How to become a Radio Jockey?

"TV gives everyone an image, but radio gives birth to a million images in a million brains." 
                                                                                                                      -Peggy Noonan

Are you someone who can make simple, relevant topics and ideas engaging and interesting? Then, becoming a radio jockey can be the right track for you. If you like working in an innovative environment that nurtures creativity, with flexible working hours and chances to meet diverse people, a Radio Jockey career is more than fulfilling. The radio was the primary mode of information for many decades, but thanks to Radio Jockeys, it became a source of entertainment as well. With the right skills and knowledge, you too can be a Radio Jockey.

Who is a Radio Jockey?

A Radio Jockey is a person who hosts programs and talk shows on radio channels. He is the 'Voice' of the assigned program. A Radio Jockey or RJ entertains the listeners and callers with fascinating stories and ideas. A Radio Jockey represents the whole radio station and gets popular by identifying with the local populace. Hence, an RJ should always be aware of the target audience as his/ her anchoring skills can make or break the show. 

Skills required to become an RJ:

You might wonder about how to become a Radio Jockey and so you need to be aware of the skills required to be an RJ, which is just as important as academic education. The required skills to become a successful RJ is mentioned below.

• Proactive 
• Storytelling Skills
• Language Fluency
• Good Sense of Humour
• Creativity
• Spontaneity 
• Ability to Control Voice Modulations
• Communication Skills
• Interpersonal Skills

Eligibility to become an RJ:

You will be glad to know that to become a radio jockey, you don't need to be highly educated. Just a basic degree is mandatory for this career and it will be helpful if you opt for mass communication or journalism degree.

Which are the best Radio Jockey courses?

If you don't have quality knowledge, you can be a chatterbox and still find it hard to become a Radio Jockey. To gain that, you can pursue Radio Jockey courses available at various colleges in India. If you are confused with the question- How to become an RJ after 12th? Then, you can pursue the following courses: 

Students who have completed their graduation can go for a 2-year Post Graduate Diploma in Radio Programming and Management. Some of the common topics covered in the syllabus for RJ Certificate, Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma courses are given below.

• Voice Technique
• Transmission System- HD Radio
• Commercial and Non-Commercial Educational Radio
• Live Break Training
• Console Training
• Music Programming

Apart from these courses students can also go for a Bachelor or Master's degree in Journalism or Mass Communication to become an RJ. 

Best Colleges for Radio Jockey in India:

Once you understand how to become a Radio Jockey, you need to figure out where you can study it. As mentioned in the previous section, you can also pursue a Bachelor or Master's degree in Journalism or Mass Communication to pursue this field. Following are the 10 best colleges that will get you on course to become an RJ: 

Radio Jockey Career Opportunities: 

A wide array of career options are available once you learn how to become an RJ. Some of the top job roles are mentioned below: 

• Radio Presenter:  A Radio Presenter showcases a topic or idea and intrigues the audience, and makes them gain better awareness of the situations presented. 
  
  
• FM Radio Jockey: An FM Radio Jockey primarily hosts talk shows, plays music for the audience or sometimes both. 
  
  
• On-AIR Personalities: An On-AIR Personality speaks and reads from scripted materials for programs like news, or commercial messages etc.
  
  
• Announcer:  An Announcer delivers important updates to the audience. 
  
  
• Production Director: A Production Director is responsible for managing schedules and radio program strategies. It's a senior position to which an experienced RJ can get promoted.
  
  
• Station Manager: A Station Manager is also an experienced position an RJ can achieve. He is responsible for managing the radio station and issues related to it.

Top Recruiting Employers and Companies for RJs:

Many companies and radio stations require Radio Jockeys to promote, advertise and create new audio content. The most popular agencies and employers who recruit radio jockeys are:

• BBC
• All India Radio
• Radio Mirchi 98.3
• Radio Star
• Radio Mango 91.9
• Big FM 92.7
• Club FM 94.3
• Radio Mid-day
• Radio Wani

RJ salary in India:

RJ salary in India depends on the experience of the candidate. If you are a fresher, the starting salary can range from INR 15,000  to 30,000 per month. But with high experience, a candidate can earn a monthly salary of over INR 1.5 lakhs. After you learn how to become an RJ, you might wonder about how the salary can differ according to various roles. 

Following are the salary for various roles an RJ can take up with experience: 

Scope of RJ in India:

In India alone, there are over 360 radio stations and there is always a rising need for Radio Jockeys. RJs play a crucial role in creating awareness about social issues around us. Most RJs start their career by volunteering in small radio stations or by doing internships after graduating from the best colleges for radio jockey in India. From there they can move to mainstream radio programs and finally to international talk shows. A Radio Jockey's creativity is considered to be in high demand by other professionals to create advertisements and entertainment based content and therefore, opportunities are escalating for them at a rapid rate. Hence, the importance of radios and Radio Jockeys is not going to perish any time soon. You can easily start young and since we have answered your question- How to become an RJ after 12th? Tune in and get into India's finest colleges soon.