A couple of decades ago no one could have considered radio jockeying to be a serious career option. Although it still remains a non-conventional choice but it is becoming an increasingly viable career option for the youth of today. The FM channels revolution can be held responsible for transforming this apparently non-serious job into a serious career.
The job of the radio jockey is to communicate with the public through the radio. There are many different kinds of shows that are being hosted on the radio today and the radio jockey has to play the host. Moreover through the radio you have the opportunity to reach out to all kinds of people.As a radio jockey people will know you by your voice rather than your face. There are many radio jockeys that have actually become household names because of their immense popularity in India. This is the reason why radio jockeying is now being looked upon as a serous career choice.
What do you need to do in order to become a radio jockey?
This is one particular field where educational qualification does not factor in to a great extent. Although we find that recent trends have sort of set a simple graduation as the benchmark. Nonetheless some radio channels even hire people after the completion of their higher secondary education.
Experience does matter in this job but age is a barrier. This is one of those jobs that are more apt for the youngsters. Usually radio channels put an upper limit of 35 for radio jockeys. The absence of educational eligibility criteria is replaced by a list of qualities that the individual seeking to be radio jockey should possess.
The first and foremost thing is that the individual should have a great command over language because this will be his communication tool. Secondly he must have good dictation and excellent communication skills. Your voice modulation is another factor that matters in this job. A good sense of sound and an over the board sense of humor are some of the other qualities you must possess.
Training courses for Radio Jockeys
Luckily there are a few institutes that offer some kind of radio jockeying course either directly related to the job or through courses in the art of talking.
EMDI Encompass Institute of Radio Management offers a diploma in radio jockeying. Xavier’s Institute of Communication and Film and Television offers a course in compeering, announcement and dubbing. Short term courses in public speaking are also offered by The British Council all over the country and the National School of Drama as well.
Career scope in radio jockeying
If you have a good voice and follow it up with one of these courses you will have geared yourself up with different aspects of the job such as pronunciation, voice modulation and building images through words. Even the not so gifted people can learn to develop these courses and step forward in the field as trained professionals.
The radio industry is just beginning to experience success. The advent of tons of private channels has increased the demand for quality radio jockeys. In India you can easily get inducted in one of the many radio channels and slowly make your way up to the top. If you have a good grip over some foreign languages then you might even be able to get a job as a radio jockey in foreign lands.
