How to become a professional radio station speaker

Hi there radio lovers! Welcome to our new article about how to become a radio speaker! We are not trying to turn you into a professional speaker in 10 minutes, since of course you need to develop skills and experience which require time and effort, but we can for sure ourline the most important steps to take in order to start this rewarding and exciting career.

If you have a passion for radio and podcasting, you want to connect with your listeners and start your own radio, this is for you!

Work on your speaking skills

There are many classes out there about public speaking, voice improvement and technical skills required to develop a professional radio presence. The first step to consider involves for sure checking for courses close to you, or online (example 1, example 2).  Don’t forget that a very important part of your experience is built by listening: tune in to your favorite radio show and pay all of your attention to how the experienced speakers are talking in order to engage with their audience, how they handle pauses and emphasis, how to handle transitions between guests, topics, music and ads, and how to convey information in a seamless form to blend into the topic of the moment.

Gain experience

It’s crucial to practice speaking regularly: you need to improve your vocal clarity, your tone and your modulation. For instance, it’s a good excercise to read books out loud, and to record yourself in order to identify areas of improvement. Once you feel ready, it’s a good idea to offer yourself for a free internship at some local radio, community or school radio channels or other entry-level jobs at a radio to learn in first person the secrets of the industry.

Create your demo reel!

If you think your skills and experience are worth noticing, it’s time to put together a demo reel that showcases your on-air presence and skills. It doesn’t need to be a real radio show aired on a real radio channel! You can record your own demo episodes as a test, make sure to get a good microphone and edit the content properly to achieve a good thythm and an engaging content offer. This may even be your own podcast which is an excellent starting point for your radio career. As matter of fact, most of the radio shows nowadays are pre-recorded podcasts! It’s not a bad idea to have your own website including a few demo episodes, your bio, and your contacts: a professional online presence is nowadays a must for every business out there. If you can invest on this, it’s a good idea to use a professional wordpress theme for podcasting for instance: you can use it for your podcasts and send it as virtual business card. People can check out your skills and decide to contact your directly!

Networking is key

Build relationships with industry professionals and make connections at radio stations. Attend events, join professional organizations, and use social media to connect with others in the industry.

Find a job

Once you feel confident on your skills and your portfolio counts on a good number of examples and demos, it’s time to apply for a proper job in the radio industry: print some business cards, contact local radios, and use your skills, experience, and connections to find a job as a radio station speaker. Consider applying for positions at local, regional, or national radio stations.

Overall, becoming a professional radio station speaker requires a combination of skill-building, experience, and networking. By following these steps, you can position yourself for success in this exciting and rewarding career.

Open your own radio

Why not considering to open your own radio? Nowadays it’s easier than ever and you don’t need big budgets: say hello to total freedom and be open to your own monetization possibilities. Opening your own radio is an excellent way to refine your skills on the real field, start building your own fanbase, and gathering feedbacks on your contents, style and voice.

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