This is what happened when our junior reporters interviewed Alyson Hau, host of Teen Time on RTHK, live on the airwaves

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Our junior reporters visit the Radio Television Hong Kong studios to learn about the preparation that goes into being on air

Rhea Mogul |
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(L-R) Junior reporters Ally Chan, Felix Yeung, Kyle Leung and Angelina Wang.

Testing ... one, two, three

What first comes to mind when you think of radio? Traffic announcements? Weather reports? That might partly be the case, but there’s so much more!

Even though it is one of the oldest forms of modern communication, radio constantly finds new and diverse ways to remain fresh and relevant. To experience how it works, Young Post’s junior reporters visited Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and were interviewed by well-known radio host, Alyson Hau.

My time at RTHK was phenomenal! Being involved in recording and speaking into a microphone was definitely an exciting experience. I had to learn how to convey the full extent of my emotions and the nuanced meaning of my words – without the luxury of facial expressions and hand gestures.

Hearing my own voice on a formal radio recording was a bit of a strange sensation, but I wouldn’t mind feeling it again in the future!

Angelina Wang, 16, Chinese International School

Chasing a dream

Our short stay in the cosy studio turned out to be a very valuable experience. As well as getting to record with Alyson, we also interviewed her.

By speaking to Alyson, I learned a valuable lesson: once we have set a goal, we should go for it with all our might.

Alyson had dreamed of being a radio host since she was a young girl.

Being a radio host comes with many challenges you may not expect - for example, getting up at 4am every morning!
Photo: Rhea Mogul/SCMP

Giving up her social life, she worked from morning until midnight, waking up at 4am every day. I certainly wouldn’t have the courage to do it!

Alyson never regretted her decision because radio is her passion. She never allowed any obstacles to stop her from achieving her ultimate goal.

Her courage is truly inspiring.

Kyle Leung, 15, St Paul’s Co-educational College

Going with the flow

Although I still cannot get my head around how the buttons and boards work, Alyson worked her way through a show like a tech wiz.

Radio is a form of journalism I had never tried before, and it took some getting used to. When you are on a radio show, you cannot press the delete button, rewind and correct your mistakes. You just have to laugh it off and let it go. This was quite a challenge for me, knowing that the listeners would probably catch every fumble and slip-up, but eventually, I learned to just enjoy the experience.

Our JRs pose for a photo with Alyson Hau (centre) after the recording session.
Photo: Rhea Mogul

Speaking on radio is also different to most forms of public speaking. As the listener cannot see you, you can only express your thoughts through your choice of words and intonation.

Being a loyal Teen Time listener, being on the show was an honour and a wonderful experience. Though I cannot say I’d prefer to be a DJ over a reporter, I would love to do it again in the future!

Ally Chan, 16, Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School

A worthwhile risk

Like Kyle, I was stunned by Alyson’s tenacity. Still, what impressed me most was her ability to take risks.

In life, we are often told to stay on the well-trodden path. Yet, at just 16 years old, Alyson began working for Metro Radio. Despite objections from her parents, she took a dive into what she believed was a worthwhile profession, putting her future on the line. Of course, that risk paid off, landing Alyson her current position as the host of Teen Time. Now and then, we just have to take a leap of faith, don’t we?

Alyson Hau interviews Young Post junior reporters for Teen Time.
Photo: Rhea Mogul/SCMP

I was awed by her ability to balance the chaos in her life. Students are often stressed by schoolwork. We feel that we just don’t have enough time to do all our work. For Alyson, the stress could not have been more real. At one point, she was juggling Teen Time, night school, and a Cantonese morning show on RTHK One!

Alyson serves as a shining example to those of us with a dream; her story reminds us that if we truly love something, we can achieve any goal we set for ourselves.

Felix Yeung, 15, Hong Kong International School

Check out all the episodes of Teen Time here!

Edited by Charlotte Ames-Ettridge

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