Category Archives: Pitches

calls for pitches

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.

DETOUR Call for Pitches in NYC, LA, and Chicago, deadlines 4/15 and 4/30

Detour is looking for producers to pitch audio tours in NYC, LA, and Chicago. Deadline for NYC & Chicago is April 15. For LA, it’s April 30. Details below!

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Detour, “the world’s coolest audio guides,” is coming to New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. We’re hiring producers with experience in radio, television, and film to help us create immersive walks through these cities that show what makes them incredible. Great Detours are like documentary films that you walk around in, not just a travelogue or list of stops. Take a look at all the Detours we’ve made in San Francisco for a sense of what we mean.

We’ll produce 10 Detours in each city, each 45 – 60 minutes long, between now and October. We like working with people who can tackle 2 or 3 Detours per city, so feel free to submit several ideas! The places we are particularly interested in for each city are listed in terms of “must do” and “would do” on each city’s submission page. Everywhere on the list could be tackled in a variety of ways, so be imaginative and think in terms of stories and themes. You’re also welcome to pitch places & ideas that aren’t on the list. Just double check our guidelines before you do.  

How To Pitch:

  1. Read our guidelines.

  2. Send us your pitch through Submittable

Questions? Send to info@detour.com and we’ll get right back with you.

Latino USA call for pitches

Latino USA wants your pitches!! Please submit your pitches to www.latinousa.org/submitPitch meetings take place every Friday, and they try to get back to reporters early the following week. Good luck!

-mia



IN THE PIPELINE – AIR DATE 4/8/2016
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.

MARIJUANA – AIR DATE 4/15/2016
As the nation inches slowly toward marijuana legalization, this show will look at the ways in which the drug itself, the drug market, and enforcement approaches like harsh sentencing and stop-and-frisk are affecting Latino communities. We also want to explore how legalizing the drug can both help and hurt communities of color. Who really stands to benefit from marijuana legalization, and who stands to lose? And what will happen to the people locked up for crimes that might no longer be crimes in the near future?

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 are in the running for president yet Cruz and Rubio face criticism about their “Latinidad.” 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.

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. 


WHYY’s The Pulse seeks pitches on The New War on Drugs, deadline Feb 8

Pitch The Pulse! Details below – deadline Feb 8.
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WHYY’s “The Pulse” is actively seeking pitches from reporters and producers for an upcoming show dedicated to understanding what’s become of the “War on Drugs.” With a nationwide opioid crisis raging, our jails full, and our understanding of the addicted brain perpetually changing, it’s hard to not think our society is losing the long-fought battle against one of the trickiest public health threats we’ve ever faced—addiction. But many folks think that by incorporating science and the language of disease into the battle, we could be at a turning point. We’re interested in stories about how people and organizations are tackling the conundrum of addiction and waging a new kind of war against drug addiction.

We pay approximately $100 per produced minute, though that rate can vary depending on your reporting plan. Please send pitches by Monday, February 8th to pulsepitch@whyy.org.

“The Pulse” is a weekly, hour-long show about health, science, and innovation produced by Philadelphia NPR affiliate WHYY. Learn more about our show on AIR’s Pitch Page.

Looking forward to working with you!

Joel Patterson
Managing Editor


Latino USA Call for Pitches

Here's the latest call for pitches from the fine folks at Latino USA.
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Saludos!
Latino USA is looking for story ideas for the show themes listed below. You can submit pitches to this link: www.latinousa.org/submit/.
If you’re pitching for the first time, please include some information about your background and links to a couple of samples of your audio work.
Pitch meetings take place on Friday afternoons, and we try to reply to reporters early the following week.
Thank you!
Leda Hartman
Editor, NPR’s Latino USA
919-542-0008
ledahart@mindspring.com
www.latinousa.org

THE TRUMP EFFECT – 2/19/2016
The rise of leading Republican candidates like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz has coincided with an increase in anti-immigrant and anti “other” rhetoric across the country. We’d like to look at local or statewide political races where that rhetoric and/or xenophobia might be at play. These stories can include not just Latinos, but people from groups being targeted by this kind rhetoric, including Muslims. We’re also seeking stories about Latinos who have become more motivated to vote because a Trump candidacy scares them. And Latinos who are not just Trump supporters, but are working to get people to vote for him.

HIDDEN HISTORY OF THE SOUTHWEST – 3/11/2016
Stories from the bloody history of the Southwestern US, from Texas to New Mexico to California. After the Mexican-American war ended in 1848, the Southwest went through a process of conversion from Mexican to US territory. We're interested in stories of lynchings, discrimination, segregation, ethnic cleansing and rebellion from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

LATINO HISTORY OF ROCK & ROLL – 3/25/2016
We want to tell the (mostly untold) stories of Latino contributions to rock 'n' roll. The history is generally seen in terms of white and black, but Latinos have been there throughout, as stars, sidemen, label execs and fans. Looking specifically for offbeat, surprising stories about Latinos in rock with a strong arc, rather than artist profiles.

