By Cameron Weston
PEOPLE around Melbourne can listen in as three local students learn the craft of media production live to air.
All you need is an FM radio.
Williamstown High School students Ellie Cameron-Krepp, Christian Hocking and Francis Tarpey-Brown, all in Year 10, have been hitting the airwaves as part of ‘The Awkward Stage’, a live-to-air training program run by youth community broadcaster SYN.
Ellie Cameron-Krepp said the opportunity to join the program arose after spending a week at the radio station on work experience.
She said everyone had connected with the practical course structure, where participants skipped the classroom and went straight into the studio.
“It’s like we have our own show but we are learning along the way. It’s very hands on.
“It is such a positive environment for young people to learn about the media. It’s very encouraging.”
The trio holds informal production meetings at school, where they plan shows based on the format of established SYN programs, and create original content to fill the hour-long weekly slot.
“We really loved getting to put out our own music and our views on things. This has given us the chance to voice our opinions and talk about the things we want to.
“There is a computer that SMS messages come through on and it’s such a fun thing to know that people are out there listening to you.”
As well as learning on-air techniques, the group has also had time to master panel operation, ensuring the product that comes out of the radio is tight, seamless and professional.
The group is now applying for a full-time show later in the year, after signing off on The Awkward Stage.
SYN education and training manager Adrian McMahon said The Awkward Stage had been a proven success since it was introduced in 2004.
He said as a youth-oriented station, SYN offered an experience not usually available to high school-age students.
“The under 18s would often get lost in the system. They tend to need a bit more guidance,” he said.
Mr McMahon said many of the students who came up through the 10-week program had moved into regular time slots and were now broadcasting their own shows.
Ellie, Chris and Francis can be heard on SYN 90.7 FM, every Sunday from noon to 1pm until 24 September.
“With this program, we can train students on the air, which allows them to experience the fun of making radio while seeing how it is all put together.”
Some have used the experience to launch a career in radio.
