104.1 CHYFM New Graduates Ready To Take To The Airwaves

The course was developed by industry professionals with a wealth of experience in broadcasting and was specifically designed for high school students. Potential broadcasters learn about using their voice, creating on-air content, interviewing techniques, program production and development and studio operations. The 104.1 CHYFM broadcast studios use the same digital equipment and broadcast playout system used in regional and metropolitan commercial stations, giving our on-air volunteers real training and experience.

“I did some training at another station, but the five-day workshop gave me more skills and confidence. I’m really looking forward to developing my program and presenting on-air, says Jamaica.

“Once I get my HSC Trials out of the way, I’m looking to present a Sunday afternoon program, talking about youth issues and local sport,” Says Jamika. “I think the training is really good – it’s great that there are opportunities like this in the area. It exposes us to different people with similar interests and introduces us to a different form of media that isn’t often used, which I think is very interesting.”

Jamaica and Jamika are already contributing their vocal talents to the weekly “What’s on in Coffs” on-air gig guide. “On alternate weeks, they do the voice-over for the What’s on in Coffs guide, which reads three to four pages of script – not an easy task even for professional voice-over artists. But Jamaica and Jamika handle it brilliantly and get better each week. During the course, all students did voice recordings for station IDs and Sweepers and are now being heard on-air,” says Station Manager and Trainer Angie Vaughan.

Peer Support Training is also part of the course, and Amber, from the very popular program “The A to Z of Everything” (Wednesdays, 4 to 6pm), is also part of the training team. Amber knows Zetta better than anyone and explains operating the system so easily, all students were operating the panel with confidence in no time. “It was great to also have them on my program – not only did they master operating the panel and playout system, but their contributions on air were fun, informative and entertaining.

I’m looking forward to hearing their programs in the near future,” says Amber.

104.1 CHYFM is a real radio station and operates as such. On-air volunteers who do the training course and mentorship are skilled and confident in on-air presentation and studio operation, and endless opportunities exist.

“We have several programs I am currently negotiating for syndication to be broadcast on other community stations. A very popular community station in New Zealand is particularly keen to take several of 104.1 CHYFM’s programs to broadcast on their network.”

The next five-day on-air presenter workshops will be held in the September school holidays – Workshop 1 will be from September 25 to 29, and Workshop 2 will be from October 2 to 6. Places are limited. For more information and to register, info@chyfm.org.au or call the station on 6651 1104.

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