RATV: A Program In Review

Three semesters, 45 weeks of mixed learning between online classes and heading back to campus following the COVID-19 measures being loosened at the end of February 2022. What a wild ride it has been going through the program here at NAIT. I’m never really sure if a blog can be written as a memoir/reflection in time… but I’m going to break that rule and put thought to paper with what this program has personally meant to me.

I was 28, laid off from working in the automotive industry as a casualty of COVID-19/personal matters and couldn’t find the love in what I was doing for work anymore; university was out the window due to the high costs and academics not being where they needed to be. So it was lots of researching and upgrading from high school classes, to what programs would fit someone with only one skill set. I was always someone who loved music from a young age and trying to make people laugh. Further digging showed me the NAIT RATV program and how it combined things I already had a passion for, plus it would show me things I had zero idea of behind the scenes of what you hear on the air.

Sure, online wasn’t ideal for anyone as people (myself included) would routinely wake up moments from class, turn the laptop on and sit through morning lectures which I give FULL credit to instructors for, as trying to engage a “class” first thing in the morning isn’t always the easiest thing one can do. This went on for half the semester before the glorious news of returning, allowing many of us to step onto a post-secondary institute’s grounds for the first time. Fast forward through 8 weeks of audio/video, writing, and performance basics… It was time for a well-earned summer break, where many of us found ourselves on street teams with various media platforms around the city.

September rolled around and collectively this was a ramping up, getting thrown in the on-air booth from the word go and learning the ropes as to what it took to run a show, and keep things technically tight. That also meant the production, writing and the introduction of newscasts would take a step up. Personally, it was overwhelming at first but getting a foot in the door of most classes did take some of the stresses off, but figuring out what you’re good at vs what will take extra work to improve on was the kicker here. I have strong writing skills, always have and I can find enough random content to make an engaging show, but audio production was my Achilles Heel and let me tell you, if you’re struggling with this, just the simple uttering of “Hey Albright, do you have a minute to go over this with me” will have him explaining it in a way where it all clicks…then, you’re free to make some killer audio!

This past semester has been nothing but an all out sprint to the finish. Audio took about six steps forward with my complexity. The performance and operation of how you run a show stepped up the intensity as it’s basically preparing you for the real world, sales and advertising prepared you for the real world, and preparing newscasts and interviewing people for air worthy material. This program has been nothing shy of enjoyable, and eye opening to what someone can do if they set their mind to it. We’re all off to our practicums, with many people starting in the first week of May. All I have left to say is, keep your ear on the dial and we’ll be talking soon
Colton Hoppe, signing off from NR92’s DJ Blogs for the last time.

Twitter: @thecoltonhoppe
Instagram: thecoltonhoppe

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