ALICE WASS
Exploring Media

This week I started my Presenter Training. This is exciting as my interest in radio originally came from presenting a radio show at university with Source Media. Initially, I had no training apart from the technical side, and so I just spoke naturally, as if I was with someone in person. I then enrolled on a training course at a community radio station, Hillz FM. This was more content focused on technical skills and the presenting guidance focused on interviewing, not hosting a show. Therefore, this Presenter Training at UCB will be the first formal training I have experienced. I hope this will massively develop skills which I can use in my student radio show at university.

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The training consisted of learning how to do preparation for a radio show, using a ‘prep sheet’. This shows the different slots where I would find content to fill in with for the whole three hours. The evening show, ‘Worship and the Word’ is different to any other show, containing an hour and a half of teaching content. Also, as Samuel covers UCB2 presenters when they are on holiday or off sick, ‘Worship and the Word’ has set features which make it easier for Freelancers to cover. This has been a big help to me, as it gave me three features to start with and then develop from there. I have been researching and thinking of creative ways to make the show interesting and engaging whilst keeping to the theme. I then sat in with Samuel, to shadow him whilst he was tracking one of his evening shows. This allowed me to observe his preparation for the show and how this changes once he is recording the content, and I was able to ask lots of questions. This made me realise the importance of delivery and of having ‘a radio persona’, including information from ones personal life, to the listener that you are friends, and how to keep people’s attention. Next week I will be tracking my planned show and then receiving an ‘air check’ with Samuel to learn where I can improve. I feel nervous, even though I have always loved getting behind a microphone and talking on student radio or on Hillz FM, because it is a formal show structure with set timings and aims to be met, it feels easier to mess up. Since I have been working with professional presenters in the radio industry I have realised the industry standard and how far off I have been from meeting it!

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Whilst doing the Presenter Training I have continued with my daily activities. I have been recording more Impact Stories from Prayerline volunteers for the Prayerline appeal. I have also been spending time editing all the audio collected so far, and got ten completed, and have begun looking for more people that I could record. Prayerline is harder to get Impact Stories for as it is a very personal and private ministry, and a lot of people who use it are reluctant to share about the experience.

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I have continued to edit audio for Soundcloud for the presenters, and also booking interviews for Ruth’s show in February. On Ruth’s show we had a lot of in studio guests this week which has kept me busy with hosting. Developing this skill has also improved how I behave with interviewees, especially those who have important status, to make sure we are building lasting relationships and that they will want to continue to work with Ruth in the future.

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I am looking forward to the coming week as the Rhema Acting Group will be doing a two-day Podcast shoot which I have been helping to plan and organise for the past few months and it will be great to see it all come together.