RTÉ's Platform Operations team welcomed students from Vision Ireland's TY LENS programme to RTÉ. Here, Saulé tells us about her experience.
Last week, I went on a trip to RTÉ Studios with Vision Ireland's LENS programme which teaches independent living skills to blind and visually impaired transition year students. I got to meet people who work in audio description, podcast production, news presenting, radio and behind the scenes of television.
These people told us about how they got into their careers in RTÉ and how their jobs work. We got to meet radio presenter Laura Fox and partake in photographs with her. She told us about how much she enjoys her job at RTÉ 2FM. She mentioned that the main reason as to why she got the job is because she "talks all the time".
record their podcast in the RTÉ News Podcast studio.
Having had my packed lunch at one o'clock, I met two people working with internships. We then left the administration building and went off to explore the podcast studios. I got to experience sitting in a chair with a microphone very close by and a set of headphones on a table on my left.
I could hear my own voice and the sounds around me through the headphones, this was a very handy way to know whether you're too close to the microphone or not - you wouldn't be able to tell if it wasn't for the headphones. We were split into two groups, each group made a podcast on a different topic - my group talked about our favourite music.
After making the podcast, I answered questions in a mock interview which was part of the Lens programme's module "World of Work", which prepares us for independently getting a job. It was not a formal interview, it was more of a casual chat, during which interviewers Eimear and Conor asked questions based on my strengths and personality.
Things I learned at RTÉ:
- When a film scene is recorded, the characters' dialogue and the visuals of the scene are the very first things that are recorded and sound effects come later.
- Although audio describers cannot speak over actors when recording audio description over a pre-recorded film, the only exception when they might speak over somebody is in a live performance- you can rewind a pre-recorded film to try again, but you can't rewind a live performance.
- When planning a radio show, you can plan as much of it as you want, but it will never go to plan - you never know what your guest or fellow presenter is going to bring to the show.
- Getting an internship means getting a "taste of a job", basically being trained how to do the job and temporarily working in said job to see what it's like.
Overall, I enjoyed working on the podcast and partaking in the interview. Learning new things was quite interesting too.
Vision Ireland's TY LENS programme is an inspiring initiative that empowers students who are blind or vision impaired to build independence, confidence and practical skills as they prepare for the world of work. A key part of the programme is giving students first-hand exposure to real workplace environments and expectations.
