Music Journalist

A music journalist reports on national and international stories involving any aspect of music such as concerts, recordings and performers.

In regional media you would focus on local news.

In most jobs you would be part of a production team including other journalists, researchers, editors, broadcast assistants and producers.

The work could include: following story 'leads', or generating story ideas; researching stories, using sources like the internet, archives and databases; visiting locations and deciding on the best way of presenting a story; writing scripts or website content; preparing interview questions and conducting live and pre-recorded interviews.

Other activities include: presenting in TV or radio studios or on location, and recording voiceovers for recorded material; asking questions at briefings and press conferences; and directing a small camera/sound crew, or possibly operating recording equipment yourself.

Trainee starting salaries are usually around £15,000 to £18,000 a year. Experienced journalists usually earn between £25,000 and £40,000 a year. Top salaries in TV can be £100,000 a year or more.

Freelance rates can vary widely and can depend on your experience and track record. Salaries are usually higher in television than in radio.

There are three main ways that you can become a music journalist: by taking a degree or postgraduate course in broadcast journalism before looking for work (known as the ‘pre-entry’ route); being recruited into a new entrant training scheme with a TV or radio broadcaster (known as ‘direct entry’); or starting as a newspaper journalist and then moving into radio or television.

See the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) website for a list of accredited degrees and postgraduate courses in broadcast journalism. You should check with colleges or universities for exact entry requirements.

You may need to be a graduate to get onto a broadcaster's training scheme, and subjects like journalism, media studies, politics or social sciences may give you an advantage.

However, a degree is not always essential as broadcasters may be more interested in your potential and commitment to working in the media. Some schemes are only open to people from groups that have traditionally been under-represented in the media, so you should check entry requirements carefully.

Competition for places is always very strong. The best way of showing employers your commitment and potential is to get as much work experience as you can and to build a network of contacts in the industry.

You can do this through community, hospital or student radio or TV or by finding work experience placements, through the BBC Work Experience Scheme, the RadioCentre (for commercial radio), or by contacting broadcasters and asking for opportunities.

You should also make a brief 'showreel' CD or DVD with examples of your work, to demonstrate your skills to employers when you apply for work. You would often start in local radio and move into regional television as your career progresses.