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Radio Announcer & DJ

Creative

Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media. May play and queue music, announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

Creative Arts & Media

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
  2. 2Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.
  3. 3Operate control consoles.
  4. 4Identify stations, and introduce or close shows, ad-libbing or using memorized or read scripts.
  5. 5Study background information to prepare for programs or interviews.
  6. 6Prepare and deliver news, sports, or weather reports, gathering and rewriting material so that it will convey required information and fit specific time slots.
  7. 7Record commercials for later broadcast.
  8. 8Keep daily program logs to provide information on all elements aired during broadcast, such as musical selections and station promotions.
  9. 9Develop story lines for broadcasts.
  10. 10Select program content, in conjunction with producers and assistants, based on factors such as program specialties, audience tastes, or requests from the public.
  11. 11Write and edit video and scripts for broadcasts.
  12. 12Interview show guests about their lives, their work, or topics of current interest.
  13. 13Maintain organization of the music library.
  14. 14Comment on music and other matters, such as weather or traffic conditions.
  15. 15Make promotional appearances at public or private events to represent their employers.
  16. 16Provide commentary and conduct interviews during sporting events, parades, conventions, or other events.
  17. 17Host civic, charitable, or promotional events broadcast over television or radio.
  18. 18Discuss various topics over the telephone with viewers or listeners.
  19. 19Locate guests to appear on talk or interview shows.
  20. 20Coordinate games, contests, or other on-air competitions, performing such duties as asking questions and awarding prizes.
  21. 21Moderate panels or discussion shows on topics such as current affairs, art, or education.
  22. 22Give network cues permitting selected stations to receive programs.
  23. 23Attend press conferences to gather information for broadcast.
  24. 24Describe or demonstrate products that viewers may purchase through specific shows or in stores.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • DJ
  • Host
  • Anchor
  • Hostess
  • TV Host
  • Radio DJ
  • Reporter
  • Announcer
  • Podcaster
  • Show Host

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. Typical entry

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

EnglishDraws directly on Communications and Media — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Bahasa MelayuDraws directly on Communications and Media — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
History (Sejarah)Draws directly on Law and Government — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Communications and Media96%

    EnglishBahasa Melayu

  • English Language93%

    English

  • Computers and Electronics77%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Telecommunications74%

    Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesComputer Science / ICT

  • Law and Government55%

    History (Sejarah)

  • Public Safety and Security52%

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersHigh
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Noisy environmentEvery day
  • Time spent sittingMost of the time

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

48%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

0.10%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Broadcast Journalist / Media Producer

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

Related careers

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue