AUDIO TALENT
Tuning into talent
Young radio industry talent wants to feel seen, heard and understood, writes TIM ZUNCKEL. This means we must invest – and invest now – in their future.
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here is a popular trend on social media that looks at where someone or something started and where it currently is using a photograph, #HowItStarted and #HowItsGoing. A quick browse on any of the platforms will show a myriad of people, projects and events in various stages. The juxtaposition of the two pictures often creates humorous moments by showing how something has slipped backwards and looks quite disastrous, but can also highlight monumental strides and progress in other instances.
As a business, radio knows how to celebrate. From music to events, iconic people and moments to everyday life, radio can amplify events and revel in the success of others. It is with this spirit that we recognise our own good work and take a moment to applaud ourselves at the annual South African Radio Awards. Those who’ve been nominated and ultimately win in each category will no doubt post a #HowItsGoing picture, and so they should; this is the one time in a year when we can celebrate ourselves. For every #HowItsGoing picture there is a #HowItStarted moment. themediaonline.co.za
As an industry, do we create enough #HowItStarted opportunities? Do we invest time, energy and effort into finding aspiring talent, nurturing their skill, training their ability and mentoring their development? Being a product of campus radio and actively working in the training and development space, I think the answer is no, but the reasons are complex. The South African broadcasting business has developed substantially since the early ‘90s, when commercial and community radio was introduced as an independent layer in the radio landscape. T H E M E D I A i 51
