Dear Presenters,
I hope this letter finds you in peace.
In case you are multi-talented, such that you can represent all departments in the media space: take for instance, you are a good reporter, researcher, you collate news and cast it effortlessly, you are the one who switches on the transmitter and probably shuts it down at the closing hour.
When it comes to presentation, oh my God! You are there to present all forms of programmes on radio. Whenever they need a driver you are accessible, even when editors, admin officers, are needed, you are always available. I congratulate you. It is an indication that you are ‘multi-talented’. In other words, some will say you can multi-task.
I do not know the reason you do all you do, perhaps to safe your job or prove to your boss that you are better than others. Whichever reason you have, come, I have a piece of advice for you.
You see, the world is too large for you to occupy, the media space is too vast that you cannot be everywhere.
In presentation, for instance, there are political, cultural, musical, presenters. Sports, news, medical, health, environmental, humanity, historical presentations are different areas, to mention but few. If you are poised to be in all fields, getting yourself to be an authority in the industry, becomes extremely impossible, this is because, no one recognises a presenter without a niche.
How do you present sport programme in the morning and later you turn to entertainment voice in the evening? The next day, you want to tell ‘Iriri-aye’ and start competing with the likes of ….. think about it. You see? E no go work.
Honestly, it is not bad if you have many talents, but the fact remains that you cannot be everything, in everywhere at the same time. The idea of over-do will only kill your recognition in the world. I have witnessed radio presenters who have taken to news, they function well in that department as editors and news casters.
Therefore, hearing their voices alone suggests it is news o’clock. I have some friends who are into political presentations, current affairs, sport, humanity, agriculture, health, movies, entertainment and so on.
No one runs a race facing different directions at the same time; you will just be like the popular Jack of all trades, master of none. When next you get a job in any radio or TV station, find your lane; get a niche you can develop. Nothing is new in the media really, contents are many, but you can watch others, listen to how they do things, come up with something different from what they have been doing and be good at it.
In case your talent is to steal other people’s contents and rebrand them using another title, you cannot be at your best. You see, just like you cannot know more about a child better than the parents, likewise, you cannot beat an originator of a content by rebranding his programme idea.
It is high time you started getting serious with your career and stop jumping from a content to the next, master one and be a voice in that field. Otherwise, it may limit you and block certain opportunities in the future.
Sincerely,
Dr. Eyitayo Folorunso
Diamond FM, University of Ibadan