What Does a Broadcast Producer Do?
Broadcast producers line up guests, write scripts and plan a radio or TV program minute by minute, then direct the recording from the control room. The shows range from daily news magazines and weekly arts hours to documentaries and podcasts, made at public and commercial stations and production companies. Every segment is timed to the second.
Also known as: Media Producer-Director, Television Producer-Writer, Radio Program Producer, Television Producer-Director, Senior Television Producer-Director
Broadcast Producer Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a broadcast producer include:
- Pitch and develop story ideas, series and segment formats with hosts and editors.
- Book guests, prepare them for interviews and send them briefing notes in advance.
- Write scripts, host intros and promos that fit exact time slots.
- Build show rundowns that time every segment, break and station identification.
- Direct studio recordings and live shows from the control room.
- Edit audio and video in Adobe Audition, Premiere Pro or Avid.
- Clear music and archival footage rights before a program airs.
- Manage production budgets for freelancers, travel and equipment rentals.
- Check facts, names and pronunciations before anything goes to air.
- Publish segments as podcasts and web posts with transcripts and show notes.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a broadcast producer, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Story sense and interviewing
- Scriptwriting to time
- Audio and video editing
- Studio and control room workflow
- Rights and clearance basics
- Tight deadline management
- Collaboration with hosts, reporters and crews
- Accuracy and fairness standards
Education and Training
Campus and community stations are where many producers first learn to book guests and edit audio, usually as volunteers. Stations tend to hire graduates with a bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or film as production assistants, then promote them to associate producer. Executive producer and program director are the senior posts.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $62,670 - $134,800 per year, with a median of $90,360.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Producers and Directors.
According to BLS, growth for producers and directors is projected at about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 12,100 openings a year across film, TV, radio and stage. Demand will grow for several reasons, including podcasts; streaming video, such as station apps and YouTube channels; and local news, as audiences look for coverage of their own towns. Some become hosts.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Producers and directors.