Radio Grad Olivia Campbell Takes the Stage at RDS
Ballyfermot Radio & Podcasting College Student Olivia Campbell Takes the Stage at RDS’s Irish Times Higher Options Stage and the World Skills Heroes Stage
Higher Options provides a unique opportunity for up to 30,000 students from across Ireland to speak with representatives from third-level institutions from Ireland, the UK, Europe and further afield. At Ireland’s largest education expo students gather information about their third-level options and attend career talks on a wide range of topics.
Olivia Campbell, a student of Ballyfermot College’s Radio, Podcasting, Producing & Presenting course, has just taken to the stage at the RDS for the Irish Times Higher Options stage and the World Skills Heroes stage, sharing her journey from first-year student to working broadcaster.
Olivia began her studies at the college on the one-year Foundation in Media course, sampling radio, television and online journalism before choosing to specialise in Radio, Podcasting, Producing & Presenting for her two-year course, followed by a degree year at the college. In her early years on the course, she worked the floor at the Irish Times Higher Options and World Skills events, producing promotional pieces for the college. This year, as she prepares to graduate, she was invited back, this time as a guest presenter, speaking across several days about her path into radio, broadcasting, producing and presenting.
Olivia’s journey took her from canteen radio within the college to community radio stations, and then to Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio, where she worked as a night time researcher. She went on to present her own regular show on “The 90s Network” radio station.
On Erasmus, Olivia worked in media in Finland and Malta before landing her own show in Alicante, presenting three hours a day for three weeks on BR2 Pure Gold Radio, broadcast on both FM and DAB, as well as doing further media work and a daily morning co-presenter slot on the Big FM morning show with Richie Sparks.
Alongside her on-air work, Olivia and fellow student Molly Coleman have run the Ballyfermot College radio course’s TikTok and social media accounts.
On stage, Olivia spoke candidly about the realities of breaking into radio, from starting out reading links on canteen radio to working unsociable hours as a night time researcher, and what it took to earn her own show abroad. Taking questions from the audience, she stressed the value of hands-on experience and the importance of finding one thing to specialise in and becoming genuinely good at it, something she believes the industry is actively looking for.
Olivia has just submitted her thesis and is about to graduate, and is currently taking some time out to travel.
Michaela Hayes, a fellow Ballyfermot graduate who is now on air daily at SPIN 1038, is a regular visitor to the college, running workshops and sharing her experience with students. A number of Ballyfermot radio students who came through those workshops have gone on to work at SPIN 1038 and across the Bauer Media Group and elsewhere. It’s one of the real advantages of the Ballyfermot radio course: students get access to working, professional and award-winning broadcasters. Just before Christmas, Olivia will be catching up with Michaela, and she’ll be working through her next move with that guidance alongside her.
It’s an exciting moment. From community radio to The 90s Network and Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio, and from her own show on BR2 Pure Gold in Alicante to co-presenting on Big FM, Olivia has packed an impressive amount into her time at Ballyfermot. With all of that experience and that guidance coming together, this is the right moment, and the next step is a natural one.
About the Course
Ballyfermot College’s Radio, Podcasting, Producing & Presenting course trains students for careers in radio broadcasting, media production, podcasting, journalism, and on-air presenting.
The programme covers studio production, podcast production, on-air presenting, radio documentary making, media analysis, and the practical realities of working in a radio station or production company, from scheduling and content approval to health and safety on a broadcast floor.
Students also have the opportunity to go on Erasmus placements to music, talk and news stations across Europe, including in Marbella, Alicante, Finland, Malta, and other locations.
For anyone drawn to radio production, broadcasting, journalism, presenting, or media courses Students leave with real studio experience and genuine industry contacts, and go on to work across stations and platforms including RTE Radio 1, 2FM, RTE TV, Newstalk, 98FM, SPIN 1038, Today FM, FM104, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio, NOVA, Sunshine, Q102, East Coast Radio, KFM, LMFM, iRadio, Spirit Radio, Radio Maria, Midlands Radio 3, Dublin South FM, Liffey Sound FM, Nearfm, 92.5, Phoenix FM, Together FM, Dublin City FM, Raidió na Life, in roles spanning presenting, producing, podcast production and radio journalism.