Development department:

• Comes up with ideas for TV programs and pitches them to commissioners, who are employed by broadcasters

• Roles:

  • Development assistant producer

  • Development producer

  • Development researcher

  • Personal assistant

Production management department:

• Manages all the logistics of making a program, and balances the creative vision with financial and time constraints

• Roles:

  • Line producer

  • Logger

  • Production coordinator

  • Production executive

  • Production manager

  • Production assistant

  • Script supervisor

Talent management department:

• Recruits people to work in editorial or production roles, and knows who's who in the unscripted TV industry

• Roles:

  • Receptionist

  • Talent assistant

  • Talent manager

Sound department:

• Creates the sound and processes the program audio, whether capturing sound on location or mixing during a live transmission

• Roles:

  • Grams operator

  • Sound assistant

  • Sound guarantee

  • Sound recordist

  • Sound supervisor

Engineering department:

• Installs operates and maintains the equipment used to broadcast television programs

• Roles:

  • Technical manager

  • Vision guarantee

  • Vision supervisor

  • OB rigger

Editorial department:

• Responsible for the story content of the program holds the creative vision and makes it happen

• Roles:

  • Archive producer

  • Assistant producer

  • Casting producer

  • Celebrity producer

  • Digital producer

  • Director

  • Edit producer

  • Executive Producer

  • Games producer

  • Multi-camera director

  • Producer

  • Producer director

  • Question producer

  • Researcher

  • Runner

  • Series director

  • Series producer

  • Vision mixer

  • VT editor

Craft department:

• Creates the look of the program by designing the set, the costume, hair, and make-up

• Roles:

  • Art department assistant

  • Art department runner

  • Art director

  • Costume assistant

  • Costume designer

  • Costume supervisor

  • Hair and make-up artist

  • Hair and make-up assistant

  • Hair and make-up designer

  • Production buyer

  • Production designer

Technical department:

• Includes the camera and lighting departments, installs the power, captures the action

• Roles:

  • Autocue operator

  • Camera assistant

  • Camera operator

  • Camera supervisor

  • Data wrangler

  • Digital imaging technician

  • Gaffer

  • Grip

  • Jib operator

  • Kit room assistant

  • Lighting console operator

  • Lighting director

  • Spark

Floor or location department:

• Manages and coordinates the activities in the studio and location-based productions

• Roles:

  • Floor assistant

  • Floor manager

  • Floor runner

  • Scene hand

Studio management department:

• Runs the studio from which TV shows are recorded or broadcast

• Roles:

  • Studio assistant

  • Studio coordinator

  • Studio manager

Entry-level jobs in Unscripted TV:

• Personal assistant

• Logger

• Receptionist

• Runner

• Art department runner

• Costume assistant

• Hair and make-up assistant

• Camera assistant

• Kit room assistant

• Sound assistant

• Floor runner

• Studio assistant