The View From Here – World College Radio Day

Want to hear a story about the early days of radio?

Well, I can’t go too far back.  My kids might think I’m old, but I wasn’t here when it was invented or anything.  (smile).  But I discovered that today is World College Radio Day.  The training ground for all us radio disc jockeys was likely a college radio station somewhere.  Where we made mistakes.  Learned the trade.  The do’s and don’ts.  And quickly discovered whether we had what it takes to actually get a job in the real world.

I am a graduate of the Radio, Television and Journalism program (RTJ) from Lambton College.  Go Lions.   A program that was phased out many years ago unfortunately.

Radio has changed a LOT since those early days for me.  We don’t need to mention dates because with my birthday next week I’m already feeling all my years. (smile)

I grew up with a love of music.  The radio was always on in our house and in the car.  As kids we were given stern instructions to never EVER touch the radio dial in the car.  Especially with my mom.  She had her station and we didn’t even think of changing it.  Funny enough, one of the stations she loved to listen to after we moved to Thedford – was the very station I got my first full time job at.  That’s weird, right?

I have no idea how I got here.  After high school, when you’re given the daunting task of trying to figure out the rest of your life and what you want to be when you grow up (smile) I picked three different courses.  Each very different.  But the RTJ program was the one I was drawn to.  Despite being the shyest kid on the planet at the time.  I think it was the music that drew me in.

Music is so powerful.  It can leave such an impact on your life.  And depending on your age and your mood – it changes.

CJLC.  That was the call letters of the college radio station at Lambton.  It was a small booth in the basement of Lambton College.  With a microphone, a small board, a few turntables for the records we got to play, and a rack of what looked like 8-track tapes.  I remember a whole learning section on how to cue a record.  A little back and forth with the record.  It was an art in itself.  You didn’t want the song to start in silence and you sure didn’t want to start halfway through one of the lyrics.  Those carts had to be cued in time for the next one to play.  It was NERVE WRACKING for sure.    

Radio was only a part of the course, but it was my favourite part.  John Murray was the teacher and he taught us so well.  He led with enthusiasm, passion and he put his heart and soul into everything he taught and everyone of his students.  His teaching has made a lasting impact.

We learned the history of radio and we learned the basics of operating a radio station.  Creating an original playlist, picking your favourite songs and writing a “prep sheet” of what you would talk about.  Oh my goodness it was so terrifying those first few broadcasts.  Even if the speakers only made it as far as the cafeteria.  (ha ha ha).

I loved it and I developed a love for the music even more and the artists behind it.  I still love that part of my job.  30 plus years later.

So thankful for those early days that taught me what radio was all about.  For the people in my class and especially for my teachers that gave me the motivation and encouragement to keep going in a career I never ever imagined I would be in.  Especially 30 years later.

It’s certainly changed a lot.  Everything is digital now.  No more carts or record players in the studio.  We don’t even have paper logs like we used to.

But no matter how much things change, I will always remember those first days of college radio.  Pushing through fears and doubts.  Never realizing or believing I would still be here 30 years later.

To all my fellow college radio grads – congratulations.  Today we celebrate the years gone by, the things we learned, the people, the teachers and we remember it all.

And for all of us who love radio – it probably started in a classroom somewhere or a college station.

Categorised in: Afternoons

This post was written by Carrie Buchanan