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Western's MMJC Program Helped Ziv Haddi Pursue a Radio Career
Ziv's hometown: Toronto, Ontario
With a huge passion for radio, Ziv Haddi graduated from the MMJC program in 2018.
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After working for a radio station at York University as a news and music reporter for one year, Ziv Haddi decided to apply to the MMJC program to advance his media skills. Even though radio has always been his biggest passion, Ziv didn’t want to limit himself by not learning to use other types of media, especially in the rapidly evolving world of journalism.
Ziv chose Western’s Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program because he wanted to stay up to date with an industry that demands creative methods to deliver the news. Knowing Western’s journalism and communication program was the only one to combine media skills from both industries together, Ziv thought it was the best choice to truly become the master of media he hoped to become.
“The program really trains you to be a modern-day journalist, and it forces you to think of unique ways of doing your work.”
Ziv remembers how a big part of his print journalism class was learning how to ask questions and be a better critical thinker—an important skill that journalists need and employers love. “I learned to not just look at things at face-value but to dig deeper and to ask questions because there's always more to the story.”
Whether it was working late nights in the studio or editing video and radio stories in the edit suites, Ziv’s favourite MMJC memory is collaborating with classmates. He now works at Zoomer Radio in Toronto as an editorial producer. From pitching story ideas and doing research on current affairs to getting guests for the radio’s programs like Fight Back with Libby Znaimer and Zoomer Week in Review, Ziv spends most of his days behind the scenes doing every kind of logistical arrangement.
Fun Fact
Ziv did his internship at q on CBC Radio - a culture, arts and entertainment magazine show.
The skills developed in the communications portion of Western’s journalism and communications degree train students to coordinate, communicate and build community relationships. For Ziv, this training ended up being more helpful for his career than he ever imagined. Part of Ziv’s job is to effectively communicate what the radio show is about to multiple guests he invites on it, and he says the communications component of the MMJC program prepared him to take on that responsibility.
The shows at Zoomer’s radio station centre around politics, the economy and health care, and while Ziv says he loves it, he also says it’s necessary to find the time to unwind and relax. “I focus so much on hard news and current affairs that it’s sometimes good to detach yourself and just listen to music.”
The MMJC program has allowed many students to launch successful careers in journalism, communications, marketing and other media-focused industries. If you’re interested in starting your media career, apply to Western’s MMJC program to Start Your Story!
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Profiles in the Start Your Story blog are written by students in the Master of Media in Journalism & Communication program, who are enrolled in MMJC 9604 - Professional Writing.
