‘Journalists, anchors, sales professionals in-demand in the broadcasting industry’

Interview of the Day: ‘Journalists, anchors, sales professionals in-demand in the broadcasting industry’

Preet Dhupar, Chief Operating Officer – India Operations, BBC World News 

What is the most important thing one needs to keep in mind to make a career in the broadcasting industry?

“Change is the only constant” – anyone wanting to make a career in the broadcasting industry must make this a mantra. It is important to have the ability to adapt to change. Advancements in technology occur at a phenomenal speed and that has a direct impact on the industry, largely to do with how audience across genres wants to view content. And you have to have the ability to think quickly on your feet and adapt to the change if you want to remain relevant.

Which are most in-demand profiles in the Broadcasting industry?

There’s always demand for talent – specifically good journalists, anchors and also for advertising sales professionals.

According to you, what are three must-have skills for a candidate to work in this industry?

Besides professional competency required for the specific role, the ability to adapt to change is a must. Excellent communication skills are very important as is the ability to connect with people. Ability to think creatively and out of the box is another must have.

Since, the broadcasting industry works 24X7, how do you motivate your employees to work for long hours and maintain a healthy work-life balance?

To be able to cover a 24X7 operation, it is important to have work allocation in shifts and rotas. However, the nature of news business is such that it is not unusual for people to work beyond their contracted hours. When work is exciting and fulfilling, long hours and hectic travel schedules are less of a problem so the trick is to keep people engaged and excited about what they do. Their work is not just a job – it means something more valuable to them.

How do you attract the best of talent while facing stiff competition from domestic players?

Due to the size and diversity of the organisation globally, it has the capability to offer superior training and diverse work experience. As a professional, you get an opportunity to learn a lot and grow. Creativity is the life blood of the organisation and people come for an exciting and rewarding role.

In your business, employees are based at various locations, how do you manage employee development and engagement centrally?

Internal communications works very hard to ensure that leaders are in regular touch with people through the web and e-mail. The BBC intranet is regularly updated with news from around the world so that everyone feels included. We use all possible ways to ensure that people are engaged. Local management is responsible for employee development but there is also an oversight from London. Above all, what works is a very open culture where everyone feels valued and is encouraged to voice their opinions.

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