By Ann Charles
Work in radio as a producer? Addicted to your smartphone? Always trying to solve a problem? Do you mend stuff on air? Are you secretly (shh) a techy geek? If so, then some exciting news: The Radio Academy is launching the Radio Technology Masterclass and we’d like you to join us.
We all love radio, but there aren’t many opportunities to learn about the technical and engineering parts of the job. This is a shame, as knowing how the tech works can change the way you create radio – for the better. And broadcast engineers are some of the most creative people you’ll ever work with (plus they have the best biscuits).
The Radio Technology Masterclass is being run by a team of the best engineering and technical talent in the UK, with representatives from all the major radio groups. It’s a day of workshops that will show you how radio works behind the scenes. The aim is to give you a whistle-stop introduction to radio engineering in a way that’s fun, interactive and involves no sums (not that sums aren’t cool, but…). By the end of the day you’ll have insider information on how to build a studio, had an overview of how programmes make their way from studio to transmitter and had practical, hands-on experience of plugging equipment together and thinking like an engineer. We mean it about the hands-on stuff – you won’t be sitting down and falling asleep in a lecture hall; we want you to know how to actually do this stuff (and show you that it’s not that hard!)
Although this day is ideal if you are starting out in a technical capacity at a radio station, you don’t have to be a broadcast engineer to attend. Production staff and those working in other areas of engineering such as IT are also welcome! We are assuming that participants have some knowledge of radio but that’s about it – treat this as an amazing opportunity to make contacts as well as try out a new career angle for the day.
Two SoundWomen volunteers are part of the TechCon / Radio Technology Masterclass organising committee and we are very keen to make sure that lots of SW members attend the event. If you are curious, like solving problems and enjoy working under pressure then you’ve got what it takes to be a radio engineer. So don’t hide your natural talents away – come to the Radio Technology Masterclass to find out how you can turn your passion for radio into a profitable career*.
Best of all? Thanks to the lovely people at the BBC Academy and Skillset, the day is free to attend. Registration opens at 10am on the 20th February and is strictly first come, first served. So get your mouse fingers at the ready and I’ll see you on the 25th March!
The Radio Academy Radio Technology Masterclass is taking place at BBC White City during the daytime / early evening of the 25th March 2013. It is free to attend. You can register for the event from 10am on the 20th February by going to The Radio Academy website www.radioacademy.org
Ann Charles is a technical Project Manager for the BBC who fell into engineering after seven years as a radio and online producer. Part of her role involves explaining to producers that engineers are cool and to engineers that producers are awesome. Named as a Radio Academy 30 under 30 in 2012, she’s on the main TechCon committee for 2013. Sick of being the only person with breasts at technical conferences, her goal for this year’s event is to make sure enough women attend that there’s a queue for the ladies’ loos…
*Profitable career not guaranteed. But there will be lots of tea. And possibly some biscuits.