When AFTRS’s Graduate Diploma Radio students weren’t able to visit regional stations this year as part of their course, it was decided instead to bring a little bit of Australia’s vast regional radio scene to them.
Using Zoom plus a whole lot of goodwill from radio practitioners, around the country, many who were once a student themselves at AFTRS, they got a first-hand taste of what it’s like to live and work outside the capital cities.
The great AFTRS Regional Radio Around Australia Zoom Tour led by Senior Radio Lecturer Tony Rasmussen, began in Hobart and traversed the nation, with stops along the way in Gippsland, the NSW Central Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Darwin, Perth, down to the Great Southern region of WA, and across to the town of Berri in South Australia .
Guests included Sean Brown, currently Weekday Mornings on HIT 100.9 in Hobart, but formerly Breakfast on Magic 93.1 in SA’s Riverland, plus his former co-host there, Mariam Belle who met in class at AFTRS.
The pair talked about the importance of connecting to the community and shared the advice they got from their Content Director to “live the life of a Riverlander”, and to “make this your filter whenever you’re considering story ideas or any content for your show”.
Ryan Khay, CD with the Ace Radio Network in South Eastern Victoria, highlighted the importance of clocks and content. “Building clocks is a science, and content is still very much king. Make your content unique to your audience, and never forget the importance of storytelling.” Using the magic of Zoom he also took students on a video walk-through of the network’s impressive HQ and studio complex in Gippsland.
Ryan Rathbone, Regional CD for Queensland and the NT with Grant Broadcasters, and Brad Pottinger, Program Director at Capital Radio’s 6iX in Perth, stressed the need for students to make sure they build contacts and to network within the industry. “Send out demos. Listen to the feedback you get. If you are serious about landing a job keep at it and keep in contact.”
Students also learned about the importance of getting out and connecting directly with local audiences, learning what interests them, and of the hugely important role that radio plays in emergency broadcasting, especially in the regions.
The big whip-around took in the views of announcers on their very first regional postings, like Cam Hilder in Townsville now broadcasting daily into Mt Isa, as well as seasoned and highly experienced operators like Shayne Sinclair, Program Director at Star 104.5.
It wasn’t all about presenters and Content Directors though. Grace Garde (Breakfast producer at HIT 100.9 Hobart), and Jack Schmidt (Evening Producer at ABC Darwin) shared what it’s like working on the other side of the glass in the producer’s chair.
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