Program Directors
Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.
AI Impact Summary
Program Directors faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 31/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 43% of all analyzed occupations. Of 23 analyzed tasks, 4 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Program Directors skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
23 tasks analyzed
Plan and schedule programming and event coverage, based on broadcast length, time availability, and other factors, such as community needs, ratings data, and viewer demographics.
Coordinate activities between departments, such as news and programming.
Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in broadcast news, sports, or programming.
Monitor and review programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality.
Check completed program logs for accuracy and conformance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations and resolve program log inaccuracies.
Establish work schedules and assign work to staff members.
Operate and maintain on-air and production audio equipment.
Monitor network transmissions for advisories concerning daily program schedules, program content, special feeds, or program changes.
Prepare copy and edit tape so that material is ready for broadcasting.
Develop budgets for programming and broadcasting activities and monitor expenditures to ensure that they remain within budgetary limits.
Confer with directors and production staff to discuss issues, such as production and casting problems, budgets, policies, and news coverage.
Develop ideas for programs and features that a station could produce.
Evaluate new and existing programming to assess suitability and the need for changes, using information such as audience surveys and feedback.
Develop promotions for current programs and specials.
Perform personnel duties, such as hiring staff and evaluating work performance.
Read news, read or record public service and promotional announcements, or perform other on-air duties.
Act as a liaison between talent and directors, providing information that performers or guests need to prepare for appearances and communicating relevant information from guests, performers, or staff to directors.
Review information about programs and schedules to ensure accuracy and provide such information to local media outlets.
Select, acquire, and maintain programs, music, films, and other needed materials and obtain legal clearances for their use as necessary.
Direct setup of remote facilities and install or cancel programs at remote stations.
Conduct interviews for broadcasts.
Cue announcers, actors, performers, and guests.
Participate in the planning and execution of fundraising activities.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan and schedule programming and event coverage, based on broadcast length, time availability, and other factors, such as community needs, ratings data, and viewer demographics. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 9% | |
| Coordinate activities between departments, such as news and programming. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 8% | |
| Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in broadcast news, sports, or programming. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 8% | |
| Monitor and review programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 7% | |
| Check completed program logs for accuracy and conformance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations and resolve program log inaccuracies. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 4% | |
| Establish work schedules and assign work to staff members. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 4% | |
| Operate and maintain on-air and production audio equipment. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Monitor network transmissions for advisories concerning daily program schedules, program content, special feeds, or program changes. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 3% | |
| Prepare copy and edit tape so that material is ready for broadcasting. | 49.5Observed | 69.0% | 4% | |
| Develop budgets for programming and broadcasting activities and monitor expenditures to ensure that they remain within budgetary limits. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 5% | |
| Confer with directors and production staff to discuss issues, such as production and casting problems, budgets, policies, and news coverage. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 6% | |
| Develop ideas for programs and features that a station could produce. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 5% | |
| Evaluate new and existing programming to assess suitability and the need for changes, using information such as audience surveys and feedback. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 5% | |
| Develop promotions for current programs and specials. | 75Estimated | 57.0% | 4% | |
| Perform personnel duties, such as hiring staff and evaluating work performance. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 4% | |
| Read news, read or record public service and promotional announcements, or perform other on-air duties. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 3% | |
| Act as a liaison between talent and directors, providing information that performers or guests need to prepare for appearances and communicating relevant information from guests, performers, or staff to directors. | 25Estimated | 25.0% | 4% | |
| Review information about programs and schedules to ensure accuracy and provide such information to local media outlets. | 37.65Observed | 64.3% | 3% | |
| Select, acquire, and maintain programs, music, films, and other needed materials and obtain legal clearances for their use as necessary. | 58.33Observed | 50.3% | 3% | |
| Direct setup of remote facilities and install or cancel programs at remote stations. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 2% | |
| Conduct interviews for broadcasts. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 2% | |
| Cue announcers, actors, performers, and guests. | 48.68Observed | 52.5% | 2% | |
| Participate in the planning and execution of fundraising activities. | 35Estimated | 29.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 36.0%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$83,480
per year
Mean Wage
$114,280
per year
Employment
145K
workers
Wage Range
$43,060 - $198,530
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsTalent Directors
29%Median salary: $83,480
Higher risk than 35% of other occupations
Producers
30%Median salary: $83,480
Higher risk than 36% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Median salary: $161,030
Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Median salary: $126,960
Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Technical Directors/Managers
33%Median salary: $83,480
Higher risk than 59% of other occupations
Purchasing Managers
34%Median salary: $139,510
Higher risk than 60% of other occupations
Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
38%Higher risk than 74% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Program Directors professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change