Making Contact wants your pitches, rolling deadline

Making Contact wants your pitches. Details below!
-mia

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We’re looking for pitches from freelancers on several themes. See list below. If you feel you have a story that fits or you have a new idea, please let us know!

We’re also always interested in pitches on any of our ongoing beats: prisons, poverty, corporations’ undue influence, reproductive health, climate change and the environment. We’re still looking for reporters who are themselves immigrants for our Immigrants and Elections miniseries–per that recent call for pitches.

**NewsFlash — We’ve gotten a non-profit subsidized license to try out Hearken software. We’re stoked to have our freelance producers and reporters experiment in using it with us. Check out Hearken and if your story would benefit from seeking audience input upstream, tell us about that.

Incarceration Issues: We’re looking for stories detailing the effects of the prison systems on children and families, delving into life after incarceration, and stories examining sentence reduction reforms at the state level. For instance in California, Prop 47 passed in fall 2014. It reduces drug possession and five other felonies to misdemeanors. Are other states making changes similar to California’s Prop 47 ? What have been the preliminary results in California and what of the backlash by those opposed to the sentencing reform?

Climate Change: “Climate Resilience” and “Social Cohesion” are terms used by environmental justice advocates and academics to mean various things. We want sound-rich stories that explore these terms in practice.
It could be a local clean energy project, local economies. How are communities working not just to survive but thrive? How are low-income communities, expected to be hit hardest by climate change developing ways now to cope “later?” How are people of color led organizations and networks particularly exploring the justice angle in “climate justice?” We’re looking for stories that break out of the gloom and doom, wonk-talk or science-load, and instead give a glimpse of people coming together to take steps now.

Pitch us stories about various bottom-up and grassroots organizing methods and tactics. Perhaps a profile of someone who was either uninterested or overwhelmed and depressed about the crisis but is now engaged. How did that personal and political transformation take place?

Guns: We’re looking for stories that bring new perspectives on guns, gun violence, mass shootings, and the ways in which they affect women and men differently. These could be personal stories. They could also be more investigative or explanatory pieces. We’d also welcome other pitches related to guns, maybe a look at one of several states’ legislation to allow or ban concealed carry on college campuses.

Transgender: There is an organized backlash running astride transgender political movements. More than a dozen states have introduced legislation that would limit transgender access to public spaces and programs— spaces like bathrooms, sports teams, and locker rooms. A portion of those bills would also allow for businesses and individuals to discriminate against transgender adults and children based on religious or moral beliefs. Pitch us a story from one of the states that would allow discrimination based on religious or moral beliefs, or, one on Los Angeles Unified School District policies that help trans kids and their families during the coming out process. LAUSD has been the model for school districts across the country.

Elections: Pitch us a story on the presidential elections that is unique. Stories that do not focus on the horse race itself but some other angles or structural issues such as voting rights. For example, we did a piece on the electoral college. Or a story from the grassroots mobilizations leading up to the elections such as Democracy Spring or Democracy Awakening in April about govt corruption and campaign finance reform. Or stories generated from the many other gatherings and protests planned for outside of the conventions. What does the Black Lives Matter movement have planned? Rather than “covering” these events we’d be interested in a follow-along with characters and scenes, and digging underneath the obvious.

Community First Response: When it comes to meeting people’s immediate needs – food, housing, healthcare, and safety – our friends, families, and neighbors are often the first responders. We are looking for stories about groups of people who are taking community first response to the next level, creating projects (formal or informal) that are rooted in values of mutual support, and can be replicated. For example, a group of neighbors helping local small businesses address violence and conflict without involving the police or government agencies. We are not looking for segments on nonprofits or government agencies that provide services.

Specifications
Making Contact is an award-winning, 29-minute weekly magazine/documentary-style public affairs program heard on 120 radio stations in the USA, Canada, South Africa, and Australia. Amplifying voices and perspectives rarely heard in mainstream media, Making Contact focuses on the human realities of politics and the connections between local and global events, emphasizing positive and creative ways to solve problems.

This call for pitches is for segments of about 8 minutes(unless otherwise noted), and we pay $450 per story of this length. We also occasionally take longer pieces (12 or 26 minutes).

As with any pitches you send us, please check out our show and read our guidelines before you pitch.

