https://current.org/writing-for-current/
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Who reads Current?
Current’s primary audience is made up of people who work at public radio and television stations, networks and production companies.
Our readers typically expect more details and context in coverage of public media than what other publications usually provide. They also expect reporting that takes them behind the scenes to explore developments that affect their work and helps them understand the thinking behind decisions that shape programs, policies and special initiatives.
We aim to provide public media professionals with valuable insights and information that helps them and their institutions reach new levels of success.
Submissions from freelance journalists
We are particularly interested in these kinds of stories:
- Profiles of people working in public media who have achieved notable goals for stations or networks. Beyond hosts and other talents who are well known to audiences, we look for subjects whose experiences and knowledge offer windows that reflect on public media’s goals for community service.
- Features about new radio shows, TV shows and podcasts in local and national public media, and coverage of how long-running programs are adapting to new platforms and audience expectations.
- Developments in public media programming, fundraising, station ownership and federal policy that influence or inform the work of public media professionals.
- Trends in media usage, distribution and revenue strategies and how they affect public media, including competition, new technologies, content development and the regulatory environment.
- New strategies for audience service and engagement, especially among local stations that have developed new approaches for responding to community needs or reaching underserved populations.
If you’d like to explore our website to get a sense of what we usually cover and review all the reporting shared as links above, we can grant temporary access behind our paywall.
Submit your pitch to pitch@current.org.
Submissions from public media professionals
Current frequently publishes contributions from people working in public media. We are especially interested in:
- Reflections on best practices in leadership, fundraising, programming, engagementand other aspects of public media
- “How we did it” stories: how your station/network/production company/etc. developed and introduced a successful new idea
- Commentaries and opinion pieces about trends and developments, or addressing challenges that stations, networks or funders are working to resolve.
We don’t pay public media professionals for submissions unless the piece requires unusual levels of research, travel and/or gathering of data. Commentaries that are too self-promotional — written to market a show or service to public media — will not be accepted. It’s okay to describe your successes, but be sure to explain the challenges, setbacks or learning process that informed your approach.
If marketing and promotion are what you’re after, consider placing advertising in Current, including sponsored content.
Send your pitches or completed drafts to pitch@current.org.
Rewind
Rewind, our series about the history of public media, specializes in essays illuminating people, institutions and milestones in public broadcasting history that still resonate today. Many of our Rewind pieces are derived from research and writing projects undertaken by scholars in media history. Submit ideas, excerpts and completed drafts to series co-editor Mike Janssen at mike@current.org.
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