MIGRATION IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT – 4/1/2016
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 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.

MARIJUANA – 4/15/2016
As the nation inches slowly toward marijuana legalization, this show will look at the ways in which the drug itself, the drug market, and enforcement approaches like harsh sentencing and stop-and-frisk are affecting Latino communities. But we also want to explore how legalizing the drug can both help and hurt communities of color. Who really stands to benefit from marijuana legalization, and who stands to lose? And what will happen to the people locked up for crimes that might no longer be crimes in the near future?

CRYING – 4/22/2016
From Soap Opera memes to La Llorona, tears play an interesting role in Latino culture. Latino USA will 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, MACHISMO – 6/17/2016
From how young boys are doing in school, to how ideas of masculinity affect dating and job prospects.

SOCCER/FUTBOL – 6/24/2016
With the U.S. 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. Of interest to us is 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 – 7/22/2016
We’re looking at the history 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 – 8/12/2016
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 – 9/9/2016
Stories that show the experience of Latinos on college campuses.

THE CIA IN LATIN AMERICA – 9/16/2016
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.

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.


call for pitches from online magazine Broken Toilets

The online magazine about global development and culture, Broken Toilets, is preparing it's 3rd issue and wants your pitches. Details below.


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Broken Toilets magazine wants your Open Data pitch.

 

Over a series of issues, Broken Toilets is exploring the question of how “openness” informs the design, implementation, monitoring, and financing of development programs, policies, and goals. We’ll be examining “openness” from a few different fronts, but we’re currently seeking content for the first issue of the series, Open Data.  

Open data, or data that is free for distribution and use, is now a critical part of global development. Breezy surveys will ascribe open data with the potential to fight corruption, reveal savvy business ideas, build smart(er) cities, and solve civic problems. Open data can bring more transparency and accountability to governance, development and aid, and is now widely acknowledged as critical.  After failing to adequately capture data that would track MDG progress, the global goals have emphasized open data as a core aspect of their monitoring approach. 

 

This is not to say that these conversations are new. Communities of open data enthusiasts are all over the world and their conversations (often in geek speak), assert the potential for technology that brings more effectiveness and transparency through portals, apps, dashboards, etc. or through citizen-focused initiatives to liberate data, like hacking for a cause. 

 

With millions of dollars of support, open data initiatives are starting up in places once closed (like Myanmar), or brand new (like South Sudan) with aims of building greater accountability structures into governments, funding agents and multilateral organizations. But this openness raises concerns about privacy and cybersecurity, the digital haves and have-nots, and whether technology can breach prevailing social structures. 

 

For Broken Toilets’ third issue, we’re interested in how the enthusiasm for open and free data turns into policy change at the local, state, country, and global levels. How has having access to loads of free data been used for positive change? In other words, what’s worked? We’re also interested in its disruptive potential – has open data challenged development paradigms, both domestically and at a global level? And if the goal of open data in development is for localized impact at scale, how do we make vital data that holds institutions accountable, more open? For more details, see the full Call for Pitches.


Pitch is looking for pitches!

Pitch, the podcast wants your pitches! Details below.

-mia

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About Pitch: 
Pitch is a critically acclaimed podcast about music. We have a devoted audience, and we’ve been featured in places like BuzzFeed, NPR, and The Atlantic. The stories we make are thoughtfully reported, highly produced, and they engage our audience to think expansively about the world of music.
We’re starting work on an ambitious new season, and we’re now accepting story pitches.
Who we want to receive pitches from: 
Musicians, academics, music journalists, investigative journalists, radio producers, and anyone else with stories that fit our criteria.
Stories that we want you to pitch us should:
  • Speak to something larger about music.
  • Have a unique perspective, viewpoint, or argument to provide. 
  • Feature a diverse set of voices and represent a wide variety of perspectives on each given topic.
Types of stories we’re looking for: 
From musicians: Stuff about music you’ve noticed, obsessed over, or have been curious about. Maybe the stories have never been reported on, or have been reported on poorly, incorrectly, or from a narrow perspective. You (and your interviewees) have a unique perspective to provide.
From academics: Stories that make research into the nooks and crannies of music accessible in a more immediate/public way, and would make a great audio piece. 
From music journalists: Big, ambitious stories you’ve always wanted to do but have never had the time/resources/institutional support for. The stories would have a heavy focus on reporting or might be personal in a way that engages our audience to think expansively about the world of music. Or things you’ve written that could be better (or differently) served in audio.
From investigative journalists: Anything you have where music plays a central role in your investigation.
From radio producers and anyone else: Stories that you can tell from a unique perspective that engage our audience to think expansively about the world of music.
Things we don’t do:
  • Review albums
  • Profile artists
  • Highlight projects
  • Curate content
How to pitch us:
Please email your pitches to pitches@pitchpodcast.org. Pitches should include (in about 500 words) answers to the following questions: What is the story? What is the central idea of the story? Who will you talk to? Why are you interested in reporting it? How does it connect to the criteria above?
We can’t respond personally to everyone who reaches out, but if we want to move forward with your pitch, we’ll be in touch within a few weeks.

