Students taking on-the-job trainings are not really gaining quality lessons that would equip them when they enter the professional market space. Instead, these trainees are often tasked to run errands. Breaking away from this tradition, Broadcast Journalist Daniel Razon launched Student Hour, a training ground for communication students to get real broadcast experience.

Student Hour is a youth-oriented program at UNTV Radio La Verdad that aims to serve as a prime vehicle in airing out the voices of the young generation.

On its 12:30-1:30 p.m. daily time slot, the program visits different school campuses and is carried by the UNTVmobile radio where the show is broadcast live. Students get to see the live airing and join the live discussions of issues concerning student life. Guest professionals are invited to discuss various topics, ranging from the hottest issues that involve the youth to general information and interests such as English proficiency, theater arts, learning styles, drug education, personal hygiene, and related topics.

Kuya Daniel, the author of the radio show, disclosed that this is one of the ideas behind the launch of mobile radio – to roll it to school grounds and provide broadcast trainings especially to students majoring in communication.

It is to be recalled that Kuya Daniel launched the mobile radio through UNTV early this year to bring back the glory of radio. The innovation has become the first of its kind in Philippine media.

“They get the chance to be in the anchor’s seat, do the interview, and ask questions,” he explained in one of his morning show’s episodes, Good Morning Kuya!.

From his own experience, Kuya Daniel also revealed that in practicums trainees are not really trained well but are tasked to make coffee and other menial chores for their superiors.

Worse, many companies are profiting out of OJTs where companies even ask payments from student trainees so they will be admitted for practicum, Kuya Daniel added.

Student Hour is another brainchild show of the broadcast journalist among UNTV’s public service programs. Other shows he conceptualized include Rotary in Action, Munting Pangarap, Manibela, and Good Morning Kuya!, among others.

(Words by Hazel Chavez-David; Editing by Jane Abao)