Radio hobbyists can play with their equipment all day without giving a thought to the origins of their hobby. Early radio hobbyists were part of something that was, at the time, new and fairly crazy.

After radio technology was stabilized, there was a steady growth of radio signaling in the fields of navigation of ships and for rescue operations. On the other hand, the amateur radio operators also started to dominate the air. The first documented and famous amateur wireless enthusiast was a then young man named Irving Vermilya born in 1890 when wireless transmission was being born. The young man since age 12 heard Marconi and built his own wireless transmission equipment and was often “heard” telegraphing with ships during that time. In 1911 he became a member of the Radio Club that had been formed. He got himself certified in 1912 when law mandated all wireless operators to be certified. In his own words,

This was pre-audio era, and communication was purely in Morse code. Irving then organized his own amateur group who had regular meetings monthly and would communicate daily wishing “GM” (good morning) and “GN” (good night), some of the first amateur jargon to be used. He also proceeds to describe in his series of articles published in QST magazine in 1917 as to how they managed to lay the telegraph lines and such and how they “drew juice” for the wireless operation from the electric lines instead of relying on batteries.

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Welcome to the wonderful world of shortwave listening (SWL).  Test your aural comprehension of foreign languages; listen in on news from abroad or on the variety of opinions and interests of ordinary people around the world; test your political IQ by evaluating your country through outsiders’ eyes, to cast a more discriminating eye on domestic and geopolitical situations.  It’s always interesting to hear professional reportage about your country from abroad.  Listen in on historical and cultural events as they occur in distant places twenty four hours a day without leaving the comfort of your bedside, in English and in foreign languages too.

There is nothing expensive about shortwave radios.  In autumn of 2009, I bought a Coby paperback-novel-sized AM/FM/SW radio for only .  Several years ago in the heart of downtown I was buying them at and .  Then, there are always the elegant and immortal Grundig world band radios, available in so many styles, sizes, functions, and price ranges, some costing not much more than .  Grundig represents excellence of product and customer service.  Their radios are the choice for travel, office, living room or bedroom.  Coby products give a surprisingly fine performance at extremely low prices.  I prefer to carry a miniature Coby AM/FM in my briefcase when I’m on the go and under pressure.  I don’t mind damaging or losing one since they cost so little to replace.

Listen to direct broadcasts from Cuba, Germany, Canada, Japan, Spain.  Hear a German orchestra in Vienna play Mozart or Beethoven live!

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It’s quiet on the set, the actors are in place, the cameras are rolling and you’re right in the thicket of the excitement, either behind the camera or in another role. This type of exciting moment can be yours everyday in the field of broadcasting and film. The roles of this extensive industry vary, but you only need one program to be prepared for all of them.

Centennial College in Toronto, offers its Broadcasting and Film program to those who want to learn both the creative and technical skills they’ll need to make a career in film, television and radio. In the program, students are placed directly in the action with the school’s unique HDTV broadcasting studios where they get a feel for being behind the camera as well as in front of it. The practical experience of the in-house studio also allows students to develop a balance between artistic and commercial aspects of the industry. They also participate in student films and TV as well as a student-produced news magazine TV show that airs live and online. All of these experiences prepare them for a 15-week industry field placement. During this placement students apply practice to real life situations at radio and TV stations, production houses and much more. But don’t take my word for it. Shannon Loftus is a Unit Assistant and a graduate of the Broadcasting and Film program. This is what she had to say: ?”…I learned what I liked and what I didn’t, and I gained the confidence and knowledge to follow my dreams for a career at CityTV. You can’t substitute the internship experience that Centennial offers.”

Before students apply for Broadcasting and Film, they should consider the prerequisites. Centennial College expects students to present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Students must also have completed compulsory English 12C or U, or a skills assessment, or equivalent. There are also important non-academic requirements for the Broadcasting and Film program, such as an admission session, writing test, English proficiency as well as a portfolio of work. The portfolio should demonstrate your skill and ability to tell a story using two of the following: videotape/ DVD, audiotape/ CD/ mini disc/ digital images/ photographic prints, scripted material in any format that was used. For more detailed information, check out the Film and Broadcasting Admission page.

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