Pros and Cons of Being a Broadcast Negotiator
Broadcast negotiators are responsible for making purchasing and salary decisions of on-air talent as well as those working for a media group or organization. Learn more about the pros and cons of this profession by reading ahead.
| Pros of Being a Broadcast Negotiator |
|---|
| High potential salary (up to $124,000 in 2015)*** |
| A bachelor's degree is sufficient for most positions*** |
| Several opportunities for advancement* |
| On-the-job training may be available* |
| Cons of Being a Broadcast Negotiator |
|---|
| Little to no job growth projected (-1 to 4% for 2012-2022 decade)* |
| Common to work irregular hours, including weekends or holidays* |
| Several years of experience usually required** |
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **Job Postings on Indeed.com, ***Glassdoor.com
Career Information
Job Description and Duties
Falling into the categories of purchasing or advertising agents and managers, broadcast negotiators work in the media. This can be anywhere from television to radio to increasingly popular internet organizations. They are responsible for bringing specialist-level expertise while negotiating the organization's rates. In addition to these primary duties, broadcast negotiators must also follow the organization or TV/radio station's performance, give out work orders, resolve disparities, and follow and provide info on market conditions or shifts to other managers within the organization or station.
Career Prospects and Salary
Unfortunately, career prospects for broadcast negotiators (and anyone in the purchasing or advertising agents/managers field) are not projected to see any real job growth during the 2012-2022 decade, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, there is even projected to be a slight decrease of one percent in the employment of advertising sales agents during this period.
With that said, however, there is a wide range of salary possibilities available for those who begin to work as broadcast negotiators. While some salaries have been reported to be around $31,000 a year, Indeed.com listed the highest-reported salary for broadcast negotiators as being around $124,000 a year, as of July 2015. However, SimplyHired.com reported that as of July 2015, the average media broadcast negotiator salary was around $43,000 a year.
What Are the Requirements?
Broadcast negotiators are not entry-level positions, so a bachelor's degree is usually required. While no fields are typically required by most employers, a degree with an emphasis in media, advertising, marketing, or business administration is usually required. As long as you're taking courses in media, mass communication, or journalism, you should be well-suited with your academic experience. Most positions typically ask that applicants have a number of years, usually anywhere from one to seven, in a similar field.
What Employers Are Looking For
Having the educational requirements and experience is sufficient for getting a job as a broadcast negotiator, but there are a number of smaller skills that may help an applicant stand out in the field. Below are some examples of job postings opened in late 2013:
- A media agency in Austin is looking for a media broadcast negotiator for their new south-side office. In addition to three or more years of experience in media buying, the agency is looking for candidates with knowledge of media systems like Donovan or Harris, as well as rational decision-making skills and a strong attention to detail.
- A management group of a media conglomerate in Santa Monica is looking for a broadcast negotiator who can make local purchases for broadcasting. The group expects only 1-2 years of media purchasing and asks for candidates with strong analytical skills and the ability to multitask.
- An advertising group is looking for a local broadcast negotiator with 5-7 years of experience and a bachelor's degree in a media field, along with a successful history of media purchasing and experience with QSR (qualitative software research).
How to Stand Out
While a bachelor's degree is sufficient for a job as a broadcast negotiator, many options are available for those who want to make an impression with their resumes. For example, prospective broadcast negotiators can pursue additional training and certification opportunities. The American Purchasing Society has two relevant certifications: the Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) and the Certified Professional Purchasing Manager (CPPM), both of which require previous experience and relevant education.
Develop Related Skills
In addition to the certification opportunities available, potential broadcast negotiators can sharpen their skills in the following ways:
- Becoming proficient with Microsoft Office, Excel and Powerpoint in particular
- Gaining experience with QSR
- Familiarity with media purchasing practices
Other Career Paths
Contract Negotiator
If you like the idea of negotiating being a part of your career but don't see broadcast negotiating as a good fit for you, a career as a contract negotiator might be a better fit for you. Depending on the company, contract negotiators can see average salaries from around $66,000 to $96,000. Experience and education requirements are similar to broadcast negotiators'.
Wholesale and Retail Buyers
If you like the idea of handling the purchase and resale of goods to buyers as opposed to working out salaries and contracts, a job as a wholesale and retail buyer might be right for you. As of May 2012, the average annual wage of a wholesale and retail buyer was around $57,000 a year. Job growth during the 2012-2022 decade is expected to be faster than that of purchasing agents as a whole, at around seven percent.
