Y - Issue 175 - June 21 2011 - Y-oman.com

given an insight into the workings of Y andThe Radio tunes us into a variety of amazingcalled ‘’Chris Fisher In The Morning’’introduced to the world of journalism forsongs and talk shows. It not only wakes us upand being the Programme Director,Behind the Music:ChrisFisherthe first time. Together, the girls pennedan impressive debut article after anexclusive interview with Merge’s morningpresenter and Programme Director, ChrisFisher. We find out what made Chris thein the morning but also keeps us relaxed duringlong hours stuck in traffic jams on the way homefrom work or school, or gives us the perfectopportunity to switch off during the weekend.But the real credit goes to the people behindhe is also manages the sound systems,the music schedules, and all the otherpresenters. “I came to SABCO Mediabecause it was interesting and I heardhow humble Omanis are and how it’sman he is today, how he enjoys waking-the scenes, who help make this happen. Chrismuch more conservative than Dubai. IThis week, the Y office had the pleasure ofhosting three talented students from ABAschool looking to pursue a career in journalism.Khyati Rajvanshi, Jasmine Jiang and Isabel Jonesspent two days with the Y team, where they wereup Muscat every weekday morning andwhat the future holds for this maverickpresenter. We’re also sure that you willhear plenty more from these talented girlsin the future.Fisher is one of these people.Chris Fisher currently works at SABCO Media asa radio presenter and is the Programme Directorfor Radio Merge 104.8. He runs his morning showhave had more opportunities to meetcelebrities and interview them in theMiddle East than anywhere else.’’Despite having no formal trainingAt first, Chris was somewhatAchieving his aim of presenting for the first time by the age ofsilver ageChris has managed to “push andpush and push the doors down.”Inspired as a child by Neil Fox,disappointed with the reality of radiowith his first studio consisting of“one little room and microphone” – a21, Chris Fisher proceeded to broadcast from stations all overthe world and he has shown that by setting an achievable goalmerged with a whole load of passion, is the recipe for success inFrom his childhood dreams of being a carpenter to “paintingpictures on the radio,” what other influences have made ChrisFisher the radio presenter he is today? After recession hit Chris’shome country of the UK in 1992, the bubbly presenter fell into radioand this transition helped shape his life.host of the Pepsi Chart Showwho is famed for his fast paced,quirky and interactive approachto presenting, Chris became“fascinated by radio… radio wasthe first thing I would play on, atcontrast to his previous expectationsa of massive building packed withpeople and equipment. However,he has come to appreciate that “youonly need the basics and it’s howyou portray it on air; you can make itlife. Since then, radio has taken over his life, and when he tooka two year gap from presenting between working in Dubai andhere in Oman, this helped him to appreciate that radio really doesmean the world to him. He said, “I missed it horribly it was likethere was a big empty gap inside of me, it’s like you break up in arelationship, that’s the way it felt, it was heartbreaking.”any time.”sound so big!”GOLDEN ageHis job is quite demanding at times, but Chrisloves his role and is willing to give all his time andhard work it needs. He comments, “Yes it can be quitestressful at times but I love radio and that is why I got intoit. I like the fact that it is quite flexible.It can be very very long hours but you only get outof it, what you put into it. I am doing the breakfastshow, which is the start of the day and you haveto get that ready and make sure it is right becauseyou have go to wake people up and get them in themood when they are on their way to school, workor doing any other morning chores”.Chris has been in this field for many years now, which has given him a lot of experiencein the many different areas that make up radio. He tells me that he is still inspiredby one of his own colleagues from his days working in Liverpool’s Radio City, RickHoughton, whom he used to listen to back in his High School days. When asked if hewas living his dream being a Radio Presenter, he immediately bounced back saying,‘’Yes, totally, 100 percent! I am enjoying it and life is good!”accomplish within the next few years.As for the future of radio, Chris Fisher is quite realistic. “I don’tAs long as radio is there,PLATINUMAGEOne of them is to open a radio schoolfor teenagers interested in radio,working as a teacher there. At thesame time, he hopes to host his ownthink that it will become more popular, but maintain its currentpopularity,” he says. “People nowadays have iPods and CDs, but Ithink that there will always be a demand for radio. It is also goingthrough an evolutionary process. For example, nowadays wewe’re sure Chris Fisher willbe there to, doing what hedoes best – entertaining,and keeping a smile on ourAlthough Chris Fisher feels that he hasachieved many of his life goals, there are stillplenty more that he strives for and hopes toradio company, which he hopes willfulfill his passion for broadcasting.interact with the audience through more than phone calls, thanksto things like Twitter, texting and Facebook. So yes, I believe thatradio will always be there.”faces no matter how longthat traffic jam runs on.