Breaking into Broadcast: Signal Shift talks to Justin Dawson at IBC 2026
At IBC 2026 in Amsterdam, we sat down with Justin Dawson for episode 154 of the All Things TechIE Podcast to talk about Signal Shift and why we started it.
Signal Shift is a new magazine for people under 30 who want to build a career in media, tech and broadcasting. We started it because there's so much talent coming into the industry, but young people don't always get the space to be heard. In the episode, we talk about what that looks like in practice, and a little history of how we got started.
Anyone who has tried to get into media will know the cycle: hours spent tailoring an application, followed by silence or an automated rejection email. When that happens again and again, it's easy to start thinking the problem is you. Often it isn't. Entry-level roles attract huge numbers of applicants, and the feedback that would actually help people improve rarely comes. Part of what we want Signal Shift to do is make that experience less isolating, by showing that people who are now established in the industry went through the same thing.
One thing we kept coming back to is how much of this industry runs on relationships. So many opportunities come from a conversation at an event, a recommendation from someone who has seen your work, or simply being in the right room. That can feel unfair if you don't already know anyone. But it also means a single good conversation can change things. IBC itself proved the point, as so much of what happened for us that week came from people being willing to stop and talk. We want Signal Shift to create more of those moments for young people, through the magazine and through the meet-ups we're planning.
We also share where Signal Shift is heading next, including future editions, more digital content, meetups for our community, and our plans for NAB.
Thank you to Justin for having us, and to everyone who stopped by to chat with us at IBC. It was a brilliant few days, and a reminder of how many people in this industry want to see young talent succeed.
Watch the full episode above, or use this link:
Want to get involved with Signal Shift, share your story, or support what we're doing? Get in touch through our website or find us on LinkedIn.
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