The spoken voice simply adds so much meaning

An interview with Dr Magdalena Szydłowska, radio journalist and academic lecturer

Dr Magdalena Szydłowska is based at the Department of Journalism at the University of Warmia and Mazury, specializing in social communication sciences with a focus on radio history and journalistic genres. Her academic and professional work centers primarily on radio feature stories and audio documentaries, to which she has dedicated years of research and teaching. For over two decades, she was associated with Polskie Radio Olsztyn as a journalist and reporter, producing numerous broadcasts, reportages, and documentary pieces on social, historical, and cultural topics.
Ewa Aniela Jerzyło sat down with her to discuss the remarkable medium of radio and the unique nature of radio reportage.

Photo: private archive

How did your journey with radio begin? Was that back in 1994? Did you have relatives in radio whose footsteps you followed?

I come from a family where medicine reigned supreme. Unfortunately, my interest in radio did not meet with my loved ones’ approval. Even as a teenager, I already knew what I wanted to do. By education, I am both a journalist and a historian. Both disciplines come in handy. I gained my first experience during my studies, or rather during my student internship. I originally had print media in mind. However, Professor Bralczyk noticed my voice for radio, and that was when I began to take it seriously. I started working at the Polskie Radio local station, which was a regional broadcaster. I was also offered a job at RMF FM (one of Poland’s largest commercial radio stations).

What was your first radio reportage about?

From the very beginning, I focused on social and cultural issues. It was about a man searching for his own identity. That reportage was also picked up by other stations. In retrospect, I would do it differently today, but it still holds up and remains listenable.

Which story from your time making radio reportages has stayed with you the most?

There are so many stories, really a great deal of them. The world is diverse, and I explored various subjects. For instance, an important series on foster families, for which I prepared for a very long time. I also remember a truly wonderful journey exploring the Warmian roadside shrines. But let me tell you about another one. I remember when, as a young journalist, I was hosting a summer studio in Mikołajki. We started work at 5 in the morning and ran live broadcasts. Children with disabilities came to a camp there and went sailing. I watched them with pure joy. My attention was drawn to a boy with cerebral palsy, a boy for whom there were simply no barriers. After talking to him, I documented his life, and I stay in touch with him to this day. He is now a happy father, professionally fulfilled, who overcame his limitations thanks to hard work and his mother’s faith. I waited several years to complete the piece and deliver the punchline so I could truly capture his life. It is characters like him who teach us faith and mindfulness.

What message do you hope to convey to your listeners through your radio reportages?

Journalism is all about the human being, about doing good, and about operating in the spotlight during both positive and negative situations. I am deeply interested in the world and broadly defined social issues. I have a genuine sensitivity toward people and respect for the world around us. I see the challenges people face from a broader perspective, and that is what I portray.

Many view radio as their second home. Has it been the same for you?

Radio is a part of me. Polskie Radio is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, so that makes me a retiree already. I am still part of it all the time. My journey as a radio journalist began back in the 1990s. I was still working with magnetic tape back then, practically living at the broadcasting station. Then came new technologies and transformations. It is a truly unique medium, one that completely absorbs you and brings pure joy.

After so many years in radio, do you feel fulfilled in this profession?

That is a tough question… yes, I do. I barely work in the field with a reporter’s microphone anymore. Yet I still feel a deep responsibility toward the listeners, and today, toward my students. You never really stop being a journalist, because it all comes down to character. Even today, I continue to practice the mindfulness essential to this profession.

Is it easy to be both an experienced practitioner in radio and an outstanding academic lecturer?

With the faith that this is the path we were meant to find, anything is possible. I continue to walk this path because it brought me true happiness.

How many of your students have built permanent careers in radio?

Quite a few of them, easily over a dozen work in radio stations now. I am very proud of them all.

Do you think the spoken word has a greater reach than the written word?

There is no difference. The spoken word is fleeting, but this fleeting nature has lost its meaning today due to technology, as most broadcasts are now recorded. At this point, I can put an equal sign between them. Both the written and the spoken word carry great value. The spoken word represents a direct human presence, and the spoken voice simply adds so much meaning.

When you come home tired after a full day of work at the university, do you still listen to the radio, or do you prefer to stay away from the media?

I constantly listen to the radio. In the car, at home, because radio was always on in my family home. It accompanies me during everyday activities where it does not distract, but very often we also sit down together as a family just to listen to a broadcast.

Who, in your opinion, is the greatest master of radio reportage?

Fortunately, there are quite a few such masters. The Polish School of Reportage carries tremendous weight. The first is Jacek Stwora, an outstanding figure, creator of the Krakow School of Reportage, and patron of a major award at Polskie Radio. He perceived true depth, viewing issues holistically, and was a true master of sound and perspective. The second is Janina Jankowska, an exceptional Polish documentarian representing the Warsaw School, who stands out for her meticulous attention to detail, mindfulness, composition, precision, and superb documentary layer. Her work constantly engages with social issues, making her a master from whom everyone should learn. The third is Katarzyna Michalak. I absolutely adore her mastery of both sound and word. She is a true wizard of magnetic tape, renowned for her sensitivity, erudition, exposition, and way of illuminating core values. Her podcasts are easily available on the Polskie Radio website. Today, anyone can readily learn from these outstanding masters of radio reportage.

Is it worth being a radio reporter in this day and age?

It is always worthwhile to stand by another human being, absolutely. It is worth being a radio broadcaster because it is a beautiful medium that stays close to people. The soundscape surrounds us everywhere and it deserves to be captured. I encourage everyone to try, because it is a deeply empathetic profession. This line of work truly requires a great deal of mindfulness and patience.