Two local media organisations started a new partnership to reach wider communities.
Star Mail’s Mountain Views reporter Andrew Kwon made a debut on radio at the Yarra Valley FM on Wednesday 9 July.
Mr Kwon said the idea of the radio segment came up when he interviewed St Brigid’s Primary School Grade 6 students regarding the Schools In radio program they hosted on Thursday 26 June.
“Being a radio presenter has always been on my bucket list,” he said.
“I used to listen to a radio show hosted by my favourite singer, and I fell in love with radio because it enabled me to fully focus on her voice without being distracted by any other factors.
“When I saw Grade 6 students successfully hosting the radio show, I was like, ‘Why don’t I give it a try?’”
The new radio presenter said he’d like to show the Yarra Valley community the synergy effect of the collaboration between two community media organisations.
“As a community newspaper, one of our big goals at the moment is to attract broader communities and younger generations to read our papers,” Mr Kwon said.
“I reckon Yarra Valley FM probably has a similar goal.
“By doing this radio segment on behalf of the Star Mail crew, I’ll help my team and Yarra Valley FM achieve this goal.”
In the radio segment, Mr Kwon introduces the significant news stories of the week along with the behind-the-scenes stories of those articles.
He also talks about some of the funny episodes which he has experienced as a foreigner while working as a journalist in the Yarra Valley like some embarrassing moments when he didn’t understand Australian slang and so forth.
“Actually, I love being the only foreigner in the office. I assumed I’m the only foreigner not just only in the current team but in the whole history of the Mail,” the Mountain Views reporter said.
“My mistakes, either not getting Australian slang or mispronouncing some English words, bring big smiles to the team.
“It’s a privilege to be a foreigner here because even my mistakes can bring positive effects to the office.”
He is also planning to invite his co-workers to the show to introduce other journalists who cover other parts of the Yarra Ranges.
Mr Kwon thanked Yarra Valley FM’s Greg Carrick and Star Mail editor Mikayla van Loon for giving him the opportunity to achieve his dream.
“I really appreciate them allowing me to run a short radio segment although I’m not experienced and I will leave this country soon,” he said.
“I will do my best to benefit both organisations as well as benefit the local community. And I hope this is a catalyst for more collaboration.”
The new radio segment will be on air from 4.45pm for about 10 to 15 minutes every Wednesday.
Please stay tuned for the next episodes. You can listen to it at yarravalleyfm.org.au/listen.html or 99.1 on your FM dial.
Star Mail will introduce radio programs at the Yarra Valley FM over the next weeks in the paper.
