Starting In Radio, Experience v Education
Follow @mediaukdiscussI apologise if this is anywhere else in the forum, I looked by I could not spy it.
I’m curious, what is the general consensus about starting off in radio, is it better to have experience or have a degree in something? As Personally I have a degree unrelated to media, (politics) but have 2 years experience in community stations, one is a sony nominated one.
So taking my personal state as a starting point, which is better, experience or education?
I think the way people used to get in with just experience is closing rapidly.
Simon is right about a difference between news and presenting but there is an argument to say presenters should come with a good qualification too. Understanding communication and audiences is more key for them than the journos in many ways.
Well, I did it all on experience.
I grabbed every opportunity I was offered with both hands (and still do) and just say yes to everything. How successful I’ve been I suppose is a matter of opinion, but I’ve got everything I ever wanted in life – all facilitated by playing songs.
However, I can’t say I’ve seen anyone fluke their way through it like I have since.
It’s not really one or the other. It’s very unlikely you’ll be on the air at 18, so I would normally advise to go to school and further yourself, not just your career. Nobody (apart from Tony Blackburn) does what I do forever, so you’re wise to develop interests in other things and gain qualifications and experience away from radio.
A degree in politics will see you good in many things. If nothing else, it says to me you’ve got a brain and a keen interest in the world we live in. Two things I want in all broadcasters.
Never went to uni, got lucky a few years back at a local radio station, now been working in National and International radio for ten years plus. I did try and apply to do a course in radio production, just so I had a bit of paper to say I could do it, but the sourse tutor admitted I probably knew more than the lecturers.
currently doing a two year HND in Radio Production (age 37) just about to complete year one and tutor advised me to skip year two and go straight to uni, planning on Broadcast Production degree (tv and radio) I have 20 years expierence of Radio and mobile DJ’ing and education and expierence combined I hope to have enough to get into pro stations or freelance, ( looking to produce) but my back up plan is to do TQHE exam so I can teach radio if I dont get in
James, the ‘general consensus’ is probably that a qualification doesn’t make much difference. However, there’s another general consensus that there’s no such thing as a job for life, and that radio and society as a whole are changing very rapidly in ways that are difficult to predict. In that sense, I’d suggest getting as much education as you can, not because it will help with radio, but because it’ll help you. All the best. Colin
I did a foundation degree in Radio Production. It didn’t teach me too much that I either didn’t know already or could have picked up by volunteering for community radio (which is what I ended up doing). But I’m middle-aged and career opportunities seem practically non-existent. All I ended up with was a 10k student debt.
There is no one answer to this. Education alone will not help you, every employer now will expect some experience. Conversely, some employers (especially the BBC) will expect you have to a good level of education. Simon is right that newsrooms will expect you to be educated but someone hiring you for an on-air role in music radio, probably won’t care. Right now, you have a degree so unless you sign-up for a postgrad course then you have the education you have. An MA or PGDip can help but there is no magic key to getting into radio. Radio 1 hire people from youtube and lots of stations look at student radio.
After 20 years in education I can honestly say that both can be important.
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Depends what you want to do!
If you want to be a political correspondent at the BBC, then your degree is probably going to carry some weight.
If you want to do music presentation in commercial radio, nobody’s going to look at your exam certificates.
In general, you’re unlikely to find employers in radio asking for a minimum level of educational qualifications. If you’re looking for on-air roles then it is all about how you come across on air. You’re unlikely to find any barriers relating to qualifications, and likewise you’re unlikely to be hired just based on the strength of your educational achievements. That said, although the piece of paper itself is unlikely to make much odds, the knowledge of politics you gained during your course may be helpful to you as a broadcaster. Does that make sense?
The exception, I would say, is journalism – where you are almost certain to need a recognised qualification unless you have significant newsroom experience.