Crossing Over
As an Advertising major in the copywriting track, I didn’t expect to get a lot of firsthand experience interning at a radio station. Sure, the radio is pretty much run by advertisements, but from the job description I received when I applied for the job, I would have nothing to do with that. Boy, was I wrong. In my experience working for the midday host, Casey, at Wired 96.5 (Philly’s Party Station), I have gained so many tools to carry with me in my pursuit for a career in advertising.
To backtrack a little bit, let me give you an overview of the daily grind. From the, beginning I was convinced that we would just be sitting on Facebook and gossip news sites while answering phones, but that’s not even half of it. As an intern, it is my job to act as an extension of Casey. This could be anywhere from making a presence on Wired’s social media pages to assisting with the actual production of the show. Every day is different and it has been a constant learning experience, even with just a few weeks of the semester left. On the average day we:
-Post daily prizes on Twitter.
-Update social media hourly with:
- Entertainment
- Current Events
- Promotional events
-Download relevant audio clips
-Recording and editing audio
-Write blog content
Everyday is different at Wired and we are constantly learning how to address new tasks. Needless to say, I’ve learned a lot about the art of radio and what goes on off-air.
So how does this all apply to advertising?
On the most basic level, we get to organize “stop sets,” or commercial breaks in a way that will keep the current listeners with us until content resumes. This allows us to see the crucial role advertising plays first hand.
Also, the promotions department leaves something called a “liner” sheet for the DJs. It is part of the DJ’s job to create their own promotional material for advertisers using key points and information on the sheet. Recently, the station signed a deal to endorse the iPhone 5 for a series of one minute spots. These spots are meant to sound candid and not so much like a commercial. I get to be a part of this process of coming up with content before recording, and sometimes, I even get to talk on-air myself. This has taught me a lot about the creative process and how to come up with a good idea in a fast paced environment, as well has how to deliver it.
As a future copywriter, I can expect to be writing a lot of radio spots. This internship has taught me many other essential things, including:
-Working with talent
-Several different audio programs
-What good material is vs. bad material,
-Becoming familiar with a recording studio
Even though it isn’t advertising per se, the things I’ve learned behind the scenes at Wired will help me in any creative endeavor.
