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Program Directors - 27-2012.03

O*NET-SOC Description

Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Program Director
  • Program Manager
  • Programming Director
  • News Director
  • Director
  • Operations Manager
  • Program Coordinator
  • Production Director
  • Newscast Director
  • Operations Director

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

27-2012.01 Producers
27-2012.04 Talent Directors
27-2012.05 Technical Directors/Managers
27-3041.00 Editors
27-3042.00 Technical Writers
27-4032.00 Film and Video Editors

Tasks

  • Act as a liaison between talent and directors, providing information that performers or guests need to prepare for appearances and communicating relevant information from guests, performers, or staff to directors.
  • Check completed program logs for accuracy and conformance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations and resolve program log inaccuracies.
  • Conduct interviews for broadcasts.
  • Confer with directors and production staff to discuss issues such as production and casting problems, budgets, policies, and news coverage.
  • Coordinate activities between departments, such as news and programming.
  • Cue announcers, actors, performers, and guests.
  • Develop budgets for programming and broadcasting activities and monitor expenditures to ensure that they remain within budgetary limits.
  • Develop ideas for programs and features that a station could produce.
  • Develop promotions for current programs and specials.
  • Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in broadcast news, sports, or programming.
  • Direct setup of remote facilities and install or cancel programs at remote stations.
  • Establish work schedules and assign work to staff members.
  • Evaluate new and existing programming to assess suitability and the need for changes, using information such as audience surveys and feedback.
  • Monitor and review programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality.
  • Monitor network transmissions for advisories concerning daily program schedules, program content, special feeds, or program changes.
  • Operate and maintain on-air and production audio equipment.
  • Participate in the planning and execution of fundraising activities.
  • Perform personnel duties, such as hiring staff and evaluating work performance.
  • Plan and schedule programming and event coverage, based on broadcast length, time availability, and other factors, such as community needs, ratings data, and viewer demographics.
  • Prepare copy and edit tape so that material is ready for broadcasting.
  • Read news, read or record public service and promotional announcements, or perform other on-air duties.
  • Review information about programs and schedules to ensure accuracy and provide such information to local media outlets.
  • Select, acquire, and maintain programs, music, films, and other needed materials and obtain legal clearances for their use as necessary.

Detailed Work Activities

  • advise member stations concerning programs or schedules
  • analyze financial data
  • assign work to staff or employees
  • communicate visually or verbally
  • confer with other departmental heads to coordinate activities
  • direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
  • evaluate length, content, or suitability of program for broadcast
  • evaluate performance of employees or contract personnel
  • examine expenditures to ensure activities are within budget
  • hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
  • interpret information to formulate story ideas
  • monitor operational budget
  • monitor or review news or programming copy or film
  • operate audio-visual equipment
  • oversee execution of organizational or program policies
  • plan or organize work
  • research broadcast copy
  • research information for news programs
  • review assembled film or video tape on monitor
  • review film, recordings, or rehearsals
  • schedule activities, classes, or events
  • schedule employee work hours
  • use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
  • use library or online Internet research techniques
  • use word processing or desktop publishing software
  • write business correspondence
  • write news analysis commentary, column, or script
  • write news stories for publication

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Broadcast (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Broadcast Operations Director (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Motion Picture and Television Project Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Radio-Television Program Officer (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Visual Information Operations Chief (Army - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Director, Educational Programming
  • Director, News
  • Director, Operations, Broadcast
  • Director, Program
  • Director, Public Service
  • Director, Sports
  • Program Director, Cable Television