Media Studies Archives

How a Broadcast Technician makes a difference

Broadcast Technicians help TV, radio, and online shows get from the studio to your screens and speakers. They make sure things like cameras, microphones and other equipment are working to capture, record and transmit high quality sound and picture.

Without them, live sport, news, podcasts and music wouldn’t work properly. They set things up, check equipment and keep things running during broadcasts. They need to be able to spot and fix problems fast. Their work helps people stay informed, entertained and connected every day.

The type of work a Broadcast Technician will do

Set up equipment like cameras and microphones
Test sound and picture quality
Run equipment during live broadcasts
Monitor signals and spot faults
Fix problems quickly when things go wrong
Work with presenters and producers

Useful skills

Logical thinking

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Technologically minded

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Practical application

Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the Broadcast Technician role

You have an interest in TV, radio or online video and enjoy how shows are made.

You like solving problems and figuring out why things are not working.

You can stay calm when something goes wrong, even during high-pressure live events.

You enjoy working as part of a team and helping others do their job well.

What you can bring to the Broadcast Technician role

You pay close attention to details, such as sound levels and picture quality.

You are happy to learn new technology as equipment and systems change.

You have basic IT skills and are confident using computers.

What you can bring to the Broadcast Technician role

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- making videos or podcasts

- using audio and music technology

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Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities for a Broadcast Technician

With experience, you could become a senior broadcast technician or a technical supervisor. Some people move into sound, lighting or camera roles. Others go into engineering, systems design or training apprentices. You could also work on bigger live events or specialise in TV, radio or online streaming.

How to become a Broadcast Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

A T-level in Media, broadcast and production
An apprenticeship as a Broadcast and media systems technical operator

More options available after that:

An apprenticeship as a Broadcast and media systems technician

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

Every day can be different. One day you might be in a TV studio and the next at a live event. You get to work behind the scenes on shows people love. Live broadcasts can be exciting because you have to think fast and fix problems quickly. New technology is always coming in, so there is always something new to learn. You also get to work with lots of creative people.

Other job titles...

You might also see this role listed under different job titles, including:

Broadcast and Media Systems Technician
Broadcast Engineer
Media Technician
Studio Technician
Outside Broadcast Technician

How a Post Production Technician makes a difference

You’ve probably seen footage of directors making films and directing the actors on set, but you might be less familiar with the work that goes on afterwards to create the final film.

This stage of work is called post production. It involves precision fine-tuning of colour, audio and special effects. It’s part of the process for several media industries – advertising, radio and tv, as well as film. You could be the technician who helps make remarkable creative work.

The type of work a Post Production Technician will do

Supporting the transition of raw footage or audio into the finished product
Making sure people have the right files to work on
Saving files, labelling them and storing them securely
Helping to calibrate machines
Applying technical specifications
Being responsible for high profile material
Engaging with clients and creative teams

Useful skills

Instructing others

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Technologically minded

Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the Post Production Technician role

An interest in the creative and media industries.

The ability to analyse high volumes of material.

The confidence and skills to create things on computers and try new technology and software.

What you can bring to the Post Production Technician role

An ability to work independently, managing your own time and prioritising tasks.

The skill to instruct others and make sure things happen on time and to the right standard.

What you can bring to the Post Production Technician role

You could also be right for this role if you have any of the following interests:

- art, film, fashion and design

- gaming and technology

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Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities for a Post Production Technician

At the beginning of your post production career you could focus on learning one specialist technique or get to know several and specialise later on.

With some experience behind you, you might decide you want to work freelance, getting contracts for post production work on a variety of tv programmes, ads and films.

How to become a Post Production Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

A T-level in Media, Broadcast and Production.

More options available after that:

An apprenticeship as a Junior Production Coordinator.
An apprenticeship as a Post Production Technical Operator.
An apprenticeship as a Post Production Engineer.

