Supporting UK Community Radio Presenters: A Free Guide from Mentor Media Training
Community radio is a vital part of local culture, giving a voice to people, stories, and music that may not always find space in mainstream, regional and national media.
Many of these presenters juggle their passion for broadcasting with full-time jobs, family commitments, and other responsibilities, making their dedication even more impressive. Recognising this, Mentor Media Training is offering a free guide to help UK community and local radio presenters develop their skills, navigate on-air challenges, and refine their craft.
To obtain your free copy, download it here:
/media/1610/guide-for-community-radio-presenting.pdf
Why This Guide Matters
Radio is both an art and a craft, requiring an understanding of audience engagement, storytelling, and technical finesse. While some skills come with time and experience, having professional guidance can make a significant difference in confidence and delivery. This guide isn’t a rigid rulebook but rather a collection of best practices and some 'golden' rules built from almost 40 years of professional broadcasting experience.
Whether you're new to the mic or a seasoned presenter looking for fresh ideas, this guide covers essential areas like:
- Knowing Your Audience – Building a connection with listeners and making content relatable.
- Content and Storytelling – How to craft engaging links, structure a show, and tell stories that resonate.
- Talking About Music – The importance of enthusiasm, track selection, and seamless transitions.
- Discussing Topical Issues – Avoiding pitfalls, staying informed, and handling divisive topics with professionalism.
- Interviewing Skills – Techniques for keeping guests engaged and making conversations compelling.
- Technical Mastery – Microphone technique, sound levels, and managing a smooth broadcast.
- Branding and Promotion – Ensuring consistency with station identity and engaging with listeners beyond the airwaves.
A practical resource, not a rulebook
The world of community radio is wonderfully diverse. Some presenters lean towards structured formats, while others bring a free-flowing conversational style, and specialist music insight. This guide acknowledges those differences and doesn’t impose strict rules—instead, it offers tried-and-tested approaches that presenters can adapt to suit their own shows.
It also reflects the reality of presenting in community radio, where hosts may have limited production resources, work with varied music policies, and need to balance their on-air presence with their daily lives. It’s not about perfection; it’s about making the most of the tools available.
Why Mentor Media Training?
Dave Mason, Julia Hayball, and the team at Mentor Media Training have worked across UK local and national commercial, BBC local and national stations, and community radio; presenting, producing and training professionals at all levels.
With decades of experience, they understand the nuances of delivering compelling radio and want to pass on that expertise. Community radio presenters give their time freely to entertain and inform in their local areas, and this guide is a small way of supporting them.
Download the Free Guide
Mentor Media Training is proud to make this resource available for free. Whether you’re presenting your first show or looking to refine your delivery, we hope this guide proves useful.
Final Thought
Community radio is about passion, storytelling, and connection. This guide is here to support presenters in bringing their best selves to the mic—while having fun along the way. We hope you find it useful.
