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1. Structure of a Media Sector – Task 1:
Film Industry:
The Film industry is one of the most successful forms of entertainment, contributing £4.3
billion to the UK’s economy in 2006 is one example of this – with the industry as a whole
becoming increasingly popular. In 2007, 516 films were released in the UK, this is a
noticeably large 58% increase in comparison to the past decade.
Within the Film industry, there are four main sub-sectors; production, facilities, distribution
and exhibition. These main roles are filled by both smaller and larger companies within the
film industry, as well as some highly-skilled freelancers. 43% of people working in the Film
industry are women, with the majority being men. The Film industry can be seen to consist
of several ethnic backgrounds also. Examples of the jobs in the Film industry include;
Director, Editor, Camera Crew, Technicians etc.
Film directors are crucial to the completion of any film. They're responsible for overseeing
all aspects of the creative process and bringing them together. This involves managing
budgets, holding meetings with all departments at the planning, execution and post-
production stages of filming, and concisely and effectively communicating your visions for
the film. This role requires strong communication skills, a fair but firm approach to giving
orders, excellent time management and the ability to problem-solve under pressure. While
a degree in film production will provide you with a deeper understanding of what's involved
in making a film, practical experience will help you build a network of contacts in the
industry and allow you to develop your filmmaking skills.
Film editors work with raw footage in post-production to compile an end result that's
suitable for release. They'll often work closely with the director to ensure their work is in
line with the director's intentions for the film. It's no simple task - crucial, 'invisible' aspects
of film, such as comedic timing, pacing and suspense, are what often elevate a production
from good to outstanding quality and are the result of sharp, seamless editing. This may
involve changing up the order of scenes or removing some completely. Successful editors
pay close attention to detail, bring creative flair and a passion for filmto the role, and have
the patience and self-motivation to experiment with editing. To become a film editor, you'll
need to build a wealth of experience working in TV and on smaller productions before
progressing to editing feature-length films. You might enter the industry as a runner, trainee
or second assistant, moving up the ranks to first assistant before becoming an editor in your
own right.
The most junior position in any film production department, it's a runner's job to carry out
administrative tasks and aid the smooth running of film production. As a runner, your work
will involve setting up locations for a shoot, hiring props and transporting equipment,
among other tasks. Runners are resilient, enthusiastic and work diligently. Many are hired
through being in the right place at the right time or their contacts rather than their

2. qualifications and can be in the position for a year or longer before progressing onto
researcher roles.
Television Industry:
The television industry is the most popular form of entertainment and information. But the
rapid growth of the gaming industry is a strong competitor. People who have jobs in the
Television Industry come from all around the UK, (despite 62% being based in London).
Certain jobs within the Television Industry require applicants to be highly skilled (for
example, attended college / university) whilst this is not the case for some. These people
must also be adaptable somewhat, due to the drastic changes in technology that generally
occur. Examples of jobs within the Television Industry are almost identical to that of the film
industry, such as; Editor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter to name a few.
Producers oversee the entire creative process of a filmfrom conception to completion,
working closely with the director to make artistic and technical decisions about shooting,
budgets and post-production.
You'll need a strong head for figures, excellent leadership skills and the ability to make
reasoned decisions under pressure to ensure the smooth running of production.
Progressing to this senior role will require genuine passion and creativity, carrying out work
experience and networking at any opportunity. You may start in a junior role, such as a
runner or programme researcher, to get your foot in the door.
Computer Gaming Industry:
The first games were launched in the 1960’s, and quickly became firm favourites in the UK
by the 1970’s. Computer Gaming quickly became a major industry globally. Within the
Computer Gaming Industry there are 485 businesses, with the majority being classed as
game developers. These businesses employ a total of 7,000 people. Women employed
within the Computer Gaming Industry make up approximately 6% of job holders, this is
significantly lower than any other sector. Some of the jobs in the Computer Gaming Industry
include; Game Designer, Artist, Creative Director, Animator, Lead Programmer etc.
Many video gamers are creative individuals – making this position all the more attractive to
gamers. A Multimedia Artist is responsible for designing, visualizing and creating graphics /
animation for video games and other multimedia. This person is responsible for bringing the
writers’ dreams to life on a screen, so the job is important to say the least.
Game testers, also known as Beta Testers, are responsible for detecting bugs, glitches and
artistic flaws within a game. The job is best suited to someone willing to play video games
for long periods of time, having a good eye for nit-picks and what not. Whilst also providing
a bit of insight into how video games are created, by working more closely with the Dev
team.

