cable Professionals and Technicians Page 2 of 6

3 Trends in the Industry The 2013 Big Broadcast Survey, an industry research tool that tracks trends in broadcasting, reported that broadcast professionals around the world agree multi-platform content delivery (broadcast, web, mobile, etc.) was the most commercially important trend to their businesses in The author of the accompanying analysis to the survey points out that increased accessibility of content via web and mobile devices is changing how consumers view media, but the industry has yet to figure out an effective way to make these changes profitable for content owners and broadcasters. Other important trends, such as file based/tapeless workflows, centralized operations, and automated workflows suggest the industry is seeking efficiencies wherever possible. 15 These trends will likely mean big changes for broadcast professionals in the near future. The mechanisms by which consumers choose to access content are shifting, yet traditional broadcast television and radio and cable programming continue to dominate the field. 16 There is some evidence that age demographics influence the average (e.g., older Americans are watching more broadcast television, while younger Americans are watching less) suggesting significant changes on the horizon. 17 Furthermore, other reports found that factors such as income and level of education correlated with media consumption habits. 18 Television advertising spending was approximately $78 billion in 2013, up by three percent from $76 billion in Working Conditions and Issues In 2011, reports indicated expansion in local television news, with stations adding more coverage following cuts and restructuring during the 2008 recession. 20 Recently, some in the industry expressed concern over consolidation, as large broadcasting companies merge and buy up local stations. While the Federal Communications Commission prohibits a single station from reaching more than 39 percent of households, concerns still loom regarding diversity of information and loss of locally relevant content in favor of content for a larger, national audience. 21 This is particularly relevant in light of the fact that many Americans cite local news as their primary source of current events information. 22 For the professional and technical workers in the broadcast industry, the 2008 downturn took a toll. From 2003 to 2007 the number of jobs in broadcasting fluctuated month to month, but remained relatively steady. In 2007 and even more so in 2009, there was a sharp decline in the number of jobs. While this decline has leveled off since 2011, there has been little recovery. 23 Radio Broadcasting and Cable Professionals and Technicians Page 3 of 6

4 Total Employment in Broadcasting Industry (except Internet) January 2003 July Employment in the Thousands Total Employment in Broadcasting (except Internet) 260 Jan, 2003 Jul, 2003 Jan, 2004 Jul, 2004 Jan, 2005 Jul, 2005 Jan, 2006 Jul, 2006 Jan, 2007 Jul, 2007 Jan, 2008 Jul, 2008 Jan, 2009 Jul, 2009 Jan, 2010 Jul, 2010 Jan, 2011 Jul, 2011 Jan, 2012 Jul, 2012 Jan, 2013 Jul, 2013 Jan, 2014 Jul, 2014 source: "Employment, Hours, and Earnings from the Current Employment Statistics survey (National)." Current Employment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. However, as demand for broadcast media remains high, the remaining workers often face increased workloads and are often expected to produce the same quality of work with fewer people and resources. In 2010, local television stations in the St. Louis, Missouri area were producing 18 more minutes of news per day with 850 fewer workers. 24 In OES data, the unit of analysis is the job, rather than the person; therefore, these numbers do not capture self-employed workers such as freelancers and independent contractors. The BLS estimates that, in September 2014, as many as 5.8 percent of workers in the information sector were self-employed. 25 For more information about professional and technical workers, click here. For more information on professional workers, check the DPE website: Radio Broadcasting and Cable Professionals and Technicians Page 4 of 6

5 The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) comprises 22 AFL- CIO unions representing over four million people working in professional, technical and administrative support occupations. DPE-affiliated unions represent: teachers, college professors, and school administrators; library workers; nurses, doctors, and other health care professionals; engineers, scientists, and IT workers; journalists and writers, broadcast technicians and communications specialists; performing and visual artists; professional athletes; professional firefighters; psychologists, social workers, and many others. DPE was chartered by the AFL-CIO in 1977 in recognition of the rapidly growing professional and technical occupations. Source: DPE Research Department th Street, N.W., 7th Floor Washington, DC Contact: Jennifer Dorning November 2014 (202) , extension Stelter, Brian. Youths Are Watching, but Less Often on TV. The New York Times, February 8, Retrieved from 2 Executive Summary, Radio Today 2013: How America Listens to Radio. Arbitron Retrieved from 3 NAICS Broadcasting (except Internet). Occupational Employment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, April 1, Retrieved from Hirsch, Barry T. and MacPherson, David A Union Membership and Earnings Data Book. The Bureau of National Affairs Inc., From Coast-to-Coast SAG-AFTRA Broadcasters Are Leading the Way. SAG-AFTRA,Vol.1 No3. Winter Retrieved from 14 Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers: Writer s Guild of America, East: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts: 15 Zaller, Joe. Largest Ever Study of Broadcast Market Reveals Most Important Industry Trends for Devoncroft: Broadcast and Digital Media Market Research, Strategic Counseling, and Analysis, June, 18, Retrieved from Radio Broadcasting and Cable Professionals and Technicians Page 5 of 6

6 16 Stelter, Brian. Youths Are Watching, but Less Often on TV. The New York Times, February 8, Retrieved from Executive Summary, Radio Today 2013: How America Listens to Radio. Arbitron Retrieved from Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Predictions: Deloitte Retrieved from 17 Stelter, Brian. Youths Are Watching, but Less Often on TV. The New York Times, February 8, Retrieved from 18 Advertising and Audiences: Making Ad Dollars Make Sense. Media and Entertainment, The Neilsen Company, May 12, Retrieved from Stelter, Brian. Local TV Newscasts Expanding. The New York Times, August 11, Retrieved from 21 Chavkin, Shasha. Acquiring News. Columbia Journalism Review, June 10, Retrieved from ws_quality.php 22 Stelter, Brian. Local TV Newscasts Expanding. The New York Times, August 11, Retrieved from 23 Employment, Hours, and Earnings from the Current Employment Statistics survey (National). Databases, Tables and Calculators by Subject, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved from 24 Stelter, Brian. Local TV Newscasts Expanding. The New York Times, August 11, Retrieved from 25 U.S. Census Bureau, DataFerrett, Current Population Survey, Basic Monthly Microdata, September Radio Broadcasting and Cable Professionals and Technicians Page 6 of 6