A fine day of doing your chores and you have the radio to keep you company, making your dull and monotonous tasks a little more exciting and less lonely. Though people’s way of accessing media has changed with time, radio (in its various forms today) still remains relevant. Active debates about the radio being replaced by technological advancements happen every other day; however, the medium proves to be resilient. Now, though a little technical but the truth, a study conducted in 2023 states that around 80% of people listen to the radio everyday. In this article, we are going to delve into understanding the very essence of radio – Radio Jockeying – and why RJ skills are still in demand. Keep reading further to know more.

The Relevance and Demand for RJ Skills

Who is a Radio Jockey? RJs also known as Radio Personality are professionals who handle and host programs on the radio and interact with listeners. RJs require to be equipped with skill sets such as having a flair for storytelling, creativity, communication skills, problem solving skills and much more. We are going to take a look at why these skills are still in demand.

• People’s Love for Listening to Stories

Storytelling is an effective and impactful form of communicating ideas. Good storytellers have the capability of capturing people’s attention and that is exactly what a proficient RJ does. We’re all people who love listening to stories and tuning into the radio, which makes that possible. Radio Jockeys are trained to effectively narrate things and communicate information in the form of a story which makes messaging impactful and easily comprehensible for people. The same reason is why we often see a lot of people multitasking – listening to the radio and completing their tasks/work.

• Voice and Its Authenticity

There is just something about voice and correlating it with authenticity. Radio Jockeys, with their voice, get to form a connection with their listener. With the digital media flourishing, oftentimes we come across various kinds of information which we may not be able to verify all the time but speech is different, whether real time or not, RJs can communicate messages effectively and contribute to listener – retention as well.

• Scope for Interaction

All radio programs offer the scope for interaction. If you are an avid listener or even if you only tune in occasionally, you’ve probably heard RJs share numbers to which you can call and share about your day or dedicate a song to a loved one. People often look forward to these segments to speak to their favorite RJ or ask for their favorite song. People looking forward to speaking on the radio is proof enough to understand the relevance of the medium and RJ skills.

• Portability of the Radio

The radio is a portable medium and its portability has only increased with digital and technological advancements. It is also regarded as an inclusive medium. You can now tune into the radio anywhere at any time, for instance: You can download radio apps, use the inbuilt radio app in your phone, access the radio on your laptop, listen to it in your car etc. It is also a free medium and requires no subscription fee, unlike other means of information. With more people accessing the radio, the spectrum needs more skilled RJs to navigate shows.

• Adaptability

Radio jockeys are required to access various mediums to leverage their reach and they are highly adaptable. As aforementioned, the medium as such is portable and RJs constantly adapt to changing formats and patterns. Radio programs are now more refined and focus on brevity – this changes with people’s preferences and other advancements. They also are required to try newer techniques with listener feedback and inputs.

• Keeping People Company

Listening to the radio is like listening to a friend. You get to listen to the radio when you are working, doing house chores, when you want to sit at home and do nothing – there’s always your favorite program or RJ speaking to you and keeping you company. RJs have the skill to communicate effectively in ways that help people connect. The informal form of communication also makes it seem more friendly and at ease.

Conclusion

Though radio jockeying may seem to be ‘just talking’; it is more than that and not an easy feat. Being an RJ requires one to constantly come up with ideas, topics to discuss, formats or ways to address listeners and keep things interesting. Today, you can also enroll yourself in courses and programs that teach you RJ skills and you never know, you can also become a Radio Jockey one day.

You can read more about the AAFT Noida radio production and jockeying Course .