University give promising presenters foot in the door.

Daniel Eycott is one of a group of students who has grabbed the opportunity to broadcast live on radio after his lecturer gave him the chance.

Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) has recently seen some of their media students help start up local radio station Academy FM: Folkstone. Mr Eycott, a third year at CCCU has revelled in the opportunity to present live radio shows.

CCCU lecturer David Sharp offered many of his radio students the chance to get some real experience outside of their degree. The opportunity to work at a radio station was too good to pass up for Film, Radio and TV student Daniel who said: “David asked his radio students if they were interested, I jumped at it, thinking it would be a great way to get into radio before I go out into the world after my degree.”

Mr Eycott said the has presented other opportunities for him to help further his abilities. He placed second in the Charles Parker Prize, which judges student radio documentary features across the UK.

The competition allowed him to meet some of the leading British authors who specialise in radio. The moment was quite surreal for Canterbury resident, he said: “I got to meet the people I quote in my essays, which was a bit strange.”

Since being given the chance to start presenting at the new radio station, Mr Eycott has the responsibility of two of the stations shows. Working on Tuesday morning live and Academy FM: Folkstone's Saturday sport show.

As the station is still just starting up, Daniel got his chance late on in his third year. He praised the chance and said that new students in the upcoming year will be very lucky with what is available to them.

He said: “They can go straight in from the first year, and it is a great opportunity to have constant work and experience all the way through through university.”

He went on to explain that Folkstone has acted like a stepping stone for him, and allowed him to get his “foot in the door”. The chance that the university gave Mr Eycott has fuelled his passion to become a presenter for commercial stations and even the BBC.

Daniel hailed the University's course structure for its practicality, he said: “They like you to do practical work.

And from what we have had with Dave's latest opportunity radio has had a edge over the film and TV students."



Daniel Speaks about his change to radio after having strong interests in film and hails the equipment available to him at university.