Parkhurst women reflect on broadcasting journeys
From television screens in the 1980s to today’s radio and podcasting, Melanie Walker and Natashia Bearam have taken different routes into broadcasting while finding their own ways to connect with audiences.
Broadcasters Melanie Walker and Natashia Bearam have built careers on staying curious and adapting, showing that success in media comes from continuous learning.
Walker’s broadcasting journey began in 1983, when she started as a production secretary at the SABC before branching into television presenting in 1988 after auditioning for Treasure Hunt.
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Her television work involved golf, rugby, motorbikes and music before she moved into radio. “It’s pretty weird for me if I’m not actually doing radio or TV.
It’s just something that’s always been kind of around. And even from the modelling side, you’re always in front of cameras, so you get used to being that person,” she said.
Her life in radio has involved presenting music and gardening shows; she is also involved in podcasting and now spends her days at LM Radio.
Bearman, or Natashia B, as she is known on radio, has taken a different path. She started off by graduating with a degree in mathematics, and then moved to educational television in 2010, where she taught mathematics on the DStv channel Mindset.
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Around the same time, Bearam found herself falling in love with radio, and today she shares that passion with her listeners on LM Radio.
Although mathematics and broadcasting may appear worlds apart, she said the skills from her studies continue to influence how she approaches life.
For Walker, broadcasting has also been about the relationship between the presenter and audience. “People listen to what you say, and obviously, it’s powerful to also hear other people’s stories and to have them communicate, and to feel comfortable enough with you to share their story,” she said.
While their journeys began in different eras and are entirely different, both women emphasise the importance of being willing to learn and putting oneself out there.
Bearam stresses that there is no point in being afraid because even the greatest experts were once beginners.
For young women wanting to join the industry, Walker advises them to find someone willing to teach them, learn to do the job properly and remain professional at all times.
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