Posted by chicagomedia.org on October 15, 2008 at 12:34:00:
RTNDA Tells Radio News' Real Story
The RTNDA and Hofstra Univeristy recently released a report titled "The Real Story of TV News Staffing and other numbers for TV and Radio in 2008," which has some interesting findings about radio news.
The average amount of radio news produced daily is up from a year ago led by increases in afternoon and evening news reports. The increases were fueled by major and medium markets. Independently owned stations also tend to produce more news.
The average radio news staff size fell back from 2.5 people to 2.1 this year. Two years ago is was 2.0.
Over one third of stations say they have increased the amount of news reported in the last year and 25% say they plan to increase the amount in the next 12 months.
Just over 40% of news directors say they oversee news operations for 7-8 stations while 83% says they have other duties at their stations. Those include talk show host (23%), announcing news (17%), program director (11%) and general manager (9.8%).
(Mike Stern, Radio & Records)