Broadcaster: "You stay classy, San Diego. I'm Ron Burgundy???"

Introduction
First off, major in journalism or mass communication. These will give you a solid foundation from which to build. If you find a school that actually has a broadcasting major, then that's obviously better. Taking a public speaking course might also be helpful, since you need to be eloquent as a broadcaster. Secondly, secure an internship at a local news station. The competition is fierce. Everyone wants to be the next Ted Koppel or Barbara Walters, so expect people to try to step on your toes. The internship is absolutely vital, though. Getting a good one requires some luck and work. If your school has a television station or a student-run news program, then try to become a part of it. This will look great on your resume, and it might be the differentiating factor that separates you from the competition. This is how I got my first internship at ABC. They saw I had experience working in front of the camera at my school's station and that won me major points. Also, in today's modern age, use things like YouTube to your benefit. Producing faux-newscasts to show to interviewers is akin to a journalist submitting published clips. It helps a lot.

Job Function
The best is being in front of the camera. Oh, you'll be nervous at first, for sure. You'll wonder if you look like a fool or whether or not you'll miss a cue. But, in time and with experience, that will pass. Now, I'm at home in front of the camera. Not really sure what to say as far as negatives go. I really love my job, and I guess the hardest parts are remaining calm and collected at all times. But, like I said, with time it comes naturally. There's definitely some legwork to do that can get tedious. Some times for feature stories you have to do a lot of retakes that can get annoying, but it doesn't personally bother me too much. Interviews are another thing that require a lot of prep work. Advertisement
Lifestyle
Once your an established broadcaster, it's a lot of play. All the hard, hard work comes in the early days when you have no work and experience. Like I said, the competition is tough, and there are only so many lead spots available in broadcasting. The hours are definitely flexible, and it's hardly a typical 9-to-5 job. Charisma is key for this job. you need to be good both on and off the camera. It's a long road towards the spotlight. I'm still on it myself, and I work in a relatively small industry (video games).

Additional Information
Umm, not much. I wish you luck. Just a word to the wise: Don't try to be the next Koppel/Curick/Walters etc. Be yourself. Leave your own mark!