Media interpretation offers an exciting, challenging and often adventurous career path, with interpreters gravitating to the profession for these reasons, among others:
- Travel opportunities
- Chance to meet interesting or prominent people in government, business, and the arts
- Opportunity to play a role in breaking news and world events
What Is a Media Interpreter?
Media interpreters generally work with journalists, film crews or any members of the communications profession to interpret from the host country’s language into the interviewer’s language, but also vice versa. They provide services for press conferences, including taped or live interviews with political figures, representatives of the arts and humanities, at major news or sporting events, or in business circles.
Often the service is provided in an indoor setting, with the interpreter sitting in a sound-proof booth, watching speakers on a monitor while interpreting what the speakers say. Satellite communications are likely used to transmit the interpreter’s words.
While the media interpreter may or may not be seen by the target audience in a video interview, it’s the interpreter’s vocal abilities that count most. He or she should sound polished and professional, with a smooth, well-modulated style and delivery. Male and female interpreters are both engaged for a variety of jobs, but regardless of the sex of the interpreter, he or she should speak the target language with minimal accent so as to be easily understood by the target audience. Interpretation services may be either recorded or provided in real time, although quite often, interpretation takes place in a somewhat pressure-filled environment as news or events are unfolding.
Job Opportunities
Bear in mind that being a media interpreter may not be a full-time job. Quite often, media interpreters may work as interpreters for courts or conferences, and fill in as freelancers for media interpreting jobs. There are few full-time jobs as media interpreters worldwide; jobs may often be temporary, based on the project or the duration of the event. For instance, interpreters in areas where wars or disasters occur are usually needed only for particular projects, or for breaking news. Some interpreters might develop an ongoing relationship with major news outlets such as CNN, where they might be called in frequently to interpret in a studio for breaking news.
Full-time media interpreters often find work where there are international audiences. For example, in the U.S., a French- or Spanish- speaking interpreter might be needed to work in a radio or TV news agency to rewrite English scripts being broadcast to audiences across the Mexican or Canadian borders. Not only would the interpreter need a thorough grounding in both languages, but also an understanding of cultural differences and how audiences expect news stories to be delivered.
Qualifications
While there are seldom formal educational requirements for media interpreters, the most important qualification is an expert command of the host language, such as a native speaker would have, and then a thorough understanding of and ability to interpret not only words but cultural concepts into the target language.
Often, media interpreters will develop their skills while studying languages, receiving a component in their studies on media interpreting. Students should learn voice control and delivery, pitch and rhythm, energy, breathing, and microphone management when taking these courses.
In general, the employment of interpreters is projected to grow considerably in this country into 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And while no figures exist specifically for media interpreters, this growth, fueled partly by globalization, is likely to include them. According to the BLS, an individual’s chances of being hired as an interpreter increase after obtaining professional certification.
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