How to Become a Radio Jockey?

Being a radio jockey might seem like a really easy career to pursue – all you have to do is talk, right? But, it’s not as simple as it would seem. The new-age Radio and Television industry presents promising and attractive careers to help young aspiring individuals. RJ is a professional radio host responsible for the broadcast spectrum of on-air events. Hosting chat shows, music shows and news are some of the popular stuff RJs do. Read this blog to know all about how to become a Radio Jockey, qualifications, skills, salary, courses and more.

Skills Required

Being a Radio Jockey, like any other career, takes a lot of hard work, commitment, and the right temperament to stand out from others. Here are some of the abilities you need that will help you find out whether you have it within you to become a radio jockey.

1. Be flexible with voice modulation 
2. Be up to date with current events and trending topics
3. Have a great sense of humour
4. Be spontaneous
5. Speak clearly and have the correct pronunciation of words
6. Be expressive and imaginative 
7. Add the ‘X’ factor which keeps the listeners hooked

How to Become a Radio Jockey?

RJ is a popular career in the field of broadcasting and entertainment field. Here is a stepwise guide on the ways of becoming a Radio Jockey, have a look:

Select a Suitable Course

The main qualification required to become a Radio Jockey is a course in this field where you will get to learn about radio broadcasting, editing, script writing and the like. There are a plethora of programmes offered by universities abroad at different academic levels. You can select a course ranging from a bachelor’s, master’s, diploma and certificate. If you need assistance in finding a suitable course, then Leverage Edu can help you out! Your degree must be in a field of Radio Publishing, News Reporting, Speech Broadcast Journalism or Media Analysis.

Check out the list of Mass Communication Courses After 12th!

Intern at Radio Stations

Internships certificates and experience hold great value in your professional career. Thus, you must consider doing these while pursuing your course or as breaktime summer internships. Working with a radio station will give you corporate exposure, practical know-how and behind the scenes aspects of working at a radio station. Many universities and colleges may offer students an opportunity to participate in an internship with a radio station as a part of their curriculum. Furthermore, it also increases the chances of getting hired in the same company all you need to be exemplary in terms of your performance. 

Here are the perfect answers to – Why should you be hired for this internship?

Work on your Speaking and Communication Skills

As an RJ it is very important for you to be a persuasive speaker with exceptional communication skills. Thus, work on your confidence and communication skills. Start with hosting university radio shows, that can give you a perfect exposure to how your professional life be in the upcoming years. Start making use of college studios which will help you to understand the fundamentals of getting on-air at an early stage. 

Explore the long list of communication skills that are essential to build a successful career!

Sharpen Your Skills at a Small-Market 

After completion of your degree and a professional internship certificate, you are fully equipped to land on your dream job. It is advised to start with a smaller station that targets less number of people. Doing the same will help you familiarize with the actual working of radio stations. Identify your own on-air personalities and build a reputation in smaller markets before going on to larger-market stations. This gives radio DJs the chance to tailor your announcing style and set up a signature tone. Larger studios usually put heavy emphasis on performance and RJ’s ratings in smaller markets in order to hire them for bigger brands.

Radio Jockey Courses and Colleges

Here are the most popular radio jockey courses you must consider for pursuing this exciting career path:

• Diploma in Radio Programming and Management
• Post Graduate Diploma in Radio Programming and Management
• Diploma and Certificate course in Radio Jockey
• Diploma in Radio Management
• Certificate Course in Radio Production Programme
• Certificate Course in Announcing, Broadcasting, Comparing and Dubbing
• BA Journalism and Mass Communication
• Bachelors in Radio, Television and Digital Media
• MA in TV, Radio and Film

Top Universities for Radio Jockey Courses

Some of the popular colleges and universities to become a Radio Jockey in India are:

• Madras Christian College, Chennai
• Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi
• Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University
• P College for Women, Delhi University
• Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
• Craft Film School, New Delhi
• Christ University, Bangalore
• Radio School of Broadcasting, Mumbai
• Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Multiple Locations
• Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi
• Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication, Pune
• Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore

Check out the top Radio Jockey courses and universities abroad:

Courses	Institutions
BA (Hons) Television and Radio Production	University of Salford
Advanced Diploma in Broadcasting – Radio, Television, Film and Digital Media	Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology
Bachelor of Media and Communications – with a major in Radio and Podcasting	Macquarie University
Diploma in Telecommunications Systems Technician: Radio Systems	British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Diploma in Radio, Television and Broadcast News – Broadcast News	SAIT Polytechnic
Bachelor of Arts in Radio, Television and Digital Media – Electronic Journalism	Southern Illinois University – Carbondale
Ontario College Diploma in Broadcasting – Radio	SAIT Polytechnic
Master of Arts in Television, Radio, and Film	Syracuse University
Advanced Diploma in Broadcasting – Radio, Television, Film, and Digital Media	Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology

Radio Jockey Jobs

There is a great deal of potential for Radio Jockey to get job opportunities in the government sector. However, there is still a significant amount of opportunity for employment in the private sector. Applicants are recruited on the basis of their qualifications such as speech modulation, simple diction, correct pronunciation and knowledge of the language and vocabulary.

The entry-level salary of a Radio Jockey is 10,000 INR to 30,000 INR per month and with more experience, you can aim to earn up to 1.5 to 2 Lakhs per month.

There are two sectors in which a Radio Jockey can pursue their career in:

• Government Sector
• Private Sector

Government Sector
Radio Jockeys will work in government bodies such as AIR (All India Radio), state radio stations and other radio stations. There are numerous opportunities to work in the government sector, and pay packages are often high. In addition to the monthly payment, Radio Jockeys earns a range of insurance, retirement pensions, etc.

Private Sector
There is a great deal of potential in the private sector for work prospects in organizations such as Radio Mirchi, Big FM, Red FM, Radio Mid-day, Times FM, Radio Star and several other independent radio channels. In the private sector, radio jockeys have an excellent pay bundle, a supportive atmosphere, benefits, etc.

Hopefully, this blog helped you to acquire all the necessary information on How to Become a Radio Jockey. Get in touch with Leverage Edu if you need assistance in finding a suitable university or course.