You think you can talk? – with alacrity and confidence? – both sense and non-sense? Well, then there are several offbeat careers that await you. You could be a Voice Over Artist, A Stand Up Comedian, or a Radio Jockey. In this write-up let me pen down what it takes to become a Radio Jockey (RJ).
Educational Qualifications to be a RJ
While there is no specific academic qualification required to be a Radio Jockey, a bachelors degree in Mass Communication or Mass Media is preferred. But honestly it doesn’t matter. As long as you have the skills, your academic qualifications are irrelevant.
There are several colleges that offer certificate/diploma courses in Radio Jockeying. If you are serious about being a RJ, I would recommend enrolling for one such program.
Some of the institutes that offer these courses are:
- Radio City School of Broadcasting, Mumbai
- Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai
- Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi
- Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi
- Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi
- The Mudra Institute of Communications (MICA), Ahmedabad
- Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune
- Zee Institute of Media Arts, Mumbai
- Craft Film School, New Delhi
- Christ University, Bangalore
- Lady Sri Ram College, Delhi
- Madras Christian College, Chennai
- WLC College, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata
and a few others
What else can you do to be an RJ ?
- Develop your oratory skills: Put in conscious efforts to develop your overall oratory and verbal communication skills. Pay special attention at honing you skills in Voice Modulation, Diction, and Pronunciation.
- Content development: Being a RJ is not just about talking random stuff on radio. You should be up to date with current affairs and trends, and develop meaningful content that your listeners could relate to.
- Intern: If you are still in college and dream of being a RJ, try to intern at a radio station. This would be a good opportunity to not just connect with the right people, but also demonstrate your talents.
- Network: Network with people from the radio and broadcasting sector. Discuss your career aspirations with them and seek their guidance.
For those seeking more information, I would recommend reading the book ‘Romancing The Microphone – be a Radio Jockey’ by Swaty Gupta.
Happy Yapping !!
In 2005 Jay Rege, along with his wife Jothsna Rege, co-founded Academy One, a career guidance and study abroad counseling venture. Prior to co-founding Academy One, he worked as a software developer with HCL Technologies. He holds a computer engineering degree from Mumbai University and a MBA from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, USA. He has also been a visiting faculty at a few colleges where he teaches topics related to entrepreneurship.