Consider the following. Does the story:
– Link grassroots issues and human realities to national or international trends?
– Give listeners a historical, political, or social context of major national and international events?
– Shed light on social and economic inequities?
– How will the piece motivate the listener to act?
– How will the voices or point of view expressed differ from what is heard in the commercial media?
– Explore any alternatives or solutions?

Send pitches to pitches@radioproject.org. Please be detailed but succinct, and include a description of your idea, narrative/story arc, interview subjects, scenes, and sounds/ambi. If you’re pitching to us for the first time, please include a brief bio and relevant audio clips.

We will review every pitch, but it could take us a couple weeks to get back to you. So, please be patient
We look forward to hearing from you!
Laura Flynn, Jasmín López, Monica Lopez
Making Contact producers


next session of Radio Boot Camp, @UnionDocs, NYC in June

Sally Herships' and friends' brilliant audio training workshop is coming up in a couple months. Don't miss it! Details below. -Mia

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The next session of Radio Boot Camp at @UnionDocs in Brooklyn is coming up in June! This is a great, getting started, dive-right-on-in class for making radio and podcasts for beginners. Please share and hope to see you in June!

More info here:
http://www.uniondocs.org/2016-06-11-radio-boot-camp/


Three job openings in Alaska for energy/environment reporting

Not freelance, but a good opportunity to report from a fascinating place. -Mia
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The new Alaska Journalism Collaboration is hiring! 
The state network is putting together a team of reporters to do in-depth reporting on energy and environment in the 49th state. Think Planet Money style, but covering climate change, the oil industry, the Arctic and so much more. Mostly radio, but interested in web, video and data people, too. 
 
I work in Sitka, but can attest to the wild adventures of being an Alaskan reporter. 
Three openings: an editor and two reporters, in Juneau and Anchorage. First application review is May 2.


Feet in 2 Worlds workshop on climate change and sustainability reporting for immigrant and community journalists

Two great upcoming events from Feet in 2 Worlds. Details below! Application deadline May 2.
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Feet in 2 Worlds is accepting applications for a workshop to help immigrant and community journalists sharpen their reporting on climate change, sustainability and resilience.  The workshop will be held on Monday, May 23 from 3PM to 8PM at The New School in New York City.
Workshop attendees will also be admitted to an all-day conference exploring new ideas about parks and public spaces on the following day, Tuesday, May 24, also at The New School.
The deadline to apply to the workshop is May 2.
JOHN RUDOLPH
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
FEET IN 2 WORLDS
72 FIFTH AVE. 6TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10011
RUDOLPHJ@newschool.edu
603.498.5480

The New School

PITCH to NPR’s Latino USA!

Pitch Latino USA! A few notes from them follow, along with their most recent theme list. Some fun ideas in there! Deadlines are rolling. -Mia
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Over the last few years our style has shifted towards towards longish-form stories with a storytelling focus and a lot of personality, usually with the goal of illuminating issues facing Latinos and people of color today. Fun, quirky or offbeat encouraged.

We're interested in all sorts of formats and lengths. Many of the freelance stories we take are in the 7m-12m range, but we're open to longer (or shorter, for that matter). And, we pay very competitive rates for freelance pieces.

We're also super interested in collaborations with other shows and podcasts, we'd love to hear your ideas.

Please pitch through our website www.latinousa.org/submit 

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POLITICS (ongoing throughout the year)
We’re looking for many stories in the lead-up to the election, including pieces about first-time voters, demographic shifts, and places where voting laws could have a big impact on Latino turnout. We’d also like stories about local races that highlight issues at play in the larger election.
We do NOT want stories that are just about the horse race or simply tell us that a non-profit group is trying to get out the vote. We’re looking for pieces that show the human side of the election, with interesting characters that reflect why people vote the way they do and what various campaign positions could mean for ordinary people. We’re especially looking for under-reported stories from the Midwest and the South.

Possible angles:

– First-generation Americans voting for the first time in a household where parents can’t vote; first time someone joins a get out the vote effort and/or joins activism in politics; first Latino candidate running in a local race where elected officials are mostly white.

– This is also the first time that two Latino candidates have been in the running for president yet Cruz and Rubio face criticism about their “Latin-ness." We are looking for stories that address this, especially in their home states of Texas and Florida.

– We want to explore how/if media coverage – both local and national – differs in Spanish media news outlets in the US like Univision and Telemundo.

