Live on air.
What sparked your interest in the radio industry?
I was always interested in the media but my entry into the radio world was purely accidental. I had come to visit a friend who worked in radio and she randomly asked me to give an audition and the rest, as they say, is history.
What is the most important thing to keep in mind before recording for a show?
The current mood of the listeners and the content/theme of the show are very important.
How has Pakistani radio changed over the past years?
At the time of Radio Pakistan, everything was larger than life with a single theme track. Listeners couldn’t relate to the broadcasters. That has its own charm, yes, but with the advent of FM channels, RJs became more real for the listeners. Then, the past few years saw social media take over. Now, we RJs have faces instead of just voices. The reach is also larger now because of online radio streaming. But this is just the beginning!
You have a steady career as a radio jockey so what made you enter into television as an anchor?
I wanted to try my hand at television as well. The PTV World show offer caught my attention. The theme, tone and target audience of the show was something within my comfort zone and I immediately said yes. Nonetheless, I will never leave my roots and continue to work on radio as long as I can.
What is the hardest part about working in the industry?
The thing about working in the media side is that everything you do becomes a public affair so you have to be careful about your personal beliefs and private life. Secondly, your fans tend to brand you in a specific way, should something they don’t agree with appear in the limelight. Also, you must always be aware of what’s going on around you otherwise you lag behind.
What do you think about the new talent coming into the media?
I feel that most of the youngsters are lacking a dedication to their cause, professionalism and humbleness. Most of them are careless, unprofessional and only aspire to become famous. But if talent is combined with professionalism, modesty and good manners, the sky is the limit for our talented new generation!
Any advice to young women aspiring to become RJs?
Don’t expect everything handed over to you on a silver plate. If you want to be an RJ, you must know your aptitude and do research.
Sophiya Anjam
Radio jockey and TV host
Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, July 5th, 2015.
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