Lesson 4- Careers in Television

Background

As students graduate from high school and college, students will be in the job market. The Internet is an excellent tool resource for students searching for a job in television; there are many job databases that can match the student's skills and interests to jobs in the many areas of television. Students will search to find information on job requirements, pay scales and locations. Students will also learn how to write and submit a resume utilizing online resources.

Objectives

The student reads and organizes information for a variety of purposes.
The student uses writing processes effectively.
The student uses technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.

Activities

1. Begin with a class discussion on different job choices in television. Guided questions: What sort of jobs do you think are needed to create a television show? What kind of work experience do you think is needed? Where would you go to school to become an actor or actress? Where are television shows taped? Brainstorm and list jobs: writer, producer, director, actor/actress, cameraman, lighting, sound man, gaffer, set designer, carpenter, costume designer, seamstress, makeup artist, hair stylist, choreographer, dancer, singer, conductor, musicians...

2. Have each student choose one job to research; students can visit the following sites to collect information on television careers.
 *Teachers should review the following sites in advance and bookmark appropriate links, such as TV news operations and TV salaries and to determine if grade level appropriate:
American Jobs - great site to get ideas for careers
TV and Radio News Careers - get information for careers in media
Media Careers - more media career ideas
Monsterboard - a giant site that helps in all areas of looking for a jog

3. Students will then complete their Television Job Work Sheet.

4. Students will research and complete a resume for their researched job. Students can use this online resource; also, many word processing programs come with resume templates and stationary.  Students can locate pertinent resume information at these sites: Resume at Monsterboard and  Guide to Writing a Resume. Review what a resume should contain: name, address, phone, email, job objective, education, experience, skills, and references upon request. Remind the students that there should be no spelling errors and the lines should be double spaced for easy reading.

5. Students will print and share their resumes with the class.

Materials

Computer with Internet access, trade books and magazines on careers, Television Job Work Sheet, Resume Checklist

Evaluation

Student will be assessed on their resume using the following assessment: Resume Checklist.

Homework

Post information about the television jobs. Using the spreadsheet/graph application of any word processing software, have students create a graph detailing the salary paid for each job.

Extension Activity: Job Poster

• Students will create a job poster of their ideal television career
• Teacher can create a Television Job Template example or have students create their own as they work
• Students will locate photos or clip art of their job on the Internet
  *Teacher can book mark career and people clip art after reviewing Barry's Clip Art web site
• Student will insert appropriate clip art or photo
• Write a brief description of the job, edit title and contents
• Print poster and display in classroom

Guest Speaker

Contact a local television station and invite personnel from the station to talk about television careers.

Fieldtrip

Organize a fieldtrip to a local television station so students can observe various jobs first hand. Have students email their impressions to different professionals observed at the station.