Tim Johns is currently a Producer and Reporter on the Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2. Previously, he worked in local radio as a Broadcast Journalist. At BBC Radio Humberside, he produced the Breakfast Show and at Radio Lincolnshire he was a reporter, the Station Sound Producer, producer and presenter of the local BBC Introducing show and cover-presenter of the news/speech-based Drivetime programme.
Johns also has a great website http://www.timjohns.org which is updated regularly. It gives excellent insights on current radio production news, helpful advice, a nail biting piece on when Johns had to present the Jeremy Vine Show, Henry Ferster, an Auschwitz survivor documentary, a hilarious piece on ‘The amazing story of the the roller coaster, the dead deer, the student journalist and Radio 2’, and more! First impressions last. Here is a listing of what Johns has to say. Common sense prevails but sometimes the obvious can be overlooked.
Don’t be useless at making phone calls
If you’re asked to pick up the phone and book a guest, take a deep breath and go for it. You need to be charming and persuasive. It can be slightly daunting making this first phone call in an open-plan office but if you come across badly and the guest says “no” that’s not great.
Be nice
Take this one with you for life. It goes a long way. No-one in radio likes the person with the massive ego. Or the one who’s unfriendly or bossy. Just…be nice.
Sitting in on a show? Turn your phone off
Well, ok, you can keep it on but put it in your pocket and leave it there. Sure – take a photo. Send a tweet. If the programme needs some urgent fact-finding done get on the Google. But as much as you can, put it away and give your absolute undivided attention to the programme you’re there to watch.
Offer to help
If you’ve been sitting around in the office for a while wondering what to do, ask people if you can help. If they’re clearly right up against it, maybe wait a while. But be pro-active. And if they say “not just now, thanks”, then don’t worry about it. At least you asked.
Make tea
Look – I thought about leaving this one out. It’s such a whopping cliché. BUT British broadcasting is fuelled by tea and coffee. It is VITAL. If it makes you feel better, I may be a Producer and reporter for Radio 2 but during our programme every day it is my job to make the tea! I somewhat enjoy it. You’re never too senior to make the tea, people are always grateful to be asked, and you can’t go wrong by asking. So do it.
Ask good questions at the right time
Every bit of this sentence is important. Ask good questions. It’s the easiest way to show you’re keen, engaged and interested. BUT – never ask a question for the sake of it. You need to be genuinely interested and inquisitive. If you are, your question will probably be good. You also need to ask them at the right time. Some people are unable to sense when everyone around them is chaotically busy and continue asking questions regardless. Hold fire until there’s a good moment.
Know the basics about the station you’re visiting
Basic basics, right? But people genuinely get this wrong. Research the radio station, presenters, and programmes.
Here’s a crucial thing…
Suppose you shadow on a programme you probably never want to work on. Perhaps you got an offer to come and visit; maybe you just love the industry and want to have a look at different radio stations. You still need to take it seriously. Do your research. Know about the station.
Good behaviour
I don’t mean be well behaved. I mean be good at what you do. Be good at making and understanding radio – following advice like the above isn’t enough. ‘Asking good questions’ won’t get you a job on its own. Putting your best link at the start of your demo won’t get you a presenting gig if your best link is a bit rubbish. Always keep practicing and improving. Find out what you’re good at. Follow that.
Johns also has a great website http://www.timjohns.org which is updated regularly. It gives excellent insights on current radio production news, helpful advice, a nail biting piece on when Johns had to present the Jeremy Vine Show, Henry Ferster, an Auschwitz survivor documentary, a hilarious piece on ‘The amazing story of the the roller coaster, the dead deer, the student journalist and Radio 2’, and more! First impressions last. Here is a listing of what Johns has to say. Common sense prevails but sometimes the obvious can be overlooked.
Don’t be useless at making phone calls
If you’re asked to pick up the phone and book a guest, take a deep breath and go for it. You need to be charming and persuasive. It can be slightly daunting making this first phone call in an open-plan office but if you come across badly and the guest says “no” that’s not great.
Be nice
Take this one with you for life. It goes a long way. No-one in radio likes the person with the massive ego. Or the one who’s unfriendly or bossy. Just…be nice.
Sitting in on a show? Turn your phone off
Well, ok, you can keep it on but put it in your pocket and leave it there. Sure – take a photo. Send a tweet. If the programme needs some urgent fact-finding done get on the Google. But as much as you can, put it away and give your absolute undivided attention to the programme you’re there to watch.
Offer to help
If you’ve been sitting around in the office for a while wondering what to do, ask people if you can help. If they’re clearly right up against it, maybe wait a while. But be pro-active. And if they say “not just now, thanks”, then don’t worry about it. At least you asked.
Make tea
Look – I thought about leaving this one out. It’s such a whopping cliché. BUT British broadcasting is fuelled by tea and coffee. It is VITAL. If it makes you feel better, I may be a Producer and reporter for Radio 2 but during our programme every day it is my job to make the tea! I somewhat enjoy it. You’re never too senior to make the tea, people are always grateful to be asked, and you can’t go wrong by asking. So do it.
Ask good questions at the right time
Every bit of this sentence is important. Ask good questions. It’s the easiest way to show you’re keen, engaged and interested. BUT – never ask a question for the sake of it. You need to be genuinely interested and inquisitive. If you are, your question will probably be good. You also need to ask them at the right time. Some people are unable to sense when everyone around them is chaotically busy and continue asking questions regardless. Hold fire until there’s a good moment.
Know the basics about the station you’re visiting
Basic basics, right? But people genuinely get this wrong. Research the radio station, presenters, and programmes.
Here’s a crucial thing…
Suppose you shadow on a programme you probably never want to work on. Perhaps you got an offer to come and visit; maybe you just love the industry and want to have a look at different radio stations. You still need to take it seriously. Do your research. Know about the station.
Good behaviour
I don’t mean be well behaved. I mean be good at what you do. Be good at making and understanding radio – following advice like the above isn’t enough. ‘Asking good questions’ won’t get you a job on its own. Putting your best link at the start of your demo won’t get you a presenting gig if your best link is a bit rubbish. Always keep practicing and improving. Find out what you’re good at. Follow that.
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