Get to know

Mya Graham

“I have to pinch myself every day I come into work because I am doing my dream job.”

Those are the words of sports media graduate Mya Graham, who now works as a producer at radio giant talkSPORT.

Mya studied BA (Hons) Football Business and Media at UCFB Manchester, and only months after graduating, secured a position as apprentice at journalist at talkSPORT.

Since then, she has been promoted to assistant producer and producer, working in such areas as live programming, audio and social media.

When asked about her time studying, Mya said: “While at UCFB, I realised it was specifically broadcast media I wanted to do.

“I networked and met the right people during my time at UCFB. So I know there’s an element of luck, but ultimately it is down to hard work.”

The sport industry does not feel like work. It feels like fun every day and I can definitely vouch for that.

UCFB Graduate

Producer at talkSPORT

Mya has given her top five tips for being a sports producer to help any of our students wanting to pursue a career in sports broadcasting.

Consider your topics

What’s in the news? What’s fresh? What’s going on?
Once you’ve got those topics, you then have to look at what new and fresh angle to take. You don’t want to be talking about the same thing every journalist or radio station has been talking about.
You need a new take on it and a new direction.

Consider audio

Especially when working for a radio station, you have to consider audio.
How can audio that you use enhance a topic? Can it be a manager talking at a press conference? Can it be a teaser that looks ahead to a game?
All these little bits of audio need to piece together so that the presenter has a little bit more context and something to break up the show as well.

Have the right guests

A good guest can make or break a show. It gives another voice and adds another level to the show.
This can be a coach, journalist, psychologist. Anything in that field that you think can enhance or bring a bit more expertise into the show.
Having a guest to come on and offer a different insight really can elevate a show.

Callers and audience interaction

What do you want your listeners to hear? What answers do they want? What questions do they want asking?
If you have a radio show, you give callers the chance to call in and voice their opinion.
Sometimes the best content is when a caller and a presenter go head-to-head, they clash and don’t agree on something.

Give the show an identity

It needs to be personal to you, there needs to be a brand, there needs to be features. Anything that people can see or hear and know it’s your show.
Keep it original, keep it fresh and keep it different.