Well, it is a program that I run within Radio HDR, which all at once is a training program, a radio broadcasting production unit, a career counselling center and all-in-all a roller-coaster adventure!
1 Euro Radio Formation, a training program launched by Radio HDR 99.1 fm
Situated on top of the Rouen Hights, a suburban neighborhood of the regional capital city of Upper Normandy, Radio HDR has launched Euro Radio Formation in February 2007, a unique 1-year program now in its 2008 version starting 1st March 2008, and hopefully on track for more adventures in the years to come. In France, a community radio like HDR finds it hard to find the adequate sort of financing to exist as an alternative media; so for HDR, the deal is that we train up to 10 people every year to produce radio content, with technicians, journalists and show hosts. We help them consolidate a carrer plan, not necessarily in direct relation to the world of media. We get the financing – from local authorities, the national government and the European Social Fund in helping them. And we keep producing content and exist as a media.
2 An actor of the local community life
Ever since the Radio was created in 1998, it has served as a greatly enriching meeting point, where people from all horizons converge to use it as a social booster and experiment their view of a genuinely French melting pot. Many of its former members have gone now to audio schools, journalism, youth counselling and other professional branches. With Euro Radio Formation, the Radio is aiming at systematizing its role as an enhancer of opportunities : the 10 new recruits more than double its permanent staff and allow for more content with daily programs, magazines, reports or documentaries… Better than ever, we hope to give long life to the Radio’s motto – “le Mix des Cultures”. Euro Radio Formation, among others of the Radio’s programs, embodies “le Mix” and makes it come true by promoting men-women equality, giving a hand to residents in underprivileged neighborhoods and putting diversity in all aspects forward.
3 An opportunity for many to move on and beyond the Radio
France is an extremely rich and diverse society; we have seen so many people of all ages and from all walks of life left out on the side who are the true face of France, the France of tomorrow and the holders of a truly explosive energy that we think we have a role to play to stop such a waste ! The originality of Euro Radio Formation is its double-status staff. HDR is not a training center per se, and therefore the Euro Radio Formation people are employees of the Radio; at the same time however, they are given a chance to learn and improve, thanks to an integrated training program aiming at both professionalizing their approach to their work and confronting them to the realities of the job market outside and beyond the radio experience. The Radio thus assumes the role of a career counsellor, so that at the end of their contract with their employer, the people involved may have in hand a plan, a clearer vision, the self-esteem and the energy necessary to have to make their dreams come true. We currently work in partnership with local and national media institutions (the radio, the press, television) which allow our people to carry out internships either with them or with other organizations (town hall culture services, associations involved in the local cultural life, etc.); we help them find further training in accordance with their personal project or simply boost their desire to succeed in their own way the life that talented people deserve.
For practical information, please use the following contact:
jonathan.thunin(at)wanadoo.fr
