JOY BLOG

25 Jun 2024

Diary of a Work Experience Student: Jack

JOY has been pleased to have Jack join us as our work experience student this past week. Passionate about music, Jack spent his week ably joining our on-air teams, even working up the courage to operate the panel!
On his last day in the office, he shares his memories of the week.

My work experience at JOY was a week filled with exciting, refreshing and new opportunities and ideas into not only the world of JOY but the world of radio as a whole.

Straight into my first day, I was taken under the wing of JOY’s lovely and incredibly kind staff and was shown the ropes and basics of what each piece plays in the puzzle of running a radio station. Sitting in on a Huddle allowed me access to the planning and process of the week, this week ending in JOY’s Radiothon Party, hosted at the Victorian Pride Centre. After the meeting, I was given a more in depth run through of the many different jobs that makeup JOY, ranging from General Admin and Social Media Curating to the distribution and equality of funds to provide a balanced amount of support into every part of JOY. After reading through the official JOY introduction manual, in which I was ran through the History, the ins and outs of JOY, the process of a show being accepted into JOY’s output and more, I had one on one chats with most of JOY’s staff to learn just that bit more about their individual, respected jobs. Talking with Damian introduced me to the digital (and physical) aspect to JOY, learning of the computers that power the station, the panels presenters use to power and present their own shows and even the system settings of which power the ON AIR functionality. Concluding my final day was the introduction and settlement of a project to complete throughout the week, upon which I decided to go through the process of pitching my own show. Upon this decision, I was invited to join Dean the next morning for JOY Breakfast.

My second morning was an early start which, surprisingly, I was able to function through! At around 7 o’clock, I joined Dean in Studio B to sit in on his morning show. Although I was originally TERRIFIED for my first time sitting on air, I slowly warmed and built up the confidence surrounding speaking on live radio. Discussing a range of important topics, the chicken nugget shortage in VIC and SA along with ‘Toddler Jam’, a children’s music service created to encourage them to listen and, *hopefully* enjoy the music of an older generation. Sitting in on this was great fun and I was encouraged to sit in on not only the 9AM to 12 PM Show with Soupy but Dean’s next show the following morning. Fairly chuffed with myself, I sat in on the next broadcast with Soupy, discussing topics such as football, The Beatles and a range of others. Even from the 2 different broadcasters I sat with, I could tell the different ways people run their shows, the different topics discussed and ideas presented, that not one same presenter is the same. Due to my early start (7AM!!!), I was able to leave at around 1 o’clock, concluding my second day under work wxperience at JOY.

Day Three had a similar beginning to my second at JOY. I sat down with Dean yet again along with co-host, Mama Mish, where we discussed a variety of, yet again, important topics. This time they revolved around the ABBA Museum’s ABBA CHOIR’s tour of Australia and setting up Dean’s “Dating” Profile. Another morning of fun and festivities, after which I began the pitch for my show, my project of the week. I developed an idea for a project called “All The Young Dudes” (David Bowie/Mott The Hoople), a show in which youth would ask youth questions. The idea behind this would be so kids could be given an answer from someone LIVING through the same thoughts as them, not an immensely older peer who only remembers these topics through rose tinted glasses. A different “co-host” or guest would be present every week as to increase the inclusivity and the differentiality between episodes. Co-hosts or guests would curate a playlist as to keep it a “radio station”. That afternoon, I sat down with Damo to help with the lunch time broadcast. His seemed to bounce his questions more, having a more “diverse” conversation approach instead of a set, line by line, approach to his show. My part on it was rather the same until he spoke the dreaded words “Have you tried sitting at the panel yet?” upon which I was placed, seemingly with the fate of the station at my hands, to control the panel. In what started off as a rough, sketchy breakthrough of how to use it, I became comfortable with the desk, (being able to hit the button exclaiming “JOY, JOY, JOY!”), and learning to apply and feel comfortable with the panel. Before I knew it, Damo’s show was over and I was set up with Adz to sit in on the first hour of his radio show. A more hectic time around, Adz seemed to have less of a script, instead enjoying the more sporadic, free flowing feel to his show, something I too greatly enjoyed. After talking about our dream locations to live, my time was up and I was due to go home and get a good sleep in!

My fourth day was a quiet and much later start, due to my participation of the afternoon show JOY Drive. Coming in for an 11 o’clock start was something I welcomed gracefully, enjoying the slight sleep in to the biggest degree. With the JOY Radiothon Party, on the edge of happening the feeling in the office had an undeniable buzz with everyone running around to make the party an absolute success! Instead of sitting in on a broadcast, I helped with jobs to help set up for the party (which was just as fun!). The energy present in the office kept me motivated and excited for the forthcoming day, allowing me to not only complete successfully but speed through these tasks as to take on more. After much heated discussion (figuring out how to power a mirror ball as to make it spin) I began helping with the selection for photos and videos to play on a screen behind the main JOY Radiothon Party to show how amazing this workplace really truly is! Following that, I was given a job of reading the weather on the 4 o’clock news segment of JOY Drive. Although originally, a role like this would’ve frightened the daylights out of me, after the experience I had with being on air I KNEW I’d be able to not only read those temperatures, I’d OWN those temperatures. After meeting GW, I was given my basic script and was able to figure out when and how to riff off my lines and before too long, I was confident (maybe too confident). Working through these brought me to a level of reading certain headlines and from there, headlines AND the weather. JOY Drive took me towards the end of my day, prepped and ready for my last in the office.

On my final morning at JOY, I was set in for a quiet early start. The buzzing attitude of the day prior was set in stone as everyone’s vibe was off the charts due to the JOY Radiothon Party.

Participating in work experience at JOY was an experience I would highly recommend and wouldn’t trade it for the world. I became aware of how a radio station ACTUALLY functions and that its not as simple as “Hit a button and speak” with so many pieces fitting in to the ultimate puzzle of JOY. It helped me to understand the functionality of community radio, the importance of volunteer work and the fact that work is not debated by how much money you are paid for the ultimate job you finish, but by the effort and purpose you place into your work. My work at JOY showed me that radio is not always those looking to make a quick dollar or for those to have a job but for radio to be a place of inspiration and purpose by allowing those who care to passionately express their opinions and ideas in a free, open space encouraged by the staff and volunteers around. JOY Media to me is not simply a service for radio or podcasts but a community who build themselves on the ideas and thoughts presented by individuals alike. JOY is a fantastic place for listeners, presenters, allies and relatives alike. My time doing work experience with JOY is not a moment I could ever forget. I’m forever grateful for the people met, skills gained and knowledge learnt throughout my week and I would recommend JOY as a brilliant place for those looking to partake in work experience as a wide range of fundamental and lifelong skills are learnt, people and connections are made and the places reached will stay with you no matter what you do. Whether you’re interested in community radio, journalism, public speaking and writing or simply have no clue at all, JOY is a place that I strongly believe EVERYONE should have the chance to visit.