And so another term at Fanshawe College comes to an end. This was a short one, because the students have an internship before they graduate. In fact, two students I worked with will be coming to our newsroom at Free 981.
Fundamentally, college radio classes aren’t much different from when I was attending Niagara College. There are some standouts, some slackers, some who are pursuing the wrong thing and a couple who think they’re so smart with excuses as they’re chronically late with assignments. They’re shocked when you call them on their transparent lies!
Colleges always churn out more grads than there are jobs, probably in every course. And while some people in the broadcasting industry think that’s a bad thing, I disagree. It’s survival of the fittest. Get out there with the same opportunity and education that everyone else had, and see if you can make it. Because if you can’t, there’s no way you’ll endure the competition and demands of the industry.
People in radio think they’re so special. In a conversation on the weekend with a longtime radio guy who is now in the business world, he told me what I already suspected: the hours are longer and the b.s. runs thicker outside radio. Broadcasting is full of divas, especially among those on the way up or with little experience. They’ve heard what it’s like for a chosen few and their expectations are unrealistic so they complain. A well-known talent in this city has a reputation for being difficult to work with. Who would want that label? People she has never met know she’s a pain in the ass. She’d better be damn talented and find people who will tolerate her crap because, as a manager, I sure wouldn’t. Notice that I’m not a manager …
So fly little birdies and make your way in this unforgiving world! The ever-shrinking business of broadcasting awaits you. But you’ll need to convince it to let you in and then make it worth their while to keep you. Some of you will soar. Some will give up. Which group you end up in, is entirely up to you.