The modern day aircheck. Who’s doing it?

Back in her days as a breakfast radio presenter, there was one particular meeting that Carmen Braidwood came to both dread and value: The aircheck.

Sitting down with the boss, together they’d break down what worked on-air and what didn’t.

It was painful. It was powerful. Sometimes it was excruciating. But Braidwood, who has worked across a host of stations – from Sea FM on the Gold Coast to Perth’s 96fm – says it was the most effective form of professional development she’s ever received.

In a LinkedIn post, Braidwood says “Those conversations — grounded in honest feedback, support, and a genuine desire to help me succeed — sharpened my skills, strengthened my voice and made me a better broadcaster.”

Most of us would remember our first aircheck, for better or worse.

Excruciating would certainly be the best word to describe my own. Decades on, I still refer to it as my ‘bogan special.’

Squirming like a spider pinned to a backboard, I clearly remember the bewildered look on my news director’s face as he snapped off the ‘play’ button on the big, clunky cassette deck in his office, turned to me and said “Sarah. The word ‘four’ only has one syllable.”

Braidwood (pictured above) observes that over the years, aircheck sessions have become fewer and further between.

“Program directors became busier. Some disappeared from the process altogether.”

Now a media trainer herself, Braidwood says today, it’s not just broadcasters creating content. Executives, entrepreneurs and internal spokespeople are all fronting videos and podcasts, representing their organisations.

But who is helping them to review and improve their work?

“The big corporates just aren’t doing it the way they used to,” says Braidwood.

“But that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from the power of a good old-fashioned air check.”