Embrace the rules and be creative, says radio expert to Curtin media students

Miri – 1 September 2022 – With increased competition in media and entertainment as the country heads towards a post-COVID recovery, the services of the broadcasting industry and a good understanding of how it works is now more important than ever.

This was imparted at a hybrid seminar for 35 media students and lecturers of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) with MY Radio content manager William Yap recently.

The 90-minute ‘Turn on MY Radio’ seminar was part of an ongoing webinar series hosted by the Department of Media and Communication at Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences in collaboration with industry.

Speaking to the students and lecturers online from MY Radio in Kuala Lumpur, Yap said it was important for young people to be passionate about what they do and to always work within the rules if they want to venture into the radio industry in Malaysia.

“If you work in commercial radio, you need to respect the hierarchy, learn your responsibilities as a media person, follow the government rules, and understand the expectations of your clients,” he said.

Yap said that with the changing times, radio stations are integrating their content to fit multiple platforms, including using live streaming applications, and also applying 360-degree solutions comprising on-air, digital, on-ground and talent initiatives to increase their listenership.

“We want our audience to be able to see, touch, hear, and communicate with us,” he said, adding that MY Radio has a fan club which it actively engages with, such as getting the fans to rate their favourite songs to be aired on the station fortnightly.

Yap also debunked speculation that radio lost its popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as less cars on the road meant less people listening while driving, saying that on the contrary, a survey conducted by the GfK group showed that radio reached up to 96 per cent of Malaysians living in Peninsular Malaysia last year.

“The pandemic did not stop people from listening to radio. They continued to tune in using different devices such as radios, televisions, mobile phones, computers and tablets from home,” he said.

Department of Media and Communication Programme Coordinator Dr. Ngu Ik Ying said the seminar provided the students valuable insights into the challenges faced by the broadcasting industry. They also learned how radio content production, distribution and consumption has been transformed in recent years.

In thanking Yap for his contribution to the students’ learning, Dr. Ngu said the Department of Media and Communication is always looking to collaborate with industry players to provide its students real-life practical learning and nurture work-ready graduates.

One of the students, communications student Goh Guang Ao, said he was very impressed by Yap’s sound knowledge of the latest social trends and social media platforms that young people use.

“I always thought working in radio meant being just deejays or announcers, but now I realise you can also contribute as a content creator or planner, marketer, or corporate relations executive. It’s a very fascinating industry to be in,” said Goh, who is majoring in journalism and public relations.

Curtin Malaysia offers Curtin’s three-year Bachelor of Communications which helps students develop skills and knowledge in two or more related fields of study at the intersection of media, business, design and new communications technologies.

It offers contextual study of the history, theory, ethics and criticism of the various practices, institutions and discourses in media, communication and information. Fundamental skills and knowledge for work in the corporate media and information field is provided with considerable breadth of expertise.

The course is technology-centred and gives students real opportunities to work with commercial-level equipment and produce real work for print, film and television. It also provides ample opportunities for practical learning and exposure to industry practices to help students build their portfolio of work experience and engage with industry professionals.

Currently, students have a choice of five specialisations in the Bachelor of Communications, namely, Corporate Screen Communication, Journalism, Web Media, Marketing and Public Relations.

Graduates of the course can find employment in a wide range of industries as public relations officers, market researchers, journalists, advertising account executives, communications officers, filmmakers, cinematographers, producers, editors, video editors, scriptwriters, Internet analysts, online marketers, digital content creators, marketing officers, web designers/developers, and more.

For more information on the Bachelor of Communications, go to https://courses.curtin.edu.my/courses-and-study/undergraduate/humanities-health-sciences/communications/.

Information on Curtin Malaysia can be found on its website at www.curtin.edu.my, or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or Tik-Tok.

Seminar participants posing for photo with Dr Ngu (5th right, third row) and speaker William Yap on screen in the background.

Participants interacting with Yap during the hybrid seminar.