Sample+Career+Outline

INTRODUCTION

I. Every night you see their faces on television. Some of them are famous, others less well known. But what they all have in common is the responsibility of reporting the news to all of us in an understandable, interesting way. II. Today I will inform you about the exciting career of news broadcaster. III. I will explain to you in detail what being a news broadcaster entails by providing you with the job description, outlining the education and training that are necessary to become one, and explaining the demands and working conditions of this career. BODY I. First I will describe the career of news broadcasting. A. A news broadcaster is a person, either male or female, who [|delivers the news on television]. B. As a news broadcaster you must be able to [|inform your viewers] about what is happening locally, nationally, and internationally. C. [|News broadcasters] must speak clearly, be articulate, present a good and appealing appearance, and be able to relate to the audience in a positive manner. D. News broadcasters can be [|employed] at local, network, or cable television stations. E. It is very difficult to break into the [|newscasting business], and [|job opportunities] are difficult to find. You must be outstanding in this field in order to get employment. F. The [|job outlook] for this career will remain limited.

1. The [|US Department of Labor] reported that 327,000 [|jobs] were available in broadcasting in 2004.  2. Some minor growth is expected in local and cable markets in the immediate future. II. Next I will go over the education and training that are needed to become a news broadcaster. A. News broadcasters are expected to have a college education with a major in journalism or television broadcasting. 1. A Bachelors degree in the broadcasting fields requires four years of college   work beyond a high school diploma. 2. The courses required for this major vary according to the [|college] or [|university] that you attend. a. [|Northwestern University] has an excellent school of journalism, [|Medill], that has produced many famous newscasters. 1. It is a highly competitive school to get into. 2. 96% of all students admitted to Northwestern have an ACT composite score of 26 or higher. b. In addition to Northwestern’s general [|education requirements] such as math and history, [|journalism majors] must complete [|classes] in public speaking, news editing and writing for newspapers, magazines and television as well as news broadcasting classes and ethics. c. To graduate from Northwestern you must have 45 total credits while completing all the requirements for a journalism major.

B. Northwestern journalism students must also complete an internship in the radio or television industry in news broadcasting during their sophomore or junior year. III. The job conditions depend on whether or not you are reporting from the studio or live at the scene. A. Broadcasters do not have standard 9-5 jobs. 1. Morning newscasters often have to arrive at the studio at 4 am. Prime time newscasters often must stay in the studio until midnight or later.

2. They do not work a typical five-day workweek either. B. Conditions in the studio are usually quite nice, but those reporters who are reporting live be prepared for a variety of conditions, from blizzards to war zones. C. [|Salaries] vary greatly in this industry. 1.  [|Beginning] salaries may be as low as $11.00 per hour. 2. [|Experienced] prime time newscasters may make upwards of $100,000 per  year with the very best making up to a million dollars a year. D. Those broadcasters who work on a salary generally have good benefits such as paid vacations and medical insurance. E. I chose to pursue this career because I am interested in what is happening in the world. 1. I feel that I am a strong communicator and would be successful on  television. 2. I also would enjoy the popularity of being a celebrity. F. The biggest disadvantages of this career included reporting from the scene bad weather or in dangerous situations as well as low beginning salaries. Conclusion I. A news broadcaster must be able to inform the public about what is going on around the world. A. The job requires a person to have good communication skills as well as a good appearance that will appeal to the audience. B. Preparation for this career requires a college degree in journalism with internships and  experience necessary to advance. C. Job conditions for news broadcasters are generally good unless you are reporting from the field in which case you may face hazardous conditions. II. Now picture yourself in the year 2012. You turn on your TV to watch the ten o’clock news and are surprised to see a familiar face there. Yes, it’s me! I made it to the top and am successful in my new career as a news broadcaster!

