Production Roles

Production Roles

Roles that are included in a production package for Broadcast News are:

• Producer
• Researcher
• Director
• News Anchor/Reporter
• Camera Operator
• Sound Operator
• Editor
• Graphics Designer

News producers are very organised and pay attention to every little detail. They have the ability to stay calm in pressure situations and have good news judgment. They can write stories in a short period of time and with very little notice. They write the news stories for the news anchors, organise the show, find leads for stories, time the program and they are the link between the director, anchors and the studio crew while filming.


A researcher works closely with the producer on finding a story and also getting information about a certain story. As well as contributing ideas to the show they also find sources for stories. More roles include organising, planning and researching everything that will happen during the program such as the location, who will be interviewed and if the budget will stretch.


The director works closely with all staff and is in charge of the design of the news package. They direct other staff such as the camera man, anchors and also work closely with the editor to project their ideas. Another important role for the director is to make sure everything flows well and is consistent so that the production meets the deadlines set.


A news anchor/reporter is what everyone at home sees when the news package begins. Job roles include telling the audience the news, which is usually read off a teleprompter unless they are at a location. The anchor will introduce the story and then move on to the reporter. Sometimes a news anchor will also make changes to the script to make things easier for them. The news reporter acts as a witness to the story as well as telling the audience. A key skill included in both roles is being able to present a news story.

Camera operators work closely with directors and using their creativity and operating skills they produce a wide range of filming styles that contribute to the overall view of the news package. Usually a camera operator on a news package will also work alongside other camera operators as many studio news shows are multi-camera. When outside of the studio a camera operator can also be a sound man if a boom microphone isn't needed.


Sound is very important in news because without it the pictures don't tell much of a story. Sound operators working in studios are in charge of setting up clip mics for the news anchors and also boom mics. During the news package the sound operator will keep an eye on sound levels and if needed they can turn down the noise levels if they are too loud and versa.


Editors create the overall news package. Putting together all parts of the news show to give the audience a complete package. They work with the director and channel the directors ideas and creativity onto screen.


Graphic designers are responsible for what you see on screen before, during and after a news package. Usually a graphic designers largest task is the graphics before the news starts when they have to design artistic graphics that lead to the opening of the news show. During the show the graphics we would see, most likely at the bottom of the screen are also done by the graphic designers as well as the graphics after the news show.