Back in 1995, Kevin Otero took a class about radio that was offered by KANW-FM/Albuquerque. Otero tells Radio Ink that class helped him get to where he is today: Otero is now the Program Director at the station. The class is an eight-week free course covering everything from FCC rules to music formats to speaking on the air. We reached out to Otero to get more details about why KANW continues to offer this class.
Radio Ink: When did this class begin?
Kevin Otero: The class began in the fall of 1972 and has continued each spring and fall since. As a high school senior, I took the class in the spring of 1995. I began assisting with the teaching of the class in 1998 and took over full-time in 2002, when I was hired as Program Director. Over the years, some of the classes were not held due to scheduling conflicts and during renovation to the KANW facility during 2013-2015.
Radio Ink: Why does the station have this class?
Kevin Otero: KANW is a noncommercial, educational FM owned by the Albuquerque Public School district. The class began as an educational opportunity for high school students to learn about the radio broadcast industry. Registration eventually grew to include the general public as well as high school students. The class also serves as a beginning training course for prospective volunteer announcers with little or no broadcast experience.
Radio Ink: Tell us exactly what it’s about.
Kevin Otero: The class is an eight-week (four hours per week) introduction to the programming aspects of radio broadcasting. More specifically, the class focuses on learning the skills an on-air announcer needs. The class covers programming formats/strategies, FCC rules and regulations, commercial and noncommercial educational radio, broadcast equipment, basic transmission systems, the Emergency Alert System, and broadcast voice techniques. Students are taught through lecture and hands-on training with KANW’s broadcast equipment. The syllabus can be found here.
Radio Ink: How many kids do you train every month or year?
Kevin Otero: Class is held each spring and fall, with an average class size around 15 students. Of those students, generally around five are high school students and the rest are made up from the general public. Annually, about 10 high school students are trained in KANW’s Radio Broadcasting Class.
Radio Ink: Where do they come from?
Kevin Otero: High school students come from any and all of the high schools and charter schools in Albuquerque. The majority of the other students come from all walks of life and are usually college students, working class, or retirees looking for a new educational experience or potential hobby. More recently, many students interested in podcasting have taken the course.
Radio Ink: Have any of the kids gone on to take jobs in radio?
Kevin Otero: Many of the students who took the class in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s (including myself) have gone on to successful careers in radio, including Chaz Malibu, John Candelaria, Jerry Hardin, Jan Black, Joe Muench, Renee Washington, Katy Cole, Eric Garcia, and countless others.
Reach out to Kevin to congratulate him on a job well done at [email protected]
