There are many differences between being a P. A. Announcer and a broadcaster.  Here, we will tackle those differences, and some similarities.

To be a good announcer or broadcaster, you need to have an organization system that works for you, be prepared, and network properly.  Creating a network that can assist you with name pronunciations is important.  Organize the information you need the way you need it, and make sure you know who is playing who, and how to say their names.  That’s about it when it comes to similarities, beside both use a microphone.

Microphones Are Different –  A broadcaster will use a microphone to broadcast out of a TV or radio speaker.  His or her tempo and pace are going to be completely different as the speakers in your car or home television are designed for that kind of speech.  The P. A. announcer, on the other hand, has to deal with echo, delays, bouncing sound, swirling sound, crowd & ambient noise and feedback.  Because most people are more than a few feet from the speakers, it’s important to maintain a slower pace while announcing on a P. A. system while shortening what you’re saying and not being as colorful.

P. A. Announcers Should NEVER Interrupt Play – Baseball, softball and volleyball are the only sports who have rules governing when you are to announce.  Otherwise, announcers can talk over play.  However, in football, the announcer has plenty of time between plays to recap the play and set up the next that he/she should not have to talk over play.  Plus the announcer can distract or give one team an unfair advantage.  Broadcasters have to fill dead air, a lot.  They will find stats, notes and more on players, coaches, front offices, etc.  Anything to fill that dead air and keep people listening.  The P. A. announcer does not need to fill dead air.

Pace and Tempo Are Completely Different – A broadcaster can speak at a normal conversational pace and keep people engaged.  There are little tricks to put emphasis on certain words to make them sound a little more like a broadcaster, but the pace is generally the same.  On a P. A. microphone, you need to worry about a lot of atmospheric factors and because of such, speaking at a slower, relaxed, but energetic pace is preferred.  If you speak quickly on a P. A. system, it becomes hard to understand as you wind up talking over yourself.