Way back when I was a broadcasting student, I developed a good relationship with the news director of one of the local stations, who would graciously spend time with me to correct my writing and show me the basics of being on-air. Once, he showed me the cache of resumes he kept on hand for future hiring consideration. Among the tapes and CVs from broadcast professionals, there were also those from the idealists with no broadcast training ("All my friends say I have a really great voice and I was wondering...."), the quarter-life or mid-life crisis types ("I've decided to quit being an accountant/teacher/insurance salesman and I want to pursue radio, which is my true passion..."), the over-confident part-time pundits ("I would be able to provide commentary for your station twice per week on current events for a salary of {some ridiculous amount}...") and the just plain crazies, including one who claimed he could predict the future and would solely report news about things that would happen in the days to come. The ND was always gentle with these people, suggesting they consider broadcast training courses at the local community college or spelling out the financial consequences of leaving their current career path for the less than glamorous world of local radio.

I've known a few broadcast educators over the years who had gently taken students aside after a couple of semesters to say they should consider a career outside broadcasting since their chances of getting hired were, to put it candidly, rather dim. I know a few of them went on to try their luck at the fly-by-night broadcasting schools that cropped up in the GTA in the 70s and 80s. I shudder to thnk of how they wasted their money.

Last edited by BowmanvilleBob (December 20, 2024 2:37 pm)