In a recent interview on the Season 2 premiere of ‘Changes,’ legendary broadcaster Doreen Andoh, renowned for her role as host of Cosmopolitan Mix on Joy FM, disclosed that she has never worked with a producer in her extensive career.
Andoh revealed that she spent the first decade of her career independently producing her own shows and DJing, a practice she maintained after completing secondary school. This self-sufficiency has left her unfamiliar with the dynamics of working alongside a producer throughout her over 25-year media career.
“I worked for 10 years without a producer. So, I don’t know what it is to have worked with a producer from scratch. Yes, I was my own presenter, producer, and DJ. I’ve always played my own music; I don’t have a DJ,” Andoh explained during the show, addressing questions about the strictness of her producers.
She described how she learned all aspects of production from the beginning, adapting to and enjoying the process. Reflecting on the technological advancements in media, Andoh noted the rigorous training required in her early days, where mistakes were not tolerated.
“I learned from the get-go that we should pretty much weigh the songs we play. Songs with nude lyrics were definitely a no-no; we made sure we sampled the music before putting it on air. At that time, you also had to make sure that you were learning the songs and knowing which ones were radio edited, which means that they were clean songs. We went through training to learn pronunciations because a lot of people would ‘butcher’ the local names, and it was unpardonable, but now presenters have walked away with too much,” she reflected.
Andoh’s journey into media was serendipitous; she had initially planned to study pharmacy. However, due to a strike that led to university closures, she applied for a radio presenting opportunity as a hobby. This chance turned into a passion, leading her to a career in journalism and public relations.
Her early career’s unconventional start led her to master all production techniques on the job, without ever seeking out a producer.
