24 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You usually start by checking the program log and the station schedule in Burli Newsroom or Dalet Media Life, then update music library organization and playlists. Midday includes hosting live shows, making announcements, reading news flashes, and doing listener calls or interviews over Zoom or phone.
Afternoons often mean recording commercials in Adobe Audition or VoxPro, editing scripts in Microsoft Word, coordinating contests, and logging everything in Excel or the station’s log system before your next shift.
Learn how to operate control consoles and audio editors: Audion Laboratories VoxPro and Adobe Audition are common for recording and editing voice tracks and commercials. A basic console workflow plus VoxPro clips will cover most live-edit needs.
Also get comfortable with Dalet Media Life or Burli Newsroom for program scheduling and script/news updates, and Microsoft Excel and Word for logs, story outlines, and contracts.
Use AI to draft show outlines, ad scripts, or topic lists, but always fact-check and rewrite in your voice. Never broadcast AI-generated news flashes without confirming sources and timestamps in Burli or another newsroom system.
Keep creative control: use AI for ideas, then edit in Adobe Audition or VoxPro and save versions. Follow station rules about copyright and licenses when AI suggests music.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports 21,240 employed DJs (SOC 27-3011.00). The median annual wage is $47,340. The lowest tenth earn about $28,190 and the top tenth about $138,440.
Pay varies by market size, station budget, and whether you also produce ads, host events, or do voiceover work.
Practice short interview segments: prepare questions, study guest background in advance, and use Zoom or studio phone lines to do test calls. Record practice runs in VoxPro or Audition and listen back to improve pacing and ad-libs.
Volunteer to host community or promotional events to build public-speaking confidence, then move to on-air spots where you can moderate panels, announce musical selections, and gather guests for shows.
A DJ is often the on-air host who selects music, announces songs, interviews guests, and provides commentary live. They operate control consoles and record commercials, too. A producer focuses more on planning shows, coordinating guests, and maintaining logs using Dalet or Burli.
In smaller stations the DJ does both roles: selects program content, writes and edits scripts, runs the console, and keeps program logs in Excel or the station system.
Timing and clear, concise scripting. Learn to write short scripts in Word and edit them down so your live reads fit exact ad breaks and music cues in Dalet or Burli.
Combine that with quick editing in VoxPro or Audition so you can fix a flub instantly. Good timing keeps the show smooth, helps contests and events run on schedule, and keeps listeners engaged.