Student hits Hamilton airwaves

For someone who grew up watching fictional radio host Frasier Crane on television, it's a dream come true.

Norman Kearney, a fourth year philosophy and political science student at McMaster, has become one of the youngest commercial radio hosts in the country.

The first all-talk show to be aired on Oldies 1150 AM, the hour long The Forum: A Marketplace for Stories and Ideas features interviews and stories from all over the greater Hamilton area.

"The forum was traditionally where people met and debated ideas," says Kearney. "The term fits what we want the show to be: a place to talk about the great things happening around the Golden Horseshoe."

Without a background in broadcasting, the co-host and producer had to learn a great deal on the fly after his "radio voice" was noticed by co-host Scott Reeves.

"I've had a lot of help, and I'm coming along pretty well, but it definitely wasn't easy," says Kearney, describing the steep learning curve. "I've done a lot of learning on the job."

The 21-year old Waterdown, Ontario native says he draws on many of the same skills he used while performing in high school theatre, which he finds are just as applicable in radio.

Despite the difficult transition, Kearney says he is enjoying the challenge and loves being "behind the mic" as much as he enjoys working behind the scenes, seeking out stories, interviewing guests and producing the show.