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

You’ll engage with a wide range of people including directors, clients, production teams and technical operators, who all work together to achieve the same creative goal. You’ll spend time on set to understand what the visual or audio objectives are and be responsible for calibrating the machines that make them achievable.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Dailies Operator
Digital Imaging Technician
Data Wrangler
Grade/Edit assistant
Input/Output Operator
MCR Operator
Media Operator
Offline Assistant
Quality Control Operator
Technical Operator

How a Lighting Technician makes a difference

Lighting is used to create atmosphere and dramatic effects in a wide range of situations, from concerts to conferences, theatre performances to exhibitions, film and tv productions to advertising.

Working with a lighting designer, the lighting crew make sure the stage or set is lit correctly and safely. They also make adjustments as filming and rehearsals progress, to support the designer’s creative vision. You could be the technician who brings light to film and theatre, enabling performances of all kinds to be visually striking.

The type of work a Lighting Technician will do

Interpreting a lighting designer’s plan
Planning where to run cables and place lights
Helping to set up the rig and check equipment
Taking instructions from the stage manager in the theatre or the floor manager in TV on what they want to achieve
Programming and operating manual or computer controlled lighting systems
Carrying out risk assessments for health and safety purposes
Taking down and storing equipment after shows or filming

Useful skills

Precise

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Decisive

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Instructing others

Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the Lighting Technician role

An interest in working in the performance industries.

Some skills in maths and science to help you achieve your electrician qualifications.

The ability to focus and produce accurate work.

What you can bring to the Lighting Technician role

The confidence to assess problems and come up with potential solutions quickly.

The ability to put what you’ve learnt into practice and teach it to other people.

A willingness to work variable hours in different locations.

What you can bring to the Lighting Technician role

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- building, making and fixing things

- art, film, fashion and design

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Average salary per year *

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities for a Lighting Technician

Once you’ve gained experience in a supporting role you could progress to leading a team of lighting technicians and managing the logistics for ordering and delivering of lighting.

More experience will also allow you to work on bigger and more complex projects, and to specialise in areas such as electrical safety, inspection and testing, pyrotechnics or rigging.

How to become a Lighting Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

A T-level in Media, Broadcast and Production.
An apprenticeship as a Live Event Rigger.
An apprenticeship as a Creative Industries Production Technician.

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

Films, advertising shoots, conferences, and theatre shows take place in lots of different locations, so you’ll have the opportunity to travel around and gain access to places you may not otherwise visit. You’ll also meet a wide variety of people, some of whom could be famous performers and actors.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Gaffer

How an Animation Technician makes a difference

When you first think of animation, you probably imagine big feature films with quirky characters, hilarious stories, and funny voice overs. Films are one of the places where animation is used today but there are also many others.

Organisations of all kinds use animation to bring products, services and experiences to life, in short information films, advertising and computer games. You could be the technician who helps brands, charities, campaigners, game designers, and filmmakers to tell their stories in a fresh and engaging way.

The type of work an Animation Technician will do

Creating images that help to tell a story
Using different illustration processes – hand drawn, computer generated or 3D objects
Interpreting a story board and characters
Producing characters’ motions, gestures and expressions
Presenting creative ideas
Producing repeats of images with minor changes

Useful skills

Attention to detail

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Communicating complex ideas

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Precise

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Technologically minded

Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the Animation Technician role

A vivid imagination and excellent drawing skills.

The ability to focus and great attention to detail when you draw.

An interest in how human and animal anatomies work.

An appreciation of different animation styles.

What you can bring to the Animation Technician role

The ability to follow instructions carefully and accurately.

A natural instinct for communicating complex ideas simply.

An ease with computers and experience using computer design software.

What you can bring to the Animation Technician role

You could also be right for this role if you have any of the following interests:

- art, film, fashion and design

- gaming and technology

Future career opportunities for an Animation Technician

You could work in an animation studio that specialises in a particular animation style and become a creative director who leads a team.

Alternatively, you might want to develop your own animation style and become a freelance animator who is used for a range of projects.

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Average salary per year *

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

How to become an Animation Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

A T-level in Digital Software Development.

More options available after that:

An apprenticeship as a Junior Animator.

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

Working in animation involves creating alternative worlds and deciding how to communicate messages simply. You’ll be involved in producing a series of still images that will be shown in a rapid sequence to create the illusion of movement. These can be combined with live action, real actors, visual effects, and interactive content to create visual communication that’s really exciting.