On air! Career in Radio Broadcasting
— By | Aug 03, 2015 12:07 am
If you have the imagination and creativity to build images without the visual element, think of a career in radio broadcasting
Sector overview
One known as the poor man’s five-CD changer, the radio has come a long way, and more ways than one it has become a lifeline for citizens. It is a humbling leveller for all kinds of listeners, for those who blast it on a state-of-the-art system in their top-notch brand cars to those who listen to it on their beaten down phones while talking the bus to work. There is a lot to choose from, the number of stations, the variety of songs as well as the theme-based shows conducted by the radio jockeys. Each and every programme has a loyal set of fans and followers, and this has made the industry robust and growing. With over 250 private FM stations operating in close to 90 cities, one can hardly say that this industry is not growing.
Financial reports show that the growth rate is robust, and the popularity keeps increasing according to many, since of the ease of access of the radio for everyone, opines an industry insider. He mentions that mobile phones have made it much easier for listeners to tune in any time anywhere. Even if radio is not a new concept for our country, earlier, a listener was expected to purchase a special radio device to listen it, and even it was small and easily portable, it was an additional thing to carry. The mobile phone solved this issue, since even the most basic model offers connectivity via radio. With such figures, the stage is set for major growth among the various radio channels. Needless to say, growth will bring more opportunities for those looking to be employed in this sector.
Being one of the foremost mediums of digital mass communication, it is a medium of entertainment for a majority of the country’s population, which relies on the radio.
To get there
Even though in the initial phases, certain professionals did join the industry in the nascent stages without any special qualifications, the education sector has also come a long way to change that. There are specialised courses available for those interested, and it is essential to undergo one such course if you want to work in particular positions in a radio network.
There are different courses available like radio production, broadcast media and script writing. Even though the entry to such programmes is not stringent in terms of eligibility, they do look for certain qualities which the aspirant must possess. Institutes that offer various courses in radio production and broadcasting in Mumbai include
- Xavier’s Institute of Communication offers a Certificate Course in Radio Jockeying
- Radio City School of Broadcasting offers a Certificate Course in Radio Jockey and Radio Production
- The Mumbai Centre of the Indira Gandhi National Open University offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Radio Programme Production (PGDRPP)
- Livewires Institute offers courses in Radio Jockeying and Script Writing
- School of Broadcasting & Communication offers a Certificate in Professional Voicing & Radio Jockey
- Mumbai Film Academy offers courses in Voicing and Anchoring
- Harkisan Mehta Foundation Institute
Of Journalism And Mass Communication offers a Certificate Course in Radio Jockey
- AAT College offers a BSc in Audio and Music Production at its Mumbai centre
As mentioned earlier, the eligibility for each course differs with the institute as well as
the course, In terms of academics, it ranges from passing class 12 to completing graduation. Students are advised to check the eligibility on their respective websites. Apart from these courses, students who have pursued digital journalism or broadcast
media courses (BMM) at the undergraduate level may also be suitable to work in the industry.
In the field
Reema Manjrekar / Production executive
Even though the world is opening up to many new things, and there is a lot of information out there, the common man is still under some wrong impressions when it comes to radio, its programme and the people who make it all possible. It is a given that radio broadcasters they need great presentation, communication and performance skills, and the additional dimension is that all these are related to verbal and spoken skills. It is imperative that radio personnel understand how to use the voice effectively for radio.
Apart from that, any person who aspires to join this field needs to be creative, since the ability to generate fresh and original ideas is imperative. If you want to stand out against the competition, then you have to be creative, not only in terms of the things you do, but also in terms of how you do them. A person working in this field by and large needs to be proactive and people-oriented. Introvert persons will not be turned away but they will have to step out of their comfort zones and push through in terms of work. Deadlines form important guiding factors in every media field, and you need to know how to respect them and stick to them.
A student says
Dimple Rao / Pursuing her course
With specialisations ruling the roost in every sphere, training for any job adds value to a person. In a professional radio production course we learn things that are totally different from what we might have imagined. The programme is obviously structured in a way that students build skills to work in future environments, but this one in particular is a hands-on programme, handling equipment, working in a studio and so on.
Our subjects that are directed towards making us aware of the processes in running a radio station, and teaching us how to conceive, plan, and manage audio programme production. I think that during the programme, aspirants build the skills to plan audio programmes. They also can understand the working of the various radio formats, and writing scripts. What’s most important, according to me and some of my close friends, is that we as young, impressionable students get out of the mindset that the radio programmes are made only by radio jockeys, who sit in the studio with a microphone and a telephone. There is much more to it!
Apart from practical skills needed in a studio or a station, some courses also have a managerial component which students are trained in. This might help when they reach the stage on managing a small arm of the station and in future, even an entire station.
An aspirant asks
Mihir Shetty / BMS student
I have decided that I want to work in radio broadcasting and production, and I have even experienced a part of the studio programming courtesy a friend. I am sure that if I work on my skills with a professional course, I will be able to work well in this field. My only issue is that I do not write very well. It is difficult for me to string two sentences together when I am writing. Will this provde to be a hindrance for this field?
Professional Reema Manjrekar answers: You need to understand that the absence of a visual element in this medium needs to be made up with other elements, and one of them is writing. A good script is the heart of radio programming and broadcast. In fact, there are special scriptwriters in the radio field as well. So if you are looking at becoming a jockey, then you will have to work on your writing skills, because most programming is scripted, even those shows which seem impromptu and interactive. It is the charm of the written word that needs to bind the listener to the station and connect the audience to it. And there is no point in giving up the idea of making a profession in this field simply because you feel you do not write well. Good writing skills will prove to be an asset whereever you work and whatever you do.
Market and remuneration
Like many industry here also there are various job roles that need to be fulfilled by trained personnel. These include marketing and sales, but in let’s look at profiles which are directly related to broadcasting. There is the producer with the production staff, the support staff and the radio jockeys who prove to be the voice of particular stations. There might also be station managers and directors.
In terms of production, the broadcast assistant is the backbone, providing all kinds of support to the staff and overseeing the most mundane tasks that need to be done. A radio station might have more than one production assistant and they ensure the smooth airing of any programme.
The radio jockeys, or the radio presenters are the popular stars of radio. They actually are the face of programming, even though their faces are not visible to the audiences! Each one creates a unique style and establishes a relationship with the audience. Producers play a key role in defining the programming, scripting and the content, and from the backbone of a radio station.
Even though it might seem that the jockeys make most of the essential decisions, they are actually made by the producers, who are seldom head on the air.
Station directors or managers have several functions tagged to their names – they are in charge of the smooth functioning of the entire station. They also overlook the work of all the personnel in the station.
Remuneration differs from station to station and role to role, but a fresh graduate in the radio industry can start anywhere between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 35,000 per month, depending on the work profile, talent, expertise and knowledge.
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