Radio DJs Told to Shut Up

Radio DJ’s in South Africa are being told they can’t work as voice over artists.

Professor Jonathan Moyo is the Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister and has suggested radio presenters to stop doing voice over work on for commercials on stations they are on air at, because it is unprofessional.

It is pretty standard that in many regional areas gloabally that radio disc-jockeys and jockettes are required to voice commercials as part of their contract and job.

Moyo said “Why should deejays provide voice-overs for commercials? There is a rule in broadcasting that you should not use your deejays for marketing. If it’s not a law, we will make it a law.”

He continued that listeners should be able to know when the presenter was joking on air or when they are saying something serious.

“Imagine during a show you hear a deejay doing a commercial for this company and the next minute you hear the same deejay marketing a different company.

“Listeners must be able to know when the deejay says something serious like a fire has broken out. You cannot have the same deejay being a zillion people at the same time.

“Deejays must not provide voice-overs. Artistes can do so, but not deejays.”

Do you think radio DJ’s should be able to voice commercial spots on the stations they work for? Or can you see the Professors point?

Rana King

Rana King has presented marketing, sales, and writing seminars around the globe. She is also experienced in business-to-business copywriting and technical writing. She is also an accomplished voice actor with regular clients from around the globe.