The Producing/News Management Track in Cable and Network News

Production Assistant: An entry-level position performing administrative duties that vary from company to company and even from show to show.

Median Salary: $20,000

Broadcast Associate: In charge of gathering basic elements for a broadcast, including archival footage and research for producers.

Median Salary: $25,000

Booker: Focused on booking guests to be interviewed for live broadcasts. This position is common in cable news, as well as morning broadcasts that have a lot of live guests.

Median Salary: $40,000

Assistant or Associate Producer: Depending on the size of the organization, an assistant producer is junior to an associate producer, but they both perform similar functions. Responsibilities include setting up interviews, research, arranging and sometimes supervising shoots and gathering other elements required for a piece.

Median Salary: $45,000

Segment Producer: In charge of one portion of a broadcast, generally in between two blocks of commercials.

Median Salary: $45,000

Web Producer: An increasingly important part of each broadcast and news organization, overseeing the production of various web pages dedicated to a particular show or a specific topic area.

Median Salary: $30,000

Show Producer: Performs similar functions as a producer at the local level. Show producers generally work in cable news and oversee the rundown, script and elements for a show.

Median Salary: $50,000

Field Producer or Producer: Oversees the logistics of producing a story or elements for a piece in the field. After seeking approval of the executive producer for a story, they oversee its entire process, from developing an outline to identifying interview subjects to setting up interviews for correspondents; many times they even conduct the interviews themselves.

Median Salary: $60,000

Senior Producer: Works with producers to develop story ideas and to provide editorial guidance and suggestions.

Executive Producer: Oversees an entire broadcast. Responsibilities include setting budgets, helping to arrange high-profile interviews, developing story ideas and providing overall editorial direction for the broadcast.

National or Foreign Editor: Function is similar to that of an assignment editor. Keeps an eye on developing stories on national or international scene. Also coordinates the necessary resources for the coverage of domestic or foreign news events.

Senior Executive Producer: Within large news organizations, a Senior Executive Producer manages the overall brand of a show, particularly when there are multiple broadcasts under the same name, like 60 Minutes or Dateline. Determines potential revenue opportunities, provides editorial guidance and steers the overall promotion of the broadcast.

Vice President: Oversees a specific operational area, like newsgathering, or a daypart, like primetime broadcasts.

President: Head of the news operation, providing overall editorial, financial and brand direction for organization.