Survey Profiles Today's Radio Newsroom Leaders

A survey released by the Radio Television Directors News Association shows Radio news directors averaged about 3 years younger than TV news directors (46.4) -- but the median age was just about the same (49).  News directors' ages ranged from a youngster of 19 to as old as 83. Commercial station news directors were 5 years older than non-commercial ones.

The survey was conducted by Bob Papper is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Journalism at Hofstra University and has worked extensively in radio and TV news.  This research was supported by the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University and the Radio Television Digital News Association.

The RTDNA/Hofstra University Survey was conducted in the fourth quarter of 2013 among all 1,659 operating, non-satellite television stations and a random sample of 3,263 radio stations. Valid responses came from 1,300 television stations (78.4%) and 249 radio news directors and general managers representing 649 radio stations.

The average radio news director has been news director at his or her station for just over 9 years (9.2)... although the median was just 5. In other words, some serious longevity on the part of some radio news directors masks the more typical moving around. Still, radio is not nearly as nomadic as TV. Radio news directors were most stable at commercial stations versus non-commercial and in both the largest and smallest markets.

Read More Now