Next Gen Intern Diary: Learning from Behind the Microphone,  by Taiwo Precious

June was a whirlwind of activity for me at Unizik FM, where I currently intern, courtesy of Campus Reporter’s Next-Gen Internship Programme.

In just two months, I have learned, unlearned, relearned, and gathered some experiences that have made the journey nothing short of wholesome. 

In the past month, my supervisors gave me more tasks and trusted me with responsibilities of higher stakes due to my effective deliverables and eagerness to learn. These experiences helped me build upon my core duties in the previous month of May. I had challenges along the way, but I still made significant headway. 

I was covering more events, and in a week, I would attend at least two events, alongside other duties as a broadcaster. However, I have spent more time in the studio behind the microphone because I am naturally a talker.

I recorded over five voiceovers last month. This experience stretched me because I talk so much that my voice gets parched. But it also brought with it an opportunity to learn. My supervisor, Chinaza Michael, taught me some mouth exercises to ensure a more stable pace and pitch when speaking, and it has greatly helped so far. 

I also sharpened my news-reading skills as a broadcaster. I received tips from my supervisor, Chinaza Micheal, who gave me the techniques for good news reading. So far, reading the news is what I enjoy doing the most. I love it! 

The field reporting came with its own steep learning curves. One such program I covered was the UNIZIK Faculty of Environmental Sciences World Environment Day 2026 Inaugural Lecture, held at the ASUU Secretariat. Due to an initial scheduling mix-up, I arrived late, making story-gathering slightly difficult. 

Thankfully, a supportive colleague on site had arrived earlier and stepped in to help me with what I missed. 

That experience is tied to a broader challenge I faced this month: news writing. I had struggled to write short, radio-style news stories from lengthy speeches delivered. But Uche Michael, a staff member at the radio station, guided me. Mr Michael provided a structured outline of bullet points essential for news stories. This mentorship shifted my entire approach. I learned to capture the crucial highlights and key points during an event, rather than recording hours of speeches only to get drowned in post-production work.

Concurrently, I sharpened my on-air news reading skills, the aspect of broadcasting I enjoy the most. My direct supervisor, Chinaza Michael, provided transformative tips on breath control, proper pausing, firm starts, and utilising the distinct tonal shifts required for radio. 

Initially, though, I struggled with reading too fast at the beginning, but his guidance helped me tone it down over a few weeks, allowing me to master a composed rhythm.

I have to say hosting my morning and evening shows remains the absolute favourite part of this internship. Conversing with intelligent minds is a major thrill, and I am deeply honoured by this platform.

As a growing media professional, this past month has been life-changing. This internship by CJID has opened my eyes to limitless opportunities, and I look forward to competing in much bigger global media spaces with the world-class skills I am acquiring here.