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Build a career in television and radio
This career guide is designed to help University of Portsmouth students and recent graduates explore job options, key employers, and entry routes into the television and radio sectors.
In this guide:
Working in television and radio is an exciting and attractive option for many despite the long hours, ongoing pressure and initial difficulty in breaking into the industry. Work can be varied, including presenting, writing, directing and producing.
The advancement in digital technology has increased options for those looking to work within television and radio. An increase in digital and satellite channels as well as online content and streaming means that the television and radio industry offers exciting opportunities. Add to this over 1500 independent production companies in the UK with roles on both sides of the camera or microphone; however, you will need to have the determination, passion and relevant experience and skills to succeed.
Potential Job Roles
Prospects has a useful list of job profiles, each containing relevant information about key responsibilities, skill requirements, starting salaries, entry requirements, career prospects with links to major employers and current graduate vacancies. Some roles include:
Professional Qualifications
In most cases, professional qualifications are not essential for getting into television and broadcasting, especially for entry-level production roles such as runner, researcher, production assistant, camera assistant or content roles. Employers usually place a lot of value on practical experience, contacts, enthusiasm, initiative, and evidence that you understand the industry.
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Gaining Experience
Getting relevant experience is essential. Many employers recruit through internships, placement programmes, or work experience programmes. Overall, additional experience will boost your employment prospects by helping to build a network of contacts. Most of your graduate competition will have degree-related work experience.
Types of opportunities
Below are some examples of the different types of opportunities to gain experience while you study.
Placements will give you a long-term look at an organisation, and help you to build contacts and experience.
On some degrees, work placements are part of the programme, whilst on others you can choose to complete a placement as one of your modules. Should you choose to undertake either your first point of contact is your placement team.
Learn more about taking a placement
Many students from the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Arts choose to take a Self-Employed Placement. This allows you to work for yourself during your placement year and receive support from the University's Student Startup Team. You will have access to funding opportunities, networking events and workshops.
It is worth considering the voluntary sector for work experience. Voluntary work with community art initiatives can be valuable. Seize any opportunity to get involved in local community projects to help you develop your work experience. Our Volunteering Bank provides local opportunities to undertake alongside your studies.
You can also get involved in relevant university projects through the different groups and societies via the Student Union. This is a good way of demonstrating your motivation and interest in this area of work.
Internships are usually for a fixed period and give you more hands-on experience. Many employers will treat interns in the same way as full-time employees, so when future job roles ask for 'at least one year's experience' you can include an internship in this type of experience.
You can find internships for television and radio through:
Be proactive and try to gather inspiration and ideas from the world around you: join creative clusters and attend networking events. This is a great way to meet people working in the creative industries and will help you with your networking skills. LinkedIn is a useful platform to network with sector employers.
You can also speak to your tutors in the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries about potential contacts and opportunities for work experience over the Easter period or summer vacation.
This is an opportunity for you to spend time with an experienced professional and learn about what they do and their role.
Whatever experience you gain will help your understanding of the skills required in the television and radio field. It will also give you an idea of the challenges and triumphs of the creative process.
Where to find work experience opportunities
Work experience in the television and radio sector can be invaluable. Some platforms to use to find opportunities or make speculative approaches to include:
Listed below are examples of large companies and agencies offering and advertising work experience in this sector. You will need to do thorough research to identify further specific opportunities.
- allaboutcareers – Includes a useful internships and work placements section which could assist in sourcing relevant opportunities
- Absolute Radio – For students studying a media related course; all placements are two weeks unless otherwise arranged with opportunities being advertised on amplifi.
- Community Media Association – Includes a regularly updated section showing latest voluntary vacancies at radio stations across the UK
- Screen Global Production – International guide to 40,000 film, television and commercial production service companies in 149 countries; searchable database is a useful resource for students looking for placements, internships or career opportunities in film and TV
- The Knowledge – Comprehensive production directory for UK Film and TV contacts
- BBC – the BBC's searchable work experience pages
- Channel 4 – Offer work experience opportunities within a range of departments including audience research, media planning, press and publicity, continuity, advertising research and many more
- Global Radio – one to three months unpaid opportunities
- Banijay UK – Creative Internship scheme, three months paid work experience
- Video Collective - A UK based job board and search engine for freelancers seeking work in the Film and TV industry. Lists Film, TV, and Video Production jobs.
