Radio Broadcasting Jobs

[hotjoint]

Any here in the radio industry, or know of a person in that field? It interests me and I want to find out more about it. Whats the pay like and how hard is it to get a job? I looked at a few schools, 1 has a 10 month program that has 4 hour classes 5 days a week and teaches you on air personality (dj), weather, traffic, news reporters etc.....

Anyone have any advice?

[talula]

go to bcit info sessions...they have answers

[Tim Budong]

sounds like a plan?
no
i tried to get into BCIT radio broadcasting twice, your credentials for them are based on past experienced and reference letters. The pay is decent enough, and it varies by experience, but dont expect to start in this city right away either

I dont kno how good the others are, but i ahve a friend that works for CFOX rite now who went to BCIT under radio broadcasting and he isnt on air, but in teh background.

If ya really really wanted to be on air, be prepared to leave the city, as you will have close to 0% chance of starting ON AIR in vancouver, or any other major city.

[El Bastardo]

Sounds like you went and spoke with the people at Columbia Academy. Thats where I went. I did the exact course you're thinking of doing.

DarthChilli is right. You -will- have to leave this city unless you have some serious connections in the industry.

Look at the ads on milkmanunlimited.com. Expect to go to a place like Chetwynd or (if you're lucky) Castlegar for your first few years. If you're extremely talented you can end up in Victoria or on the north island.

The only person who was able to fast track was Reshmi Nair. She was in my class and graduated a few months before I did. She started out at Mountain FM in Squamish before landing on CTV. It helps that she does happen to be extremely talented and being good looking didn't hurt either.

While everyone and their brother will tell you that BCIT is the place to go the truth is that it's not. Its two years of eight month programs of mostly theory. You get pound-for-pound more practical experience at Columbia. I believe PAVI (Pacific Audio/Visual Institute) does the same sort of program as well. Anything where you handle a microphone and a control board every day is where you want to be.

If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me or ask them in this thread.

[hotjoint]

Originally Posted by El Bastardo

Sounds like you went and spoke with the people at Columbia Academy. Thats where I went. I did the exact course you're thinking of doing.

DarthChilli is right. You -will- have to leave this city unless you have some serious connections in the industry.

Look at the ads on milkmanunlimited.com. Expect to go to a place like Chetwynd or (if you're lucky) Castlegar for your first few years. If you're extremely talented you can end up in Victoria or on the north island.

The only person who was able to fast track was Reshmi Nair. She was in my class and graduated a few months before I did. She started out at Mountain FM in Squamish before landing on CTV. It helps that she does happen to be extremely talented and being good looking didn't hurt either.

While everyone and their brother will tell you that BCIT is the place to go the truth is that it's not. Its two years of eight month programs of mostly theory. You get pound-for-pound more practical experience at Columbia. I believe PAVI (Pacific Audio/Visual Institute) does the same sort of program as well. Anything where you handle a microphone and a control board every day is where you want to be.

If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me or ask them in this thread.

yeah Bastardo. I was looking through columbia accademy's website and I called and got a few questions answered. I'm in no rush to get onto the radio. Just starting off at a station in the background or something else is fine with me. Yeah I'm not the type of person that learns will from listening and taking notes, I prefer the hands on type of learning that columbia accademy offers. Are you currently working in the industry at all? How hard is it to land a non on air radio or tv job ?

[El Bastardo]

If you enjoy hands on Columbia Academy is the place to go. You do an hour of theory at the start of your day. Topics like the history of radio in Canada, the law as it pertains to broadcasting, etc. Then you go into the actual practice of it.

For the next three hours you'll be basically having like you're on the air. Someone is hosting, someone is doing news, someone is co-hosting and doing traffic/weather, and someone is producing. If you don't have an active role you're writing commercials or producing spots. Its a pretty fun environment to be in.


I, currently, am not working in the industry but thats because I didn't bother right out of school. I was on a different career path that I'm glad I was on but have left to come back to the media industry.

Its not incredibly difficult to land a behind the scenes job. You have to expect, however, to travel. A buddy of mine ended up landing a decent job in Castlegar straight out of school. Now hes doing their morning show (the best paying spot on air) and it only took him a couple of years.

Another guy I know landed some work doing the news in an Abbotsford station and that was straight out of school.

Others are writing commercials and part of creative teams. But they made some good contacts in school and also took it seriously.


The classes may be laid back and only last for four hours at a time but you do get some awesome experience. Treat it as if it really is work. The tools who goof off will either flunk or will be the guys bagging your groceries. The school is a business and is happy to their their money either way.

Hope that helps



OH. And make sure to take the TV unit if you do go to Columbia. Its awesome.