Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

The Work

Broadcasting researchers provide the basic material for radio and television programmes. They develop ideas for programmes and follow them through to broadcasting. The nature of the research varies according to the type of programme being produced.  
 
Researchers are responsible for finding out facts and figures, contacting people for comments and setting up programmes. They carry out interviews with a variety of people to get detailed information. Stories may involve sensitive issues and some interviewees may be nervous.  
 
Researchers may also plan locations for filming and check through archives and specialist collections for historical information. They must make sure that all information for broadcast is factually correct. They may also be involved in selecting the play list for radio shows.  
 
Eventually, researchers may help to write news reports and scripts for presenters or interviewers.  
 
It may be necessary to travel nationally and even internationally as a broadcasting researcher. They plan Outside Broadcasts and make sure they are appropriate.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers.
• Coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs.
• Examine news items of local, national, and international significance to determine topics to address, or obtain assignments from editorial staff members.
• Analyse and interpret news and information received from various sources to broadcast the information.
• Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas.
• Research a story's background information to provide complete and accurate information.
• Arrange interviews with people who can provide information about a story.
• Gather information and develop perspectives about news subjects through research, interviews, observation, and experience.
• Select material most pertinent to presentation, and organise this material into appropriate formats.
• Present news stories, and introduce in-depth videotaped segments or live transmissions from on-the-scene reporters.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Most entrants have had experience of research through journalism. This is often a requirement specified in advertisements for project and freelance posts.  Detailed knowledge and experience of a specialist field may be a way into specialist programming. A good working knowledge of Irish is an advantage in applying to television stations or to the many independent production companies making Irish Language programmes.  

There various routes into this job role but many media researchers have a degree linked to the type of programmes they work on. Media, communications, journalism degree programmes are all relevant. Media researchers working on a political programme, may hold a relevant degree in politics or social science. 

Training & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship: Business & Office Admin, Customer service, Media & production in centres around Ireland at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Creative digital media, TV & Film studies, Film production, Media studies, Marketing, business administration, Journalism, Politics, social studies, Psychology at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: There are no current Apprenticeships in this career area, but new apprenticeships are being added all the time NFQ level 5-10 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Digital media, sociology, Politics, TV & Film production, Media & Communication, Communications, Arts & media studies, Advertising and Marketing Communications NFQ Levels 7-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development 

Postgraduate Study Options Arts & Media, Creative digital media NFQ level 9

IFTV Irish Film & Television network  For a list of TV/ Film production companies check 

Careers In screen pathways 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €26k - €57k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Glassdoor / Salaryband

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,300 persons employed. As illustrated in the CSO Census data below, employment is spread across a number of roles; since 2016, the strongest growth, in absolute terms, was for graphic designers and authors, writers and translators.

New employment permits issued for this occupation in 2022 were primarily for film/TV and animation/visual effects (VFX) roles but also for linguistics experts in the ICT sector. There was also a high volume of recent job hires in line with the recent employment increase. The data does not point to overall issues with recruitment for these roles.

• Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE)

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