Media Corner: the Reality of Being a Broadcaster

Happy New Year from the media corner! I sincerely hope that 2025 will be a happy, healthy, and safe one for all of you.

Whilst broadcasting may seem like a glamorous job; the reality is for many broadcasters they are often confronted with challenging OB’s (outside broadcasts) where they are putting their lives at risk. For many news journalists, their career involves ‘anchoring’ in studio where they are fully made up, look sleek, are ‘suited and booted’ appropriately and are in a safe and secure space with a handful of camera men and production staff. For others, they can be reporting from a war zone, from countries that are encountering natural disasters or life threatening diseases. It’s a career that can be incredibly contrasting.

Thankfully, I have never been in a life-threatening position or felt very scared in a work situation, aside from when I was on my way to interview Victoria Beckham on the day of 7/11. As soon as I set foot in Paddington Station to go to Sony to interview her, I was escorted away by a Sony Records Representative to a safe place as the thinking was that London was going to be targeted next. The fear and utter panic at Paddington were palpable. I had butterflies in my stomach and felt shaky and apprehensive; however, I was not in a war zone. I was not reporting from Gaza or the front line or from Pacific Palasides in LA in a state of emergency.

At least 68 journalist and media workers were killed in the line of duty in 2024. More than 60% of the killings took place in countries in conflict, the highest percentage in more than 10 years. Of the 42 journalists’ killings in countries in conflict, 18 took place in Palestine, 4 in Ukraine and Colombia, 3 each in Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar and Sudan and 1 each in Syria, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Broadcasting and working in the media are both thrilling and rewarding. The fact that you can deliver a message, bring another word into someone’s life watching at home is frankly mind blowing. However, next time you’re watching a news report from a war-torn country or from a country ravaged by a natural disaster;  consider what theses reporters, camera men, sound recordists, production crew are exposing themselves to along with the gravitas of the risks involved.

I wish theses unsung heroes nothing but luck and good health whilst reporting to us in 2025. Your media work is appreciated immensely.