Guelph-Humber vs. Humber: how does radio measure up?
Students at the University of Guelph-Humber may need a little extra help if they plan to pursue a career in radio.
Radio is not a stream students can choose at the university.
When turning to look at Humber College, there is a three-year radio-journalism program, which makes Guelph-Humber’s approach seems limited.
Especially since Humber students are exposed to radio in their second year and are responsible for creating newscasts daily and developing skills with professional software.
Heather Goode is a professor at both institutions. She noted that there’s only one radio course for GH students who choose the journalism stream.
“The difference is that Humber students get exposed to it sooner, and they do more of it,” Goode said.
University of Guelph-Humber media studies program head Jerry Chomyn said that GH students develop stronger writing skills by creating original journalism.
“I would argue that you’re getting better experience,” Chomyn said.
In his previous role at Humber, Chomyn played a large part in getting a license from the CRTC for the college.
Third-year Guelph-Humber media studies student Nia Lee said that she’s interested in pursuing a career in radio, and has started off with a small podcast at the school.
“It would be great if we worked closer with Humber and could use Humber radio that way; we have GUHU but the focus at our school is less on radio,” said Lee.
Goode proposed the idea of the university having an Internet radio station to help Guelph-Humber students be responsible for content and putting up live broadcasts.
Guelph-Humber has invested in future development, said Chomyn, purchasing equipment that gives students the ability to be mobile and record from various places in the school.
While the fight for equipment at the Guelph-Humber media cage is a challenge, Humber College students may have to fight a little harder for their tech.
Goode said that her Humber students had less access to recorders and often had to use their phones for recording purposes.
While Guelph-Humber may have less equipment, said Goode, a smaller school means less competition for it.
Both Goode and Chomyn agree that Guelph-Humber students who want to pursue a career in radio may want to look in to Humber’s one-year radio program for graduates to earn a diploma in that specific field.
“I have considered taking the graduate radio course at Humber, that way it’s more of a specialty because we don’t have the chance to specialize in radio here,” said Lee.
Although Guelph-Humber students may have less opportunity to practice with radio equipment, Goode said, it doesn’t mean that they can’t secure jobs in the industry.
“ I know students who come out of this program and go right into it,” said Goode, “It all depends on how hard they’re willing to work.”
Goode added that Guelph-Humber students who want to be a part of the radio industry can pursue an internship with a radio company to gain more experience.
About the Author
Michelle Bedley Is a journalism student, avid reader and aspiring editorial writer.
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