Program director

Broadcasting

A program director is the responsible leader of the entire editorial portion of a public- service broadcaster or a commercial radio or television station.

With the emergence and development of broadcasting in Germany, structures have emerged, which are by and large still present today. While in the print media sector, ie managing the entire editorial area in the press, the editor in chief, it is often also referred to as Radio Director or Director of Television in broadcasting the program director, according to its respective task. These directors may be either subordinated or assimilated to the Editors. Other hybrids have emerged depending on the size and tasks of the radio station in Germany.

In commercial broadcasting the program director is still greater importance, since it is decisive for the economic success of the station. In the so-called private television were or are the most important program directors often also the manager of the station such as Helmut Thoma or Schäferkordt at RTL or Fred Kogel at SAT.1.

Universities

In higher education, a program director for one or more study programs is responsible and executes like a product manager in a company. While this feature can be found at many universities in the Anglo -Saxon countries, there are program directors in Germany, especially at private universities, especially business schools. For example, the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, WHU and the Zeppelin have university program directors.