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Lynn replies...

Languages and communication are essential for entry into careers in radio or television announcing or presenting. A job interview is likely to include a "voice"audition. It will therefore be helpful if Brett gains "broadcasting" experience through volunteering at radio stations (community, commercial), at supermarkets as an announcer over the PA system or a a DJ. At the higher education institution he chooses to study through he should get involved with the student radio station.
 
Activities which Brett may also consider are attending voice coaching or speech and drama lessons or joining a speaking club like Toast Masters International. Presentable, articulate young people may also find part-time work as Master of Ceremonies at functions and business presentations.
 
Other activities which may assist Brett to find his "voice" are becoming an active member of his school drama society or community amateur dramatics group or theatre group. Participating in such organizations will give him the opportunity to practice entertaining people (radio is all about entertaining the listeners).
 
The local library may also provide some useful information such as books on voice exercises and the biographies of local and international radio personalities. Brett should gather information about the work environment by reading as many trade publications as possible (ask your local public library for assistance). Brett could also log on to radio station websites (local and foreign) and explore them for information about the industry and announcer jobs in the "jobs, career or vacancies" section. This will give him insight into what they are looking for in a presenter. When he volunteers at a radio station, he should interview people who enjoy their job and find out how they got into the industry, what they enjoy / dislike and how they are progressing in their careers.
 
Together with the public relations qualifications mentioned to Brett during his work shadowing experience, the following are examples of qualifications which may also lead to a career in radio announcing:
• A Bachelor of Arts degree (BA),  which includes languages, communication, drama,  journalism or broadcasting; for example the Bachelor of Arts degree (BA)  majoring in Journalism and Media Studies  from Rhodes University. For more information please read pages 108 and 109 in the Rhodes student handbook which may be found at  www.ru.ac.za/documents/Applying/student%20handbook.pdf.
• Also look at UWC and their Faculty of Arts language and communication brochure www.uwc.ac.za/usrfiles/users/9268081003/Lang-com.pdf  and their BA degree career page: www.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=cms&action=showfulltext&id=gen11Srv7Nme54_4089_1210050538&sectionid=gen11Srv7Nme54_7730_1210050537
• Explore the NDip followed by BTech Journalism http://info.cput.ac.za/prospectus/qual.php?q=101&f=4  in the CPUT school of infomatics and design.
You mentioned that Brett is good at Business Studies. It will help him to make up his mind if he explores business-oriented career opportunities at the same time as he explores the world of radio journalism. For example, job shadowing and interviewing people already happily employed in the fields of Public Relations, Marketing, General Management,  Human Resources Management and Corporate Training may provide insights into the world of business. Explore qualifications from universities and universities of technology which include these business subjects for example, degrees like BCom, Business Science and B Admin and NDip / BTech qualifications in areas such as public relations, marketing, general management, human resource management.
 
We hope this information is helpful to Brett and we wish him all the best in his quest for success.