Anyone who has ever listened to the radio in a car has most likely heard an on-air personality. These announcers are also referred to as deejays or DJs, which implies that they are also in charge of playing music. Reading text from a script, delivering news reports, reading station identifications, and, in some cases, conversing with guests or other radio hosts are all part of an on-air personality’s job description. This person must be able to read from a script quickly, clearly, and accurately, and have a strong voice free of regional dialects.
Some of an on-air personality’s specific job responsibilities may differ depending on the type of radio station for which he or she works. Some of these personalities will host talk shows in which guests will be interviewed or various topics will be discussed, while others may not have a specific topic to discuss. Instead, he or she will frequently deliver general information or stories that are timely and relevant to a broad audience. Other people may be in charge of playing music or providing other content.
Researching the various topics to be covered or guests to be interviewed is one of the main responsibilities of the on-air personality. It’s critical that the host has a thorough understanding of the topics being discussed so that he or she can ask pertinent questions or contribute interesting and insightful commentary. The on-air personality should have interviewing skills and experience, and he or she should maintain as much objectivity as possible throughout all discussions. The host’s job is to moderate the conversation, not to provide editorial commentary, though that is sometimes exactly what the personality is hired to do.
To become an on-air personality, no specific level of education is required, though most will have at least a high school diploma as well as some formal classroom training. Broadcasting schools provide coursework that prepares students for a career as a radio personality, though with the right combination of talent and experience, such a school may not be necessary. A job candidate with strong conversational skills, a clear, powerful speaking voice, and a thorough understanding of the radio industry will have an advantage over the competition. The personality may begin his or her career as an assistant or co-host and work his or her way up.