The development and use of computer and information systems in the world today has led to improvements and enhancements in many careers. One of the careers that have been affected positively is the radio presentation career. Radio presentation is a career that has seen many changes with the developments in the computer and information systems. The radio career is thought by many to be an easy job that anyone can manage. However, this is not the case. The radio career requires serious training, passion and skills to manage the different challenges that come along in communication and media industry.
Between the 1950s and the 1980s, a career in radio was a lucrative one but it did come along with so many challenges. During that time, the level of technology was low compared to the situation today. Radio presenters had to be extremely careful and accurate to manage to attract the listeners and still do a nice job in the studio. During that time, the radio stations did not have access to information systems and computers. However in the turn of the century, the full adoption of the use of computers and information systems has drastically changed the radio career into a more lucrative, interesting and is done efficiently.
Computers and information systems use has led to the accessibility of radio transmissions in many places. Computers and information systems have helped enhance the transmission of radio waves to many places and more listeners have access to radio services. Therefore, radio presenters can now reach out to a larger audience in different countries. This is possible through the use of computers by listeners to stream and listen to live radio online. For instance, an individual can now listen to a Los Angeles radio station when he is in Dubai by streaming it. Therefore, radio presenters now have to adjust and adopt a national or even an international outlook in their presentation because they have listeners all over the world.
A career in radio presenting is now more comfortable than it was in the pre-computer and information system era. Currently, presenters can interact with their listeners when they are on air. Today, radio presenters interact with listeners through social networks like twitter and Facebook. Furthermore, they can go through computerized text message systems and phone calls from listeners. This is important because it helps the presenters know the listener’s opinions and feeling about the show and topics of discussion.
The radio career is not only for news but also entertainment. The use of computer and information systems has enhanced the entertainment aspect of radio. With the use of technology, presenters can now edit songs and censor explicit songs while at the same time playing the latest and best music for the listeners. The listeners can also now request for songs of their own choice hence making the work of radio presenters easy. Before computers and information systems, presenters had difficult times to entertain the public. Today, the quality of music has been improved using technology and songs can be edited to suit the public appeal. Songs can now be played continuously without breaks.
With the introduction of information systems and computers, the radio presenting career has been improved drastically. Initially, news readers on the radio read news from hard copy material like hand written or typed scripts. This was tedious and always led to confusion because of typing errors. However, with computers and information systems, working conditions are now more comfortable. News readers can now read news from macbooks and other software devices that help enhance news presentation.
Radio presenters are nowadays more resourceful individuals because of information systems and computers. With technology such as street view cameras, radio presenters can now use these information systems to inform the public about traffic in cities and about other important updates that may help the public in their day to day activities. More so, presenters can now use the internet to access important information that will educate the public. Some presenters hold awareness programs such as health, social and political programs where they use online information to educate the public.
Radio workers can now use information systems to access latest news to report. Journalists all over the country or the world can now mail their latest news to the radio stations which will then be reported immediately hence enhancing radio efficiency. Not only journalists can now give information to radio stations. Radio stations have forums and numbers where listeners can call in and give information on things like traffic updates, latest breaking news hence making the radio career an interactive and easy to manage.
However, computers and technologies have also resulted in negative impacts of working in the radio industry. The radio presenters and editors have to be careful not to go against the media rules. Therefore news, songs and every other detail that is to be put on air has to be scrutinized and edited to suit the public. Furthermore, radio presenters face difficulties in handling the overwhelming responses from listeners because they cannot respond to every listener. Some listeners also become offensive hence demoralizing presenters. Despite that, the use of computer and information systems has drastically improved the career in the radio industry.
Works Cited
Keith, Michael C. The Radio Station: Broadcast, Satellite and Internet. 8, illustrated. New York: Focal Press, 2009.
Turow, Joseph. Media Today: An Introduction to Mass Communication. 4. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2011.
