21 September 2009
Terry Wogan might be hanging up his boots but Geoff Baier has proved that it’s never too late to get into Radio, the 68 year old student at Farnborough College of Technology has achieved his Masters Degree in Radio following in the shoes of Annie Mac, the Radio One DJ, who did the same course.
It took Geoff five years to complete the course, having originally gained the Post Graduate Diploma in 2006. Geoff then started working on his thesis which was on ‘Radio as a medium for Raising Awareness of the Climate Change Issue’. The Thesis was recently approved by Professor Guy Starkey and Geoff will be awarded his MA at the next University of Surrey Graduation Ceremony.
During his studies Geoff managed to get the highest ever mark for the ‘Law in Journalism’ Module and has completed the whole course with a Merit. Geoff said ‘I was brought up on Radio and became interested in media and publicity in the 1960’s. Geoff went on to say ‘I found running the radio desk very challenging at first but enjoyed interviewing. I gained early experience by inviting Rushmoor councillors on to college radio to discuss issues such as the expansion of the Airfield’.
Geoff also worked on the Farnborough Airshow Radio station which is run by the college students as well as producing five lots of thirty minute news shows on the college radio station, Echo FM.
Geoff enjoyed working with the other students and wrote his own Radio Adverts which he persuaded Performing Arts students to help with. Geoff said ‘The ease with which these younger students could bring the lines to life with minimal rehearsal gave me confidence in my own scripting ability’. After receiving encouraging professional comments Geoff is now working on his own drama script.
FCOT is well known for Radio and is now developing a Foundation Degree in Radio which will start next September.