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Dear Janine

Thank you for your question about studying radio presenting.  This career is particularly difficult to enter and so both practical experience and learning language and communication skills are essential. There are a number of different routes to consider. Explore them all and find the combination that fits what you want to achieve:

Private Colleges

• Damelin: one year certificate course in TV and Radio Presenting:  http://www.damelin.co.za/site.asp?local=mowbray&Course=MediaDesignCollege SA: Radio Broadcasting www.collegesa.co.za
• Intec: Introduction to Radio Broadcasting http://www.intec.edu.za/courses/C-2827/introduction-to-radio-broadcasting---career-starter/
• Practical experience is available (for a fee) from the Broadcasting Training Institute (BTI) on 021 – 448 5450   www.bushradio.co.za

Universities
 

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.

Ideas for Practical Experience

• A job interview in this field is likely to include a "voice"audition. It will therefore be helpful if you gain "broadcasting" experience through volunteering at radio stations (community, commercial), at supermarkets as an announcer over the PA system, as a DJ or at a university student radio station.
• Other activities which you may consider are:
  • Attending voice coaching or speech and drama lessons
  • Joining a speaking club like Toast Masters International.
  • Joining a community amateur dramatics or theatre group.
  • Read books about voice exercises and the biographies of local and international radio personalities.
• Gather information about the work environment:
  • Read as many trade publications as possible (ask your local public library for assistance).
  • 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 you insight into what they are looking for in a presenter.
  • Talk to people who enjoy their job in radio and find out how they got into the industry, what they enjoy / dislike and how they progressed in their careers.

We hope this helps you in your quest. Best wishes for your future career.
The Career Planet Team