3. Interactive Media Industry:
Interactive media industry is a very adaptable industry that overlaps into many other sectors
such as; television – for example, X Factor or social media – for example, Twitter. This sector
is worth several billion pounds and employs over 40,000 people.
Working in this industry is a team activity. Contributing ideas to each other is a crucial
aspect to this sector and everyone is expected to do so. People employed in the interactive
media industry must be able to communicate clearly to one another and understand each
other’s demands. People who are likely to succeed are multi-skilled, able to change jobs
comfortably, and with the ability to continuously keep learning and adapting skills quickly.
What are some of the different jobs? Due to high pace technology, and adaptability the job
roles are unfixed, although there are some principle roles; Designer, Information Architect,
Programmer, Web Writer etc.
For example, social media managers are responsible for communicating with a business'
customers / clients through social media websites. They will typically be writing blogs, posts
and articles that will appeal to the organisations target audiences. Their responsibilities
include updating social media sites on a regular basis, responding to social media posts,
developing strategies to increase the account’s number of followers, likes and retweets etc.
Graphic designers work on a variety of products, such as advertisements, websites, posters
and exhibitions. They must work with clients to understand their needs before deciding on
any projects. Responsibilities include meeting with clients to discuss business objectives,
developing design briefs that suit the client, making sure the project is within the constraints
of time and cost and presenting any finalised ideas to clients.
Radio Industry:
The Radio industry is the distribution of audio content and consists of three different
sectors; publicly-funded radio, commercial radio and community and voluntary radio. The
Radio industry now employs 22,000 people across the board. According to statistics, there is
no majority of male or female workers in the Radio industry, however most of the people
who work in the Radio industry are highly-skilled and well qualified. About a quarter of the
workforce are freelancers. Also, most of the workforce are of an older generation, some are
a lot older than employees in other sector within the creative media industry.
People who in the Radio industry must be spontaneous as most radio shows are live, they
also need to be creative, and have a good knowledge or understanding of the English
language (good grades whilst in school). What are some of the different jobs? Some if the
jobs in the Radio industry include; presenter (show host), Broadcast assistant, Reporter,
Station manager etc.
Radio Presenters are the voice of a station or programme. Most presenters are self-
employed, working on fixed term contracts. Working hours are varied and may involve early

4. mornings, late nights and overnights, as well as working weekends or holidays. In some roles
Presenters are expected to travel to work on location, both within the UK and abroad. A
Radio Presenter’s specific duties vary depending on the programme or station. They may
present live or recorded shows, scripted and unscripted. They may conduct interviews live
on air, or simply just house a music radio station. They should be able to operate various
radio studios, and to record audio both in studios and on location.
To become a radio presenter, you do not need a degree. Employers will want you to have
hands-on experience and to have developed technical and presentation skills, along with a
distinctive personal style. If you do have a degree, employers won't necessarily expect it to
be in a media-related subject.
Radio presenting role can lead to many different places in the future. If you start off from a
less known radio station, you can work your way up to the top. You may also choose to
move into television or combine working in both media. Alternatively, you could choose to
move into programme production or into a management role.
For this role, you will need excellent presentation and performance skills, as well as being
able to communicate well with an audience. You will also need to understand how to use
your voice well for radio purposes and learn how to use a wide range of recording
equipment. You will also need to be able to work calmly under pressure, react quickly and
meet tight deadlines. You will need an understanding of the law, ethics and industry
regulations around radio production. Finally, you will need strong IT skills, including word
processing and data handling, and ideally, audio editing.
Publishing Industry:
Publishing is made up of a various group of industries including: Books, Magazines and
Newspapers and Information Services. The Publishing industry employs 195,000 people,
which is around 36% of the creative media workforce. 51,000 people work in the newspaper
sector, 50,500 work on journals and magazines, 33,000 work in the book industry and close
to 12,000 in other information services.
As for the skills required to work in this part of the industry, employers look for people who
are highly literate and have basic office skills e.g. taking important calls. Also, employers
look for people who have some technical skills and entrepreneurial or management assets.
What are some of the different jobs? Some of the jobs in the Publishing industry include;
proof reader, copyeditor, technical author, writer, event manager etc.
Publicists can work in various media fields, as well as in the corporate world. In book
publishing, a publicist usually works for a publishing house and is tasked with getting press
attention for the books and authors that the house publishes. If you're interested in dealing
with many different types of people, complex situations and you love reading, being
a publicist at a publishing house might be a good fit. Publicists usually work directly with
authors and agencies while pitching books and building relationships with reviewers,
websites, media outlets, and literary scenes.

