If there’s one voice you want to hear when you are travelling or when you just want to feel happy, it’s the radio. And do you know the person behind the radio, the voice you always hear and never see? He/she has the power to make you feel happy, free and chirpy. This person is called a Radio Jockey (RJ). An RJ is typically a radio presenter who hosts a show at a certain time band of the radio broadcast hours.
“If you love to entertain, then you’ll love being an RJ. Rain or shine, no matter how your day is, you bring your ‘A’ game to the studio because you are in charge of an entire city smiling,” says Chennai’s “Sugar Queen” Sree who works for Radio One 94.3. “Though radio jockeying is becoming a popular career choice among the youth, the key is to keep reinventing yourself,” she adds.
Running a show
So, how does a day in her life look like? “Well, I walk into work and create a pointer list that I call a ‘run order’. It helps me understand what content goes on air and during which part of my show. I incorporate Bollywood interviews, local interview bytes, city news, fitness, travel ideas and itineraries. This helps me break down the show so as to not make it too light or too heavy at any point. Being a presenter means you sell dreams. You paint a picture, you create a story and you loop in your listener to contribute to that story, add to it, sometimes change the narrative... And you can make it happen every time you go on air.”
A radio producer usually gathers information, brings in the experts to share valuable insights, makes a show flow and hands it to the RJ. But today, in many stations, much of that is done by the RJ. RJs also double up as voice-over artists when radio stations need to make ads for their clients. RJs are often required to multi-task.
“There are many courses available in India and abroad that will help you hone your skills if you are interested in this job,” says Sree. A Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Media covers the fundamentals of radio and editing. There are also part-time courses offered by private players like Chennai’s Academy of Radio Studies and a programme called Intonate in Bengaluru. Since the role demands performance-orientation, it is up to the individual to find the right role in radio.
“Today, with the competition being tough and with many vying for the position it’s important and necessary to keep oneself updated with what’s happening around you,” explains Sree. Digital radio and in-store radio are new areas that have opened up within radio broadcasting. However, they have created new opportunities for youngsters. India as a market is still exploring these newer forms of radio and podcasting. Besides the four-hour show that a RJ is heard on, they also put in the rest of the time researching new ideas and concepts. As Sree leaves for her 5:00 p.m. show, she says, “Contrary to popular belief, radio stations comprise a lot more than just radio jockeys. There are programme producers, station producers, client solutions personnel, sound engineers, sales and marketing personnel. I’ve dabbled in quite a few roles myself to get a holistic understanding of the medium.”
