Career Stories

Interested in a career in broadcasting? Check out Jolene's career journey

Jolene James, Operations Manager/Breakfast Host/Local News, Mediaworks Tauranga

What did you want to be when you were 16?
A journalist or TV host.

What did you end up doing when you left school?
Working part-time as an announcer at the local radio station and learning on the job.

Describe a day in your life at work:
Arriving at 6.45am I'm on-air on 95.8 Tauranga's Breeze on the local breakfast show till 9am, delivering a mix of local, topical and relatable content. Once I'm off air there's lots to do out in the office including planning for the next day's show, meetings, overseeing the smooth operation of our radio stations, organising upcoming promotions and much more.

Why do you love your job/career?
My job gives me the chance to be creative and have fun while I connect with all sorts of different people in the community. I work with a great team of people and really enjoy meeting clients and listeners. Working in radio on a local breakfast show gives you the opportunity to really connect with people and make a bit of a difference to their day.

How did you get into your career?
I heard an ad on the new local radio station (Energy FM) saying they were looking for part-time announcers to add to their team. I was fresh out of college and about to go to university but I thought "that would be fun, I can do that!" and the rest is history.

What qualifications did you study?
Luckily I got into radio at a time where there were more opportunities to learn and be trained on the job so I had no need to do any tertiary study.

Do you have any advice for getting into your sector?
Observe as many broadcasters as you can, really think about what they're talking about and doing. Use any opportunity you get to prove you're enthusiastic, diligent and reliable.

What do you wish you had done differently?
Pushed harder in my early days for opportunities I really wanted.

What would you say to your teenage self about defining your future?
Stay open-minded.