In this journalist spotlight interview, we delve into the dynamic world of radio with Cat Lynch, a seasoned radio anchor known for her engaging presence and insightful commentary. With a career spanning over 15 years, Cat has become a familiar voice to many, navigating the ever-evolving media landscape with skill and adaptability.
Join us as we explore her journey, insights, and the unique challenges she faces in the fast-paced world of broadcast journalism.
Hi Cat! Firstly, could you tell me how you came to work in radio?
No Problem! I was tour guiding post uni in Greece and a girl on my bus told me that I wasn’t unbearable to listen to on a microphone and that I should get into radio. I guess it stayed in the back of my mind because when I returned home a few months later to attempt to get a real job, I applied to work on the street team at ARN in Sydney handing out ‘icy cold cans of coke.’ That ultimately opened the door to do a midnight shift on Edge 96.1 and the rest progressed from there!
What do you think makes radio unique from other forms of media content out there?
It’s immediate and spontaneous. When you’re live on a breakfast show you can’t ‘re-do it’ or ‘take it back’ and that’s part of the thrill. It does take discipline and skill to do it well, and the ones that are great at it make it sound effortless.
In a media landscape where so much content is vying for our attention, how have you engaged and cultivated your listenership? Do you have any upcoming projects we should be keeping an ear out for?
You have to move with the times and interact with the audience through other forms of media as well. The audience are getting the curtains drawn back on every major social media platform now, because there are not many places in the radio studio without cameras. If something topical and local is happening i.e. the opening of a corpse flower, you best believe one of our guys is down there soaking up the stench just for the benefit of our socials. Ultimately you end up accepting that your content, and what you chose to wear that day will be open slather for online discussion.
I’m also interested to hear what changes you’ve seen in the radio/broadcast industry. What has been the biggest shift for you and how have you overcome or adapted to these new challenges?
A lot less jobs! When I first started out over 15 years ago there was a bum in the seat for every individual skill set. Now most of those roles are combined. Great on-air roles are a privilege, and they are getting thinner by the day with more networking. The broader your skillset, the better you’ll adapt. I’ve taken on a bunch of off-air duties such as operations throughout my career to coincide with my on-air work.
What does your media cycle look like as a radio anchor? Are there particular busy dates or events throughout the year that disrupt your normal schedule?
Not really! The thing I love about radio is that it’s a pretty strict routine. You can’t mosey in whenever you feel like it. I know exactly how many minutes it takes to get ready and out the door and into the work carpark. When you’re getting up at 4am you really learn to get that down to a science. Our longer days are centred around listener parties, outside broadcasts, or a big day of interviews post show, but most of those are fairly spontaneous during the year.
How do you keep afloat, both personally and professionally, with current affairs? And what role does the radio industry (and maybe broadcast journalism/media in general) play in keeping people informed?
With algorithms these days on social media that’s actually pretty easy! It’s part of my daily routine scrolling through most of the major outlets for news. Our show is lucky to have the very smart and talented Natarsha Belling who’s magnificent in doing a lot of the heavy lifting in dissecting major news stories. The beauty of radio is that you have to put together a very condensed and palatable talk break that covers the must know details in about 4 minutes. People love to hear an opinion, even if it’s to adamantly disagree! It’s a wonderful medium to passively listen, or actively get involved in a conversation.
What do you look for in content pitching? What should people know about specifically pitching ideas, products, stories etc for radio or an audio medium?
It’s really all about understanding your audience. We have a lot of tradies, truck drivers, rock music lovers, and sports lovers that make up a big portion of our audience, so we tend to pick content that will appeal to them. Our audience are passionate and very vocal, so it’s not hard to gauge the interest in concert tickets to big bands, or trips to major sporting events around the world.
Finally, what advice would you give to people who want to break into your industry?
It’s a small industry that is becoming smaller. Leave your ego at the door, say yes to opportunities, and do your best not to damage relationships. It’s amazing how many people you end up crossing over with again in future job opportunities so don’t be unbearable to work with!
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