Friday entertains in the a.m.

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Jason Friday is the morning guy heard over Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) station CJLR in northern Saskatchewan. The music-sports-news-entertainment show is broadcast from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

"I arrive at the station before 5 to get everything ready. It's a well listened-to show and together with my co-host Dallas Hicks, who joins me around 8, we bring the first news of the day to our listeners," he said."We get the world up and running for the day so it's a pretty important show."

Broadcast by cable from La Ronge to 50 communities from Stony Rapids in the north to Saskatoon in the south, the station is also audio-streamed into homes around the world via computer, thanks to the technology of the Internet. Friday said the station gets phone calls and e-mails from former residents now living in far-flung locations who have downloaded the free RealPlayer software, added a set of speakers, and tapped into the station's www.mbcradio.com Web site. "It helps them keep in touch with their home base," he said.

Friday's career in broadcasting began seven years ago at the Western Academy of Broadcasting College in Saskatoon, after his original plans of becoming a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were thwarted by an injury.

"I'm enjoying the broadcasting profession, so I guess it's all worked out for the best," he said. "It's a fun job, and you meet people from all walks of life such as politicians, actors, and numerous interesting local personalities."

He especially enjoys playing music, and while his own tastes range from Pink Floyd to AC/DC, for his listeners he plays a broad range of selections, especially country music. He enjoys a lot of freedom in planning his shows and takes the mandate of his morning show seriously.

"People don't need a lot of hard-core news first thing in the morning. I try to keep it on the lighter side, giving listeners a fun and positive start to their day."

Friday said he genuinely enjoys going to work in the morning, even with his alarm clock going off at 4 a.m. His early start to the day means he's home by early afternoon to spend time with his partner Janelle and their one-year-old daughter, Eryn.

"That's pretty neat, as I'll be able to be a big part of her growing up years and able to participate in her school activities," he said.

MBC broadcasts regularly in area languages, playing demo tapes of local singers, as well featuring programming in Dene, Cree and English. "Our listeners are a richly-mixed blend of cultures and heritages and we try to satisfy the local needs," Friday said.

One Cree and two Dene announcers are included on staff. Broadcasting in Aboriginal languages is important to MBC, Friday said, because it helps ensure the languages won't disappear through lack of use.

"We strongly urge schools and parents to speak their Native language so it won't die off," said Friday.

MBC has recently branched out into television production, meaning staff may find their career choices are broadened within the organization. But radio is here to stay, Friday said, regardless of the advances in other areas of communication.

"We get information out quickly, we are well-connected to news from all over the globe, we entertain our listeners, and there'll always be a need for qualified announcers."