Meet Clare and find out more about life as a music news reporter for BBC Radio 6 Music. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
Clare:
I am a music news reporter. So it's really exciting, I get to go round and meet lots of different artists that are playing, finding out which ones work for our particular programmes, maybe speaking to them quickly and then editing that into a package ready to create my script which I then insert the different packages into, send to the presenters for a quick check over and then I go into studio and we have our discussion, we play the clip, we play the package, we hear from all the music artists and then, once I've finished there, I then prep for the following day.
A big skill for a music journalist is to be able to find a story because, quite often, people are asked the same questions over and over again so you want to try and find an angle on it so that you've got something fresh to report. I think that's really key and also being organised. A lot of it is fun and chatting but being organised really helps because quite often, like today at a festival, I'm given lots of different things thrown into the mix and I have to really kind of get my priorities in order and it is shuffling that kind of task list and making sure that I get everything done.
My job is all about practical experience. I became a volunteer at a radio station. I became a runner at the BBC and I worked hard, I did what I call my extra-curricular activities which are basically getting out and meeting people and doing as much as you possibly can for where you want to be. I think that passion gets you through because, eventually, yeah it might take some time but you will get to where you want to be.
I think passion gets you through. Eventually, it might take some time, but you will get to where you want to be.
Clare works as a music news reporter for BBC Radio 6 Music. At festivals like Bluedot, she meets artists that are playing, gets a feel for the festival and reports back into radio programmes like Radio 6's Radcliffe and Maconie show
On days she's in the office, she liaises with promoters who contact her telling her about artists' new albums. She works out which programmes the artists may be well suited to, interviews them and creates packages to be used on-air
Some key skills Clare has drawn on include having a good eye for a story, communicating well with people and being organised so she can juggle different tasks
After her GCSEs, Clare went to college but didn't study anything to do with music journalism. She didn't go to uni but, instead, built up experience in the field by volunteering at a radio station, becoming a runner at the BBC and doing lots of networking
For Clare, getting into the industry is all about practical experience and passion – getting out there and showing people what you can bring to the table!
A music news reporter is a similar role to a broadcast journalist. Broadcast journalists research and present news stories and factual programmes on TV, radio and the internet.
What to expect if you want to be a broadcast journalist
- Broadcast journalist average salary: £14,000 to £60,000 per year
- Broadcast journalist typical working hours: 37 to 39 hours per week
What qualifications do you need to be a broadcast journalist?
You could get into this role via a university course, an apprenticeship, working towards this role or applying directly.
Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed.
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).
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