Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Presenting is fun — but also hard work
BEING a radio presenter, chatting about anything and everything while pressing buttons in a studio, has to be the easiest gig in the world, right? Wrong!
The pros make it seem so effortless but it’s a skill that’s difficult to master and the competition is intense.
However, turn on your radio and you’ll hear people who’ve made a career of it for decades.
Paul Brownlee is a presenter and programme controller at Dundee and Perth’s Wave 102 — and a 20-year professional in the radio world.
He had worked at Radio Borders and Radio Forth before joining Wave and has some good advice for those interested in the profession.
“I always had aspirations to be on the radio, even when I was a kid,” said Paul, who grew up in Galashiels.
“I started DJing at local discos when I was 17 and then I found out my local hospital was setting up its own radio service.
“In 1997, I got my own show on Radio Borders and I was off.
“It was more difficult than I first imagined. I grew up listening to people like Noel Edmonds and Terry Wogan and thought it was going to be easy.
“However, you can’t just babble on and you can’t go blank. You have to be able to keep the pitch and the tone right, learn to breathe properly and never stutter your words.”
Paul’s right. The mic picks up everything and an aspiring presenter who can’t stop sniffing, clearing their throat or even swallowing noisily may not make the grade.
“It may sound strange but you have to be aware of yourself,” said Paul.
“You can’t accidentally drop a profanity. Be careful about your humour and know your audience.”
That is crucial advice. A radio presenter saying something unwise could be out of the door the same day.
Paul added: “In the same way that a huntsman always regards any shotgun as loaded, a DJ has to regard the mic as being live. That means they will always be in proper broadcast mode.
“I love the job. I love playing music and the feedback from listeners.
“Radio has really boomed recently. There are student and community stations, as well as the internet.
“Many people have started their own radio stations from their bedrooms, something that would have been deemed piracy if I’d tried it all those years ago. So go for it. The sky’s the limit.”