- FremantleMedia – Offer three month internships based in London
- PACT – The trade association for independent production companies has a searchable directory of members; use this information to make speculative applications
- allaboutcareers – Includes a useful internships and work placements section which could assist in sourcing relevant opportunities
- The Knowledge – Comprehensive production directory for UK Film and TV
- Tiger Aspect Productions – Offer the occasional placement on a shoot/production.; placements will last for one to two weeks
- The Knowledge – Comprehensive production directory for UK Film and TV. Use this information to make speculative applications
- Video Collective - A UK based job board and search engine for freelancers seeking work in the Film and TV industry. Lists Film, TV, and Video Production jobs.
- British Film Industry (BFI) – Organisation has responsibility for funding film development and production, training, distribution and exhibition in the UK; offers paid internships
- allaboutcareers – Includes a useful internships and work placements section which could assist in sourcing relevant opportunities
- Screen Global Production – International guide to 40,000 film, television and commercial production service companies in 149 countries; searchable database is a useful resource for students looking for placements, internships or career opportunities in film and TV
- Company Pictures – Independent film and television drama Production Company, offering work experience to students who are enrolled on an educational course
Explore the various areas within the media sector before you apply for work experience; knowing what you want to specialise in will help you focus your research and ensure you gain the relevant skills:
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Research the media sector first to identify the area you want to specialise in, then target work experience that helps you build relevant skills.
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Get practical experience through university media channels, student newspapers, radio, blogs, vlogs, YouTube, community radio, or volunteering opportunities.
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Build your network by attending workshops, entering competitions, creating a LinkedIn profile, and connecting with employers, tutors, and industry contacts.
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Apply proactively and speculatively to media organisations, as many TV and radio opportunities are not advertised. Send a targeted CV and cover letter.
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Look for internships and placements with media companies, agencies, radio stations, and major employers such as the BBC, Sky, and ITV, while recognising these can be highly competitive.
Getting the most out of work experience
Whether you already have a career path in mind or are still exploring your options, our work experience pages guide you to finding opportunities that match your interests and goals. You'll find advice on choosing an industry, broadening your search, and standing out while building valuable skills and experience.
Finding a Job
We recommend starting your search using our online jobs board, MyCareer. You can also find general online job boards and advice through our Graduate Jobs page.
Job Boards for television and broadcasting
Recruitment agencies
Recruitment consultants work with individuals to help them find suitable work to match their skills. Agency Central is the UK's leading recruitment agency directory. An advanced search and filter system finds the agencies which match your needs.
Are you looking for a role in Hampshire? Our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy can help!
If you're in the final year of your degree, you can register for support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy. They work with over 3,000 employers in the local area to place our students into fantastic graduate careers.
Speculative applications
Speculative applications involve sending a CV and cover letter to an employer to ask if they have any vacancies, even if the company is not currently advertising for a role. They're a great way to access "hidden jobs" that go unadvertised.
Submitting a speculative application shows your interest in a specific company and your willingness to go above and beyond to develop your skills and understanding of the industry.
Working for yourself
Got an idea you'd like to turn into something bigger?
Whether you're planning a business, side hustle or freelance career, our Student StartUp team can help you build your confidence and develop your plans. Access expert guidance, funding opportunities, workshops and workspace designed to help you move your idea forward.
Keep up-to-date with the industry
As part of your job-hunting strategy you will need to keep up to date on developments in this sector and keep track of any vacancies that are coming up. Below are some key resources to help you research opportunities available. The knowledge gained through your research may help you to target your applications and will help when preparing for interviews.
- The Radio Academy – A social and business network uniting the UK radio industry; as a careers knowledge bank providing job profiles as well as advice and information on starting a career in radio
- Broadcast – Broadcast provides the latest industry news for the broadcast sector including features on commissioning, production and ratings data
- media.info – A full directory of radio, television, magazines and newspapers in the world, with industry news, jobs, discussion, information and analysis
- ScreenSkills – Industry body which supports skills and training for people working in the creative industries and advertises vacancies in film, TV and related industries.
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Creative Network South - Working to develop the creative industries in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Their prime focus is the attraction and retention of creative talent
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CreateBritain - Create a Profile for peers, fans and business opportunities to find you. The site brings many aspects of the creative industries together into an easy to navigate, highly relevant space.
Explore more from the Careers Service
CVs, portfolios and cover letters
Find out how to increase your chances of getting an interview by writing a strong CV and completing a successful application.
Building work experience
Get hands-on industry experience and showcase your knowledge before you graduate!
Graduate job search guide
Learn about the types of roles you will encounter, and how to search for roles.
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