New Producer RFP from High Plains News, deadline Sept 22

Passed along by the fine folks at AIR. An RFP from High Plains News. Deadline Sept 22.

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High Plains News is seeking proposals for the production of a 30-minute radio program examining both the transition of coal in the national energy mix and the public policies, sometimes, self contradictory, affecting the industry, communities, and people.

About High Plains News

Founded in 1989, High Plains News produces grassroots commentaries and 30-minute special programs, primarily for public and community radio stations. From 1990 to 2001, High Plains News produced and distributed a weekly 15-minute radio magazine. The news service also produced 26 half-hour special programs through 2003.

Over the years, High Plains News and its producers received many awards, including the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award, Gabriel Award, Oscar in Agriculture Merit Award, Award of Excellence from the American Lung Association of Montana, and several awards from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.

Based in Billings, Montana, High Plains News is a project of WORC, the Western Organization of Resource Councils.

Program Description

We envision a program consisting of three to four stories. Final story topics will be agreed upon with High Plains staff. Potential stories could include:

The changing economics of coal – Utilities are decommissioning coal-fired power plants. Domestic coal production is down, as are coal prices. Several coal companies are pinning their futures to exporting coal to foreign markets and spurring proposals to build or expand coal export facilities.

Coal leasing and exports – A number of recent studies indicate the federal governmentＴ coal leasing program is flawed and does not get a fair return for the publicly-owned resource. The low-cost coal has implications for people living near coal mines, residents along the rail routes, and communities facing new or expanded coal export facilities.

Reclamation – Coal mining has taken a large swaths of land out of agricultural production in the Powder River Basin, the Illinois Basin, and North Dakota, but reclamation of that land is moving at a snailＴ pace. And there is mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia. Coal and coal companies are not turning the land back to production as envisioned by the federal strip mine reclamation law passed in 1977.

Beyond coal – A look at a just transition for coal miners and communities long dependent on coal mining as the easy to get coal seams are mined out and the United States acts to deal with climate change and towards cleaner energy, air, land, and water.

Scope of Work

The producer will produce a 30-minute radio program for distribution to radio stations, the Public Radio Exchange, and other venues and placement on our website. The producer may contract with other producers to produce stories for the special. High Plains staff will work with the producer to determine the stories covered by the special.

Producer will be responsible for all research, recording of all elements, editing, and scripting. Final assembly of the program shall be done in collaboration with High Plains News staff. Producer shall consult with designated High Plains News staff regularly about the program.

Producer shall produce the program in stereo at a level of technical quality acceptable to High Plains News as defined by current industry broadcast standards.

Deliverables

The producer shall deliver a fully produced 30-minute program and clean version of the final script and list of contents of the elements as they appear on the source. We prefer to receive the program in MP3 format or CD.

Timeline

Proposals are due close of business September 22, 2014.

High Plains News will award the contract by September 29, 2014.

The producer shall deliver the program on a timely basis on a mutually agreeable schedule, not later than November 7, 2014

Submitting a proposal

Interested producers should submit the following:

A letter stating your qualifications and relevant experience.

Budget for production of the 30-minute program. High Plains News will reimburse approved expenses. Travel expenses reimbursed at rate of 35 cents a mile. Producer will be responsible for paying contracted producers involved in the program.

Send a link to or CD of a similar production showcasing your talent.

Proposals should be sent to Kevin Dowling, 220 S. 27th Street, Suite B, Billings, MT 59101, or kdowling@highplainsnew.org<mailto:kdowling@highplainsnew.org>. Proposals are due by close of business, September 22, 2014.

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