Within the scope of the Future Talks events organized by the Career Center Department of Üsküdar University, an event titled “Frequencies Are Breaking: Radio Meets the Podcast Era” was held. The guest speaker was Reha Özcan, Director, Radio Broadcaster, and Publisher. Addressing the transformation of radio broadcasting in the podcast era, Özcan drew attention to fast consumption habits and emphasized that broadcasting is not only about speaking but also about listening. He also underlined that a career should be built during the university years.
The opening speech of the event, held at the Sokrates Hall of Üsküdar University South Campus, was delivered by Semra Gül, Deputy Manager of Sectoral Collaborations at the Career Center Directorate, who highlighted the importance of sectoral meetings for students’ professional development.
“Starting independent broadcasting was my second career”
Sharing his experiences in broadcasting and the transformation of the media sector, Reha Özcan stated that he turned to independent broadcasting in 2016. Emphasizing that podcasts and digital publishing marked a new phase in his career, Özcan said: “I previously worked as an editor in chief and served as both a broadcaster and production manager in many national institutions. I started independent broadcasting in 2016. I can say that starting independent broadcasting was my second career. Under Karma Türkiye, we established our own podcast and radio listening platform. Currently, there are nearly 400 podcast content creators on the platform.”
“Broadcasting is when what we want to say no longer fits inside us”
Highlighting the importance of production in content creation, Özcan emphasized that broadcasting is not limited to professional platforms. He noted that everyone can be a broadcaster in daily life: “At its core, broadcasting is the feeling that what we want to convey and express no longer fits inside us. It is the desire to share. Even in your social circle, you can be a broadcaster. Whoever speaks the most in a group of friends is actually the broadcaster of that group. Whoever organizes and plans things is the producer of that social environment.”
“We do not even have time to listen to a podcast”
Focusing on podcast broadcasting, Özcan addressed fast consumption habits and stressed the importance of lasting content: “Podcasting is the type of content with the highest revenue potential in this audience. People who read a lot are generally willing to engage in podcasts, which means audio communication, and they are willing to be patient. In today’s world, this may be difficult for you as well. Do you watch content longer than thirty minutes at once? Very rarely. Speed options like 2x and 5x exist to accelerate consumption. We do not even have time to listen to a podcast, but I do not think life actually requires us to rush this much.”
“Broadcasting is about listening to everything”
Özcan also emphasized the importance of listening in communication and stated that broadcasting is not solely about speaking: Communication evolves as it develops. It is about giving opportunities and allowing space. Listening is just as valuable as speaking. No one prefers to listen to someone who does not listen. Interrupting others constantly disrupts communication. Many people build broadcasting around speaking, but broadcasting is actually about listening to everything.”
“A career is built while you are still at school”
Offering advice to students on career planning, Özcan highlighted the importance of university years: “In job interviews, you are often asked, ‘What have you done?’ Production is now very accessible. With mobile phones and simple applications, you can easily record audio and video. What you do during your student life matters greatly. How many projects did you work on as a cameraman or intern? Every job application asks whether you have work experience. You may wonder how you can gain experience before starting a job. In reality, a career is built while you are still at school. Every project you are involved in at university either helps your CV stand out or pushes it into the background.”
The event concluded with the presentation of a certificate of appreciation to Reha Özcan and a group photo session.
Reporter: Ayşenur Özdemir