MIGRATION IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
Latino USA often focuses on immigration to the US from Latin America, but this is just a piece of a larger global phenomenon. We’re looking for stories from all over the world that help explain how and why people are moving from one part of planet Earth to another – with a particular emphasis on how issues like war, climate change and the economy are all factors.

MONEY
Stories about all aspects of finance and making a living: minimum wage battles; banks that cater to Latinos; discrimination and redlining; and access to bank accounts and home loans for Latinos at different income levels.

FITTING IN

A large part of the immigrant experience is about learning to fit in. We’re looking for stories about assimilation and resisting assimilation, succeeding or failing at fitting in. Also stories about coming to the US, from either a personal or a news-driven angle.

PREGNANCY

Stories about pregnancy and reproductive health. For example: the effect of one’s culture on the experience or treatment of postpartum depression; pregnancy and birthing practices that complement a woman’s cultural practices and beliefs; different ideals and expectations of motherhood based on one’s own culture or upbringing.

IN THE PIPELINE
Things that set people on a path, for better or worse. Story examples include the school-to-prison pipeline and the lack of a pipeline in the Catholic Church, where young Latinos who are undocumented can’t become part of the clergy.

BALANCING ACT
Stories about people in precarious situations or navigating conflicting pressures; being caught between two forces or two people; giving something up in order to gain something else.

GAGGED
When do you keep silent and when do you speak out? What is the cost of each?
One example is a story we have in the pipeline about the Chilean band Los Prisioneros, which pushed the limits of censorship during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Now they’re considered iconic.

WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE

The experiences of women of color in the workforce, as they face a particular set of barriers that white women have the privilege of avoiding (racism, classism, colorism, not just sexism).
Possible angles: ideals of “professionalism” imposed upon women of color, based on white standards of beauty and respectability; bosses who are women of color, including their challenges, their management style and how their subordinates treat them; the impact of workplace discrimination on women of color; and balancing a woman’s need to advocate for herself with the pressure of not wanting to be seen as a rabble-rouser.

TIPPING POINT

Stories about people, places, or events reaching the tipping point. Watershed moments that sparked change or created some kind of critical action, perhaps after simmering below the surface for some time.

SIBLINGS
Siblings living far apart, perhaps in separate countries; people who are brothers or sisters in spirit if not in blood. We’re open to all kinds of ideas on this one!

SILVER SCREEN

Stories about iconic Latino films; profiles of foreign filmmakers; images of Latinos in movies.

CRYING

From soap opera memes to La Llorona (the crying woman), tears play an interesting role in Latino culture. We’ll dive into the cultural history and science of crying and try to answer the question: Do Latinos cry more? We are looking for personal stories about crying and other ideas the topic may spark.

BOYS, MEN, FATHERHOOD, MACHISMO
From how young boys are doing in school, to how Latino notions of masculinity affect different part of men’s lives – from dating to the workplace to fatherhood. Also, the intersections of sexuality and machismo and challenging old paradigms of masculinity.

SOCCER/FUTBOL

With the US hosting the Copa América Centenario this summer, we’re focusing on “the beautiful game” and the hold it has on the American continent – let alone the world. We’re looking for stories of rabid fandom, split allegiance, and the ways in which a love of soccer has changed people’s lives for better or worse. Also, soccer’s growing popularity in the US and what contributions our country’s growing Latino community has brought to the sport, and vice versa.

CARS

Stories about Latinos and car culture. For example: the past and present of low riders, the consequences of being undocumented and ineligible for a driver’s license, and life at a car dealership in New York. Bring us cool stories about cars!

BRAZIL

Brazil is the largest country in Latin America and one of the world’s biggest economies. But for nearly 400,000 Brazilian-Americans, there’s a nagging question: Do we count as Latinos? For this episode, we’re seeking stories about Brazil and how Brazilians fit into the American tapestry. Personal narratives and pieces about identity, culture, politics and family histories are welcome. We’re open to all kinds of pitches for this one, surprise us!

COLLEGE

Stories that show the experiences of Latinos on college campuses.

THE CIA IN LATIN AMERICA

For much of the latter 20th century, the US Central Intelligence Agency played an active role in Latin American politics, toppling governments and installing others at it saw fit. In this history show, we visit some of the most outlandish chapters in the CIA’s Latin America histories, from explosive cigars to covert infiltration of the Cuban hip-hop scene. Pitch us one we haven’t heard about yet, or a fresh angle about a famous one.

