Opportunities in the Electronic Media ADMINISTRATION Accountant Handles accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, profit and loss statements, balance sheets, consolidations, and general account- ing and processing procedures. In a cable system, the accountant also keeps records of payments by subscribers and computes and distributes monthly statements to subscribers (including general bills for basic services and any addi- tional charges for pay services). Degree in accounting preferred. Administrative Assistant Assists station owner or general manager of local radio station, televi- sion station, or cable system and carries out responsibilities delegat- ed by the owner or manager. Assistant often begins career in typing pool, moves up to private secretary, then to administrative assistant. Typing and shorthand required. Knowledge of broadcasting or cable helpful. Business Manager Handles all financial transactions, budgets, tax preparations, capital investments, and related matters. Often administers benefit programs. Degree in business administration, finance, or accounting required with long varied work history in the field. Beginners in this field often begin in the accounting department and work up to the top post. 13 Credit and Collections (Radio and TV) Handles collection of accounts receivable, adjustment of billing dis- crepancies, and other varied responsibilities in support of the accountant. Customer Service Representative (Cable) Handles orders from subscribers for installation of cable service and answers questions or complaints about the service from subscribers. Experience in consumer affairs and complaint handling helpful. General Manager Cable: Responsible for complete operation of the cable system, in- cluding marketing, public services, engineering, programming, finance, employment policies and employee benefit plans. Radio/TV: Responsible for complete operation of station, including personnel, programming, engineering, accounting, sales, profits, and continuation of the license to operate. May be responsible for labor negotiations when applicable. Must have experience in all phases of broadcast management. Degree in business administration and/or broadcasting beneficial. Government Relations Specialist Position usually found at trade associations, the networks, and large broadcast and cable groups. Represents the interests of a group (broadcast stations, cable systems, equipment manufacturers, editors, actors, engineers) before regulatory agencies, the Congress, and the public. Usually lobbies for policies and laws that are in the best in- terest of the industry or group. May provide information to these bodies. Legal background is helpful. Knowledge of issues, policies, regula- tions and laws pertaining to the industry or group is necessary. Labor Relations Specialist Position usually found at the networks and large broadcast and cable groups. Negotiates all collective bargaining agreements for the com- pany and administers the company's labor relations policies. Training and experience in labor relations essential. 14 Service Dispatcher (Cable) Dispatches requests for cable service to the field. Monitors service, installation, and trunk line dispatches and requests for disconnects, and records all communications. ART Art Director Advertising: An artist employed in an executive capacity by an agency. Usually a department head. Responsible for planning, directing, and creating artwork for use in print or broadcast advertise- ments. May be responsible for television commercial production. Art degree essential. Knowledge of radio, television and cable production essential. Radio/TV/Cable: In charge of art department at station or network Ievels. Responsible for planning, directing and creating artwork for use in promotional advertisements. Must have knowledge of photography, slide, and video production. ENGINEERING Camera Operator Operates television camera. Training in use of equipment and in production is essential. Union membership may be necessary. Camera Operator/Videographer Operates television camera. Training in use of equipment and in production essential. Union membership may be required. Chief Engineer Develops, plans, prepares budget estimates and specifications of equipment (including audio systems for radio and video, video re- cording, film projection, and studio lighting systems for television and 15 cable). Supervises all technicians. Assures high quality signal delivery of satellite and microwave relays of the receiving antennas which receive broadcast, microwave and satellite signals that are amplified and processed for transmission to the home. Previous experience is necessary. Commercial radio operator license required. Degree in engineering may be required. Installer (Cable) Prepares the subscriber's home for cable reception, explains the operation of the system to the subscriber, and disconnects system when subscriber no longer has cable service. Previous technical experience necessary. Plant Maintenance Technician (Cable) Responsible for the physical maintenance of the cable plant, poles, pole transfer, and general repair of damage which might occur due to weather or other external conditions. Technical experience helpful. Service Technician (Cable) Solves any technical problems the subscriber may have and often makes service calls to the subscriber's home. Previous customer service experience helpful. Strand Mapper (Cable) Surveys the geographic area to be covered by the cable, determining the number of connections that can be made to each pole and deciding if any adjustments to the poles are needed to accommodate the cable. Previous experience necessary. Technician/Maintenance Engineer Operates and maintains broadcast equipment such as cameras, video tape, projectors, audio transmitters and other. 16 Trunk Technician (Cable) Corrects any electronic failures in the main cable line, or the feeder amplifier. The trunk line is the main line of a cable system and is strung along main streets of a city or the system's plant area. Previous experience necessary. Video Tape Engineer Operates video tape recording equipment for instantaneous or delayed broadcasting of programs. May be used in news, public affairs or special events. Union membership may be required. LEGAL Attorney Duties and responsibilities vary, depending on whether position is with private law firm, at Federal Communications Commission, or as in-house counsel for network, large group owner, or multiple system operator. Law degree required. Paralegal Assists attorneys by doing research and handling other administrative tasks. Some employers may require prior experience, college degree, and/or paralegal certification (certification generally received after conclusion of year long program of course work in legal procedures and methods of research).