Programs in radio and television prepare people to produce, direct, and manage news and feature broadcasts. Students learn to write, edit, plan, and produce various types of broadcasts. They study broadcast technology. They learn to manage schedules and make story assignments.

Radio's influence peaked during the 1930s and '40s when President Roosevelt spoke with the American public through his famous Fireside Chats. Since those days, television has taken a greater and greater share of the public's media attention. Still, radio has its own significant niche in music, news, and social commentary.

In terms of getting news to people, broadcast journalists have some advantages over print journalists. Radio and television journalists can broadcast events as they unfold. Even when taping, they air their stories almost immediately. For that reason, broadcast journalists continually compete to be first with breaking news stories. Print journalists compete to provide the best balance of depth, accuracy, and detail in background information.

In radio and television programs, your courses teach you about all aspects of radio and television news broadcasts. You take courses in writing, editing, and producing. You study laws and regulations that govern what can and can't be broadcast. You also study how producing and delivering programs is different for radio and TV, and how to use the latest technology for both. In general, you also study the role of mass media and its effect on society.

With a degree in radio and television, you can work a variety of jobs. You can work as a manager of a project or work on postproduction for a television studio. You can use computers and graphic editing software to create a polished finished product. Or, you can work for a radio station, helping write and produce various segments of programming. Many people become broadcasters, radio DJs, and TV journalists. With some experience under your belt, you can become a director for the 5 o'clock news or the morning show on the radio! You can also work in advertising or public relations.

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in radio and television. Many offer majors in radio and television directing and producing. Some two-year colleges offer the first two years of a journalism or broad communications degree. Students can often transfer these credits to a four-year school. Master's degrees typically take five or six years of full-time study after high school. Doctoral degree programs typically take three to five years after the master's degree.