@shareable is looking for a freelance feature on the future of libraries, application deadline April 25

A new opportunity for the FC community – Shareable is looking for a freelance feature writer to produce an in-depth story on the future of libraries. Compensation will be worked out with candidates directly – contact info below. Application deadline April 25. 
Feel free to report back and let me know what it's like to work for them!
Best,
Mia
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If you like libraries and long form reporting, we've got the perfect gig for you. 
 
We're looking for a reporter with a strong background in feature writing for magazines or other outlets to produce an in-depth piece (2,500-4,000 words) on the future of libraries. This piece should offer new and thought-provoking ideas to the conversation about what's in store for these vital institutions in the years to come. 
 
Prior experience covering libraries would be ideal, of course, but not mandatory. What is essential is the ability to seek out diverse and intriguing voices and connect the dots on emerging trends. 
 
Other key skills include:
  • Capacity to do extensive research and reporting
  • Ability to write clear and concise prose
  • Attention to spelling and grammar
  • Commitment to meeting deadlines
If you're interested, fill out this Application for Feature Writer by April 25, 2016. 
 
If you've got questions, feel free to reach out to us at info [at] shareable [dot] net. 
 
We look forward to hearing from you!

Two new job opportunities at KALW Public Radio, application deadline April 28

Hello FC folks. KALW has TWO job openings for editors in their newsroom. One for Crosscurrents and one for The Spiritual Edge. The deadline for both positions is Thursday, April 28, 2016, 11:59 PT. Spread the word! There's great stuff going on at that station.

Cheers, Mia

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STORY EDITOR POSITION:

The KALW News team is looking for an experienced radio journalism story editor to work on our daily news magazine Crosscurrents. You’ll work in a highly collaborative and supportive newsroom, joining our award-winning team producing long-form features and innovative podcasts. Your primary job will be to work with journalists and storytellers, help them craft reporting plans, follow through with advice during their reporting process, provide insightful edits, and help deliver memorable stories.

Crosscurrents airs Monday through Thursday evenings on KALW public radio in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our tagline is “context, culture, and connection,” and we deliver through sonically rich, thought-provoking stories. We seek to represent reporters' authentic voices while maintaining the highest journalistic standards. We often employ cinematic elements, including natural sound from field recordings, archival audio and music to enhance storytelling.

As part of its mission, the KALW News department trains many people in the art and craft of journalistic audio storytelling. It makes for a dynamic and energized newsroom with a changing cast. We have a steady team of experienced core staffers and contributors with whom you’ll work most closely, but you’ll also work with people who are still learning to do this work well.

This is an independent contract position for 20 hours a week, beginning July 1, 2016. The contract is for one year. Candidates must reside in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Job Requirements:

Experience editing feature-length audio stories (preferably for other radio shows, podcasts, and the like)

Competence using Google Drive

Solid interpersonal skills – our newsroom is diverse and fun and sometimes a little crazy

An editorial ear, i.e., an ear that can detect what’s boring or confusing, both in language and in sound

Must attend Wednesday editorial meetings at KALW but can otherwise work remotely

KALW has another contract editorial position available working on our project The Spiritual Edge, and if candidates are interested, we may consider combining the jobs.

We encourage a diverse pool of applicants from a variety of backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. We value diversity.

To apply, please send a cover letter, CV, clips or links, and references to KALWapplications@gmail.com. Application deadline is Thursday, April 28, 2016, 11:59 PT.

THE SPIRITUAL EDGE STORY EDITOR POSITION:

The KALW News team is looking for an experienced radio journalism story editor to work on a special project called The Spiritual Edge (TSE), exploring the innovative American spirit through the lens of spirituality and religion. This initiative, launched in 2014, will be directed toward building a national audience and launching a podcast with stories coming from KALW reporters and from around the country.

The hire will edit long-form feature stories for TSE and some stories for KALW's nightly news and culture show Crosscurrents, participate in weekly TSE editorial meetings, and write or otherwise help deliver TSE blog posts every other week. We are looking for motivated candidates invested in the project.

We deliver sonically rich, thought-provoking stories. We seek to represent reporters' authentic voices while maintaining the highest journalistic standards. We often employ cinematic elements, including natural sound from field recordings, archival audio and music to enhance storytelling.

This is an independent contract position for 20 hours a week, beginning July 1, 2016. The contract is for one year. Candidates must reside in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Job Requirements:

Experience editing feature-length audio stories (preferably for other radio shows, podcasts, and the like)

Competence using Google Drive

Solid interpersonal skills – our newsroom is diverse and fun and sometimes a little crazy

An editorial ear, i.e., an ear that can detect what’s boring or confusing, both in language and in sound

KALW has another open contract position for a story editor on Crosscurrents. We would consider combining the jobs for the right candidate.

KALW encourages a diverse pool of applicants from a variety of backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. We value diversity.

To apply, please send a cover letter, CV, clips or links, and references to KALWapplications@gmail.com. Application deadline is Thursday, April 28, 2016, 11:59 PT.


Werk It! Women’s Podcast Festival, June 15-17, NYC, application deadline April 15

Join the movers and shakers in public media today at the three-day women's podcast festival WERK IT, June 15-17 at WNYC's Greene Space. Application deadline is April 15. It's gonna be guuuuuuud! -Mia
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Werk It: A Women’s Podcast Festival

The Jerome L. Greene Space at New York Public Radio

44 Charlton Street

New York, NY 10013

http://www.wnyc.org/werkit/

werkit@wnyc.org

Werk It brings together women working in audio and digital media who are looking to hone their skills, meet others in their field, and learn from peers and experienced industry professionals. It includes three nights of live podcast tapings and two days of workshops and panels aimed at women working in audio and digital media.

While the live tapings in the evenings will be ticketed for general admission, admittance to the day-time activities is by application only. 

Follow the link on the website to apply. The deadline is April 15, 2016.

Note: There are no application or registration fees but accepted applicants will be responsible for their travel and accommodation.

For those unable to attend, many of the events will be live streamed on the website and the audio will be archived on wnyc.org.

Werk It, part of WNYC’s Women’s Voices initiative, is funded in part by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

2016 ShortDocs Challenge – Radio Cinema – from Third Coast, deadline May 17

This is probably my favorite competition out there – the Third Coast ShortDocs Challenge. And this year's theme is so much fun – finding inspiration from mini-movies! Details are below – deadline is May 17. GO FOR IT!

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The 2016 ShortDocs Challenge: Radio Cinema is live live live. 

This year’s Challenge is all about getting inspired by conventions of film. Let's show the world that RADIO really is the most visual of mediums.

Our artistic partner is Manual Cinema, an amazing film-inspired collective based in Chicago (you mighta seen them at Pop-Up Magazine last year.) Rule #1 of the Radio Cinema Challenge? Get inspired by one of their made-just-for-ShortDocs mini-movies

A couple of cool things about this year's ShortDocs Challenge:

1. ALL the submissions go up on our website (like always!) 

2. A winning piece will be chosen by Manual Cinema & turned into a live-on-stage cinematic performance.

3. Four ShortDocs winners will receive gratis registration to the 2016 Third Coast Conference (Nov 11-13) & other perks galore. 


Pitch Reveal

See below for how to pitch the fantastic investigative reporting program, Reveal. (Contact info is in the link.) -Mia
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https://www.revealnews.org/pitching-reveal/

Hello Revealers,

So you want to expose a hidden story, take us to a place nobody has ever been, or uncover a secret others want to keep under wraps?

Tell us about your story by filling out the pitch form at the bottom of this page.

Here are a few pointers on what we are looking for and how we approach our editing process.

As you may have guessed, a Reveal story reveals something that we don’t know or is hidden from us.

Our stories involve interesting characters. We like good talkers.

Reveal reporters take us to a “place” – we are immersed in the narrative, we can hear what is going on in the manner of “show, don’t tell.”

We let our listeners hear what our characters are grappling with and what is going on in their environment.

We like tape that contains action and tells a story, is visual, and helps us experience the high stakes some of our characters experience.

Our stories have plot, they surprise us and/or challenge our listeners and characters.

Once the field work is done and all the tape is gathered, our editing involves collaborative listening sessions, story edits, a legal vetting, and usually takes between four to six weeks to complete.

We will review every pitch, but it could take us a couple weeks to get back to you. So, please be patient.