Radio, Television and Broadcast News

• Two-year diploma
• Broadcast News, Radio and Television Majors
• Fall start
• Includes fourth semester practicum
• e-Learning

Program Description

Radio, Television and Broadcast News (RTBN) is divided into three majors: Radio, Television and Broadcast News. Choose the option that best fits your skills and interests, and prepare for a challenging, creative and exciting career.

Radio students progress from audio basics to advanced digital multitrack production and gain valuable industry experience by operating SAIT’s campus radio station (accessible worldwide at radio.sait.ca) They fulfill a number of duties in the sales and promotions departments and rotate through various positions, including on-air personality, music and creative director, traffic and production manager.

Television students will learn the fundamentals of writing, directing, producing, live production and editing of video projects. There is a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and creativity, in both single and multi-camera environments., You’ll participate in producing information programs, live on-location sports and other events, variety programs, documentaries, commercials, and public service announcements. You’ll become familiar with the technical aspects of TV and video by working with broadcast-quality equipment such as High Definition and standard definition camcorders and studio cameras, switchers, audio consoles, graphics work stations and computer-based editing systems.

Broadcast News (BN) students learn how to research a story and tell it objectively. They receive extensive, hands-on training and realistic experience behind and in front of the camera and microphone, and can work effectively in either radio or television environments. BN students learn the importance of deadlines and how to uncover the heart of a story. They take on many roles in our newsroom. One week a BN student may be a reporter or line-up editor...the next week, a news anchor or weather reporter.

The program involves two years of full-time study. Each of the program’s two years is divided into two semesters. There is a single intake each year, with classes commencing in September and finishing in late April.A multi-week industry practicum is offered in the fourth semester.

All Radio, Television and Broadcast News students are required to participate in laptop learning, a package of services that includes a PC laptop computer, a suite of software, full Internet access, training and technical support.

Your Career

Graduates find work in the broadcast, cable and film industries, both as salaried employees and freelancers.

Admission Requirements

• Alberta High School Diploma or equivalent with at least 60% in English Language Arts 30-1 or English Language Arts 30-2 or equivalents.
• All applicants to SAIT Polytechnic must demonstrate English Language Proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada. For more information, please visit English Proficiency.
• View High School Course Equivalencies Admission Equivalencies by Province.

Selection

To be included in selection, applications along with all supporting documents must be submitted. Once the program is full, qualified applicants will be placed on a waitlist.   

• Selection is done on a continuous basis and Selection Sessions will be scheduled every six to eight weeks. Applicants who apply after the program is full will only be asked to forward packages if a seat becomes available.
• All applicants must provide a current, valid email address where they can be contacted.

Selection Criteria

Qualified applicants in each option (Radio, Television or Broadcast News) must bring a completed submission package to the Selection Session. If you are outside of a 300 kilometre radius of Calgary and cannot attend a Selection Session without hardship, alternative arrangements for submission will be considered. 

• Selection Sessions will commence early in January. Additional sessions will be scheduled as required.
• Applicants attending a Selection Session will be asked to give a brief personal introduction and provide specific written information. They will have an opportunity to ask questions and do a tour.
• Applicants will be advised within four weeks of the Selection Session of their status.
• The applicant can expect to be interviewed in a group by an instructor panel.

The general requirements for a submission package are noted below, but you should not generate anything until/unless you receive an emailed invitation to a Selection Session. The invitation will provide further details about the package that you will need to provide.

Radio option, Television option – A submission package will consist of the following:

• A letter of intent, a thorough résumé, and two letters of reference.

Broadcast News option – A submission package will consist of the following:

• A letter of intent, a thorough résumé, two letters of reference, and a research paper of between 500-750 words. The topic for the research paper will be provided in the emailed invitation to a Selection Session.
• In addition, each applicant is expected to provide a short (two minute maximum) video synopsis of their research paper (as an .avi or .mov file on a CD).

Selection Priority

• Based on an evaluation of the submission package and test results obtained during the Selection Session.

International Student Consideration

Each option within RTBN (Radio, Television and Broadcast News) allots one seat for international applicants, for a total of three seats. International applicants are expected to provide a submission package as indicated in ‘Initial Selection Criteria’ above. If these seats are not filled by June 30, the seats are then offered to domestic applicants.

Unsuccessful Applicants

There are numerous reasons why you might not be granted a seat – a late application, particularly strong competition, the lack of certain basic requirements, or an application package not up to the general standard. We encourage applicants to apply again in the next academic year, making up any qualifications you are lacking and/or improving the quality of your submission package. Applications are not carried over into the next academic year.You will need to submit a new application.

Student Success

Students with previous academic success usually are more successful in SAIT programs.

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Credentials

Upon successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT diploma in Radio, Television and Broadcast News.

Accreditation

There are no formal accreditation arrangements at this time. Please contact the academic school for more information.

Tuition And Fees (Subject To Change)

• Please refer to the Tuition and Fee Table.
• International Students, please refer to International Student Fees.
• Student funding, please refer to Financial Assistance.

Books And Supplies (Subject To Change)

• Books and supplies are approximately $720 for the first year and $500 for the second year depending on the option taken.
• A $500 security deposit to use a SAIT issued laptop.

Program Outline

• To find the course description for a course shown below, please go to our Course Finder and enter the course acronym and numbers (i.e., DMST-202) into the Quick Search by Course Code field.
• SAIT students are offered an opportunity to develop lifelong learning skills in an online environment. One or more courses in the program are offered fully or partially online.

For More Information

Phone: 403.284.8470
Email: rtbn.info@sait.ca
Website: School of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

Transfer with Diploma to…

Through SAIT Polytechnic transfer agreements and institution partnerships, graduates of this SAIT program may be eligible for credit at the following universities and colleges:

• Athabasca University
• Griffith University
• Red Deer College
• Royal Roads University
• SAIT Polytechnic
• University of Calgary
• University of New Brunswick, Saint John

Transfer options may also be available at other post-secondary institutions where credits from SAIT programs are evaluated on an individual basis. Interested students should contact the post-secondary institute of their choice for more information.

To learn more, visit Transfer Options.

Related Links (Internal):

• Student-For-A-Day
• Academic Calendar
• Academic Upgrading
• International Students
• Mature Students
• Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition