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PRESENTATION

If you want to be a radio presenter, experience is a must. Many presenters start in hospital or student radio learning the talents they need to entertain, play records and present programmes. Send an audition tape and CV to the Programme Controller of the station you wish to work for, but be warned: presentation is the most popular career choice in radio, and Programme Controllers receive many hundreds of demo tapes.

Don't be disheartened by rejection; take notice of any criticism or comments and keep trying. Most importantly, listen to the programming style of any station to which you apply. A Programme Controller is not likely to take on a presenter who sounds radically different to the usual station output. There are no formal qualifications for presenters, but a quick brain, initiative and a high standard of general knowledge are essential. A good academic record is a great help.

NEWS

Another very popular career choice is radio journalism. Almost every newsreader you hear on the radio is also a journalist, with responsibility for reporting, interviewing and writing news stories. Very few radio stations employ "voices" just to read the news. Most radio journalists study for a degree (which can be in any subject, as long as you get journalistic or radio experience while you're at college) before taking a Post-Graduate Diploma in Radio or Broadcast Journalism.

Alternatively, at least one university (Nottingham Trent) now offers a degree in Broadcast Journalism. The most useful vocational courses are validated by the National Council for the Training of Broadcast Journalists. These courses are very specialised and practical, teaching skills such as interviewing, editing, news writing, law and public administration. Most courses also offer a two or three week work experience placement at a radio station.

Once you have completed such a course you should write to the News Editor of the station for which you want to work, enclosing a CV and a short demo tape of your voice work. Some journalists do get work in radio without a post-graduate diploma. They may have other relevant experience such as newspapers, university radio, etc.

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