5. Additional Information:
Advertising can be a good industry to work in, being full of talented people with great ideas.
Bearing this in mind, the world of media contracts can still be a murky business at the best
of times, with millions of pounds being exchanged between clients, agencies and media
owners, they need to be watertight. Alasdair Bleakley, a senior solicitor at Addleshaw Booth
& Co, outlines his top tips for agencies setting up contracts, being:
A clear demarcation of each party's responsibility
Clarification of who owns the intellectual property
Making sure that the agreement is signed
A clearly defined payment structure
"The majority of disputes are about the termination of a contract between an agency and a
client, or, more accurately, whether they are entitled to terminate or not," says Giles Crown,
senior communications lawyer at Lewis Silkin solicitors. A grey area in contracts is exposed
when agencies are forced to act quickly due to activity from rival brands. The pre-Christmas
sales rush is a prime example, where agencies are forced to place advertising quickly
without checking the terms and conditions of their contract with the client. The IPA's launch
of the updated formal standard contracts to be used by media agencies and their clients last
September - creative / client contracts already existed - means that agencies and clients
now have a useful starting point for their contract negotiations.
Back in 1998, before the first pre-prepared contract was drawn up, research showed that
45% of client-agency relationships were not covered by full, written, signed contracts.
However, research undertaken by ISBA in early 2002 showed that more than 71% of
respondent agency finance directors were using the pre-prepared industry contracts in their
negotiations. The IPA says the contract has also made an impression overseas, with almost
half of the national agency associations using it as a template to develop their own client-
agency agreements. The bottom line, according to Crown, is that contract negotiations are
now "shorter and less painful than they used to be".
New legislation introduced recently, means that if an agency is not paid within a 30-day
period it is entitled to add eight per cent to the base rate. But agencies risk causing untold
damage to a client relationship by enforcing this rule and may be reticent to implement it.
In the UK, as well as in the US, contracts usually contain a force majeure clause, which states
that if either party is prevented from performing its obligations under the contract as a
direct result of events of this kind, then no liability for breach shall arise. There is plenty of
terminology regarding contracts across the media industries, some notable aspects of the
process include:

6. Absence of contract, Bonuses, Copyright, Discounts and rebates, Exclusivity, Fluctuations in
currency values, Hotels and travel expenses, Insurance, Jurisdiction, Limitation of liability,
Multinational contracts, Negligence, Principal at law, Quality control, Remuneration,
Summary terms, Terms of payment, Unlawful contracts, VAT, Warranties and indemnities.
Graduate entry-level roles in the media industries are advertised only on occasion, as many
organisations prefer to recruit graduates who have already worked for them or who have
been recommended by a colleague in the industry. However, there are many sector specific
recruitment agencies and online professional journals advertising more senior roles.
In film and television in particular, you will find that due to the short-term nature of roles in
production, many work opportunities will be freelance. Listing of professional media
freelancers including writers, editors, sub-editors, designers, illustrators, photographers,
broadcasters, scriptwriters, web designers, translators, trainers and researchers. There are
many websites available that focus in the area of the media industry, which are available to
help freelancers get off their feet, offering a variety of potential job opportunities to be
explored.