Havard's Career Capsule
1993-1996 - Radio 1 Jærradioen. (Klepp, Rogaland, Norway.)
1998-2002 - Different collage radios. Also radio broadcasting studies.
2002-2007 - Norea Radio. (Kristiansand, Vest-Agder, Norway.)
2007-2008 - Radio Aftenbladet. (Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway.)
2008-2010 - Fædrelandsvennen. Newspaper. (Kristiansand, Vest-Agder, Norway.)
2010-2014 - Norea Radio (Kristiansand, Vest-Agder, Norway.)

 

1. Tell us about your role at Norea Mediemisjon (also some history, its mission etc)...

I am mostly on air - doing mornings. I am also head of music. Our morning show is syndicated on FM and DAB in the most populated cities, and it's distributed on affiliated stations in Stavanger, Kristiansand, Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim - and also some smaller communities. 

I was the one starting the morning show back in 2002.Back then it was only on air in Kristiansand. But God is really doing some great things with this show, and we're now in all the major cities. We're also world wide on norea.no. 

2. What is the best programming advice you've been given? The worst?

The best advice: "- Keep the flow going. Don't let the music stop".

Worst advice: "- Let's talk to people in their thirties between 7 and 9 AM - and then suddenly talk to people in their seventies between 9 and 10 AM."

3. Regarding your career, what are you most proud of?

Being able to provide my three kids and my wife - and pay the rent - by doing something I absolutely love. Playing great music, and talk into a microphone; I mean who would not want to do that!?

4. What is the one thing you must have to do your job every day?

Of course coffee - and our software system. I've been using the same software (StationPlaylist) since 2000 or so - and it's hardly ever let me down. Dead air? Never...

5. Where will future Christian radio air talent come from?

That's a tricky one. Twenty years ago - young people was practicing at their radio station - just like they was practicing soccer. Lots of radio talent was created. Now days, with fully automated stations and voicetracking - there's no need for the teens in the radio studios at night and over the weekend. Hopefully talents will find their way into paid jobs early.

6. Do you feel syndication is good or bad for Christian radio?

Here in Norway I think syndication has been great. What we've been able to do with our morning show is amazing - and we could not have done it without syndication. I hope to be able to broadcast on even more stations in the future.

7. Generally speaking after visiting the US what do you see as the main differences in Christian radio from Norway?

We're so few - and we've been struggling under some really, really bad conditions. As I told a few people I got to talk to at Momentum in September; Norwegian stations often have to SHARE the transmitter with other stations. In no way is it possible to make high ratings when the signal is college radio one moment - and Christian oldies the next... If you ask me you can hardly call it a "radio station" when it's only on air three hours a day... 

But - with the digital feature ahead of us - there should be space for everyone. 

And weird thing is - I still have to tell other radio people here that it's not a good idea to share the transmitter with other stations - or let the DJ play whatever song he or she would like...