There is a lot to be said for student radio. Student radio stations have a lot to offer, from inclusivity and community to developing technical broadcasting skills. But their value is sometimes underestimated. In this briefing, we explore the importance of these assets, both for the students who work on them and for their institutions as a whole.
With student satisfaction becoming increasingly important in the higher education sector, there is no getting around the fact that the student experience matters today in a way that it simply hasn’t before. And that’s one of the compelling reasons why, if you don’t already have a student radio station, you really should break down and create one. And if you already have one, you should probably invest more in it!
The art of presentation and production
There are currently over 50 student radio stations in the UK. Together, they have launched the careers of a number of famous DJs. Annie Mac, Simon Mayo, Greg James, Scott Mills, and Rich Clarke all started at student radio stations.
Enthusiastic undergraduates who get involved in running a student radio station quickly learn what it takes to make it successful: developing and hosting daytime shows and specialty programs, broadcasting drama, comedy and news.
And, even if they aren’t attracted to the idea of becoming the next Zane Lowe or MistaJam, they may be drawn to the behind-the-scenes role of production work – the planning aspects, being involved in the day-to-day running of the show, and stopping hosts who have gone overboard and unintentionally caused a disruption.
The importance of the music industry
Record labels take university radio stations very seriously. That’s why they send student radio stations many tracks every week to draw attention to their music. Frankly, a lot of it is not great, but someone has to sift through the offerings and showcase the best. There is also a distinct possibility that students will actually meet and interview their favorite band. Needless to say, student satisfaction scores will increase.
The role of the engineer
No area of life is free from various kinds of banana peels, and they are certainly scattered throughout the world of broadcasting and radio. Things break, failures come out of nowhere, and dead time is a threat. Engineers keep a station broadcasting, and tech-savvy students can gain invaluable experience in this field.
Audio production
No one likes dull commercials and yeasty jingles. Students with a talent for writing and wordplay, with a gift for all those bumps, claps, and whistles that liven up airtime, can learn the often wonderful art of audio production on a student radio station.