Where will you find your next highly skilled and trained entrylevelemployees? Chances are they’ll come from one of Canada’s leading broadcast education institutions. Almost two-dozen provincially-funded post-secondary institutions across the country offer training in radio, television, broadcast journalism, new media, and animation. Hundreds of graduates enter the industry every year to meet the demand for new employees, trained in the arts and crafts of broadcasting.
Ryerson began the first such broadcast training program in 1948. The British Columbia Institute of Technology offered the second beginning in 1964. In the late ’60s and early ’70s, a number of provincial colleges began offering these courses, and names such as Humber, Seneca, NAIT, SAIT, Conestoga, Loyalist, Confederation, Fanshawe, Algonquin and Mount Royal and many more—were heard as broadcast folks talked about where they began their careers.The list of institutions offering this training grew dramatically and today, 22 institutions hold membership in the BEAC—the Broadcast Educators Association of Canada— which represents Canadian broadcast education. In addition to these, several universities offer degree programs in communications and other media-related disciplines.
Typical training in BEAC-member institutions is focused on the practical application of theory. From the get-go, most broadcast students in Canada are learning in purpose-designed facilities with the same broadcast equipment found in the industry. As one broadcaster said, “It used to be a huge leap from the street to working in a broadcast operation—nowadays it’s just a quick side-step.” Most broadcast educators tell their students the learning really starts when they get that first job in the industry and, of course, that’s the way it should be. While broadcast training programs provide very real experiences, they can go only so far in addressing the reality of daily life in a broadcast environment. Deadlines and pressures can be simulated, but the learning that happens once a student enters their first job is immense. That said, they’re equipped to learn more! Most are ready to go to work on day one and, as any seasoned broadcaster knows, the learning never stops. BEAC member institutions are very close to the industry. Typical faculty members bring a great deal of broadcast industry experience to their positions and many bring academic backgrounds as well, but it’s that real life experience that gives them the credentials their students expect.
Most programs bring local and national broadcast industry people in as guest lecturers, and each has a Program Advisory Committee comprised of practicing broadcasters that ensures curriculum is current and meets the needs of industry. BEAC membership brings with it involvement in national activities, representation to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and CRTC regarding education priorities and issues, and the opportunity for participation in an annual professional development conference. The latter event brings together faculty members from across the country as they learn from industry pros and each other about best practices for broadcast training that they can take home to their own programs.
During their training, students are exposed early on to equipment, gaining practical skills on a wide variety of gear they’ll be working on in industry. A mix of theory and immediate practical application is common, starting slowly but building quickly to the speed and volume expectations of the industry. Many programs have studentrun radio stations and video productions that are available on local cable operations, so their work is judged not only by faculty members but by the public as well. Many students participate in industry rotations where they spend time in local broadcast industry operations, observing and participating in the day-to-day activities there and applying their training in real-life situations.
Programs across the country are over-subscribed, so they’re able to bring in new students who have the best potential for success upon graduation. On the other end of the typical two- or three-year training program, placement rates are high. Most programs report that approximately 80% or more of their grads find career opportunities in the industry within a few months of leaving school.
They’re on the air or writing or producing or selling or reporting in radio and television stations of all sizes. They’re producing, shooting, editing, creating websites and animating productions in audio and video production operations, film, new media companies and animation houses. And wherever they go they’re prepared to advance rapidly, given the breadth of their training. Some grads find themselves in management positions within a relatively short time after graduation. Typical grads rave about the training they received in their home institution. A strong work ethic, high standards and a drive to succeed have been inculcated in them from their earliest days. Many come back as guest lecturers to tell students what they found the industry to be like when they started, and how their training helped them along the way.
Industry support for training programs is solid, from station personnel involvement in program operations to scholarship and award donations that recognize the excellent work done by students as their competence grows. Challenges abound. Capital needs are high on the list of priorities for program administrators, and the looming change to HD for the Canadian television industry means training programs need to make that change, too, and the dollars involved are daunting. Programs are embracing creative ways to bring in that training across the country.
And as the Boomers in the broadcast industry begin to retire, the question looms, “Will we be able to meet the replacement demand?” But challenges present opportunities as well, and programs embrace them enthusiastically. Back in the day, starting in broadcasting off the street was common. Today, that’s much less so. Broadcasters know their local school can provide trained and capable people, with the right combination of skills, work ethic and attitude to meet their requirements for new hires. Many of today’s broadcasters got their own start in the “hallowed halls” of one of Canada’s training institutions, and they know what they can expect from their new employees. It’s a system that works, and works well.
Brian Antonson is Associate Dean, Broadcast and Media Communications, British Columbia Institute of Technology. He may be reached by e-mail at brian_antonson@bcit.ca.
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