East FM puts Makoura on the air

RADIO STARS: Makoura College journalism students Sheldon Betteridge, 18, Aroha Witinitara, 15 and Aleisha Wadsworth, 17, enjoy preparing items for the school's new radio station, East FM.

Award-winning Makoura College now has a spot on the airwaves.

Adding to the college's list of milestones is its own student-run radio station, East FM, launched in Term 4 last year.

Loaded up with music for the discerning modern teenager, from Rihanna to Rudimental, East FM will feature youth-themed programmes, weather reports, local advertising, and latest news from the classroom.

The station was set up as a learning tool for Makoura's journalism programme, recently added to the curriculum.

When Midweek visited Makoura last week, the students were hard at work preparing items for East FM: writing commercials, practising reading announcements and recording ukulele music for an advertising jingle.

Teacher Andrew Hutchby said the station was the brainchild of former principal Tom Hullena, who wanted students to have opportunities for vocational training.

"Tom's vision was to provide experiences for students they might not otherwise have, and to get thinking about their careers.

"Going on the radio will be challenging, but if we can't challenge our young people, what's the point?"

Mr Hutchby, also Makoura's IT support technician, trained in radio broadcasting at the former Radio Training School in Wellington, and developed programmes for Radio Eketahuna.

He set up East FM, 88.1 on the dial, with assistance from Noel McGinnity, a senior technician with NZME Radio.

The name was chosen for the school's location on the East Side of Masterton.

"We wanted to talk up the East Side as a positive place to be," Mr Hutchby said.

"The motto, Feel the Beat, reflects the school's motto, Kia Manawanui, meaning to be of courageous heart.

"It's about being the heartbeat in the community."

The journalism students will learn a variety of skills for running a successful radio station such as voice overs, preparing bulletins and news scripts, conducting interviews, designing and recording advertisements and stings and how to conduct themselves appropriately on air.

Students will also design their own radio programmes, focusing on youth issues and other subjects of interest, and will be running a section for community notices.

"They'll be learning to express themselves by projecting their voices, which is important," Mr Hutchby said. "Students often have plenty to say, so they can let loose a bit.

"We will be teaching them about broadcasting standards and etiquette, however."

Students will also be learn basic journalistic skills -- understanding news stories and the role of the media, taking photos, social media engagement and presenting stories for publication.

Mr Hutchby hoped being on the radio would increase the young journalists' confidence.

"They're building their own personality. We want them to feel they can do what they set their minds to, and cope with new situations. It can be scary when you go on air, and you know you have to say something because everyone's listening."

If you wish to have community notices played on EastFM, email eastfm@mc.school.nz.