Making Contact Call for Pitches

The latest call from Making Contact. Good folks over there!
-mia
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Dear Freelancers,

We want your pitches! Making Contact is assembling a team of freelance journalists to examine how immigrants in the U.S. participate in politics and are responding to the 2016 elections.

Two freelancers have already joined the project. Their work will specifically examine issues Latino/a communities are confronting in the upcoming elections. We’re looking for character-driven stories that focus on how other immigrant communities engage in U.S. politics. Here are some themes we’re interested in exploring:
– What interest is there in running for elected office in the U.S. and what are the barriers?
– What impact will new voter ID laws have on voter turnout?
– What factors contribute to disparities in electoral participation within different communities?
– What other ways are communities organizing to influence politics locally and/or nationally?
– How is campaign financing influencing immigration rhetoric and policies?

Got an idea, let us know!

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.

We're interested in pitches for sound-rich segments of about 7 minutes. For these special segments by reporters who have a history of covering immigrant communities, we will pay $700.

As with any pitches you send us, please check out our show and read our guidelines before you pitch. http://www.radioproject.org/production/submission-guidelines/

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?
– 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 look forward to hearing from you!
Laura Flynn and Jasmín López
Making Contact Producers


Happy New Year, and the latest call for pitches from Upworthy

Happy new year freelancers! I've got big plans for FC in 2016 so keep spreading the word and keep an eye out for a bigger, better website! In the meantime, here's the latest from Upworthy.

Cheers,
Mia

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Hi Upworthy freelancers,


Happy 2016!



As per usual, we'd like to call out some of our most viewed and most shared stories from December 2015:
Cheers to these pieces! Awesome work, and a great spread of topics and writing.
We also have 3 other reminders for you this month:

1. Our freelance program manager is out for two weeks in January, so we'll be a bit delayed in responding to pitches and emails. Expect responses from us during the week of January 18th, and please know that we're doing our best to get through pitches and questions quickly.

2. We're now using a Google Form to collect your pitches (instead of email). So it would be great if you could submit your story ideas using that form from now on. Questions can still be directed to pitches@upworthy.com!

3. Our fearless leader, Amy O'Leary, wrote a great year-end round up about what we've been up to at Upworthy in 2015, and we hope you'll read it here.

But we also hope you'll take note of how she pitched 3 stories in that blog. Each is 2-4 sentences, and a perfect elevator pitch. When we ask you to summarize your story in that pitch form, this is what we want: the characters, the conflict, the surprise, and the meaning… all wrapped up in a few short sentences.

This is tough work, but when we see pitches like this, we celebrate
​… and then we pick them up right away.

One last thing: We're always looking for stories not topics. Climate change is a topic. Gun control is a topic. A story, on the other hand, has characters, drama, great photos, surprising details, and a narrative arc. Check out our pitching packet to be reminded of this!

We look forward to hearing from you this month!
All of the best,
The Upworthy Freelance Team

pitch a documentary for BBC’s World Stories 2016, deadline Feb 29

Amazing opportunity from the BBC. Initial deadline Feb 29. Details HERE and below. 

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Do you have an inspiring documentary programme idea? If so, we are offering you the chance to create your own radio programme for a truly global audience.

World Stories is a new documentary series from the BBC World Service that offers programme-makers from around the world the opportunity to produce an innovative piece of radio storytelling that will surprise and inform a global audience. We want to be challenged, surprised and moved by your stories, themes, treatments and ambition.

We will commission four original documentaries from four experienced radio producers from around the world. The subjects chosen and the way you treat them can be challenging in both form and execution and it is worth remembering that 80% of our audience have English as a second language.

The selected documentaries will be allocated a maximum of £6,600 (9,882 USD) to cover all costs incurred by the programme – eg travel, studios, equipment, presenters, contributor fees, rights clearance, hotels, expenses etc. The programmes will need to be delivered in two different durations – 23 minutes and 26 minutes 30 seconds – in line with the usual BBC programme clock, and must adhere to the BBC Guidelines –click here for more details.

We will also look at the best ways to enhance these stories online and digitally either in written, visual or audio form.

Listen to the documentaries below to get a feel for what we are looking for in the next series of World Stories – you can find these at bbcworldservice.com/worldstories and listen to more documentaries from the World Service at bbcworldservice.com/thedocumentary.

Step One: Initial proposals should come in the form of a 200 word outline to be received no later than Monday 29 February, 2016. Entries should be emailed to World Stories Commissioning

Listen to a selection of our documentaries