Current seeks freelance writers

Did you know? Current takes pitches from freelance writers! Details in this link and pasted below:
https://current.org/writing-for-current/

+++++++++++++++++


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:

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:

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.

Job postings from @KALW’s The Spiritual Edge

Gigs available at KALW – a fab station!
-mia
++++++++++++++++
KALW's award-winning reporting project The Spiritual Edge is seeking an experienced editor(s) for three exciting projects. Email judysilber@gmail.com for more information.
The three positions are the following:
1. KALW Public Radio seeks an experienced part-time audio editor to work on an exciting project that will profile leading human rights activists around the globe.

KALW’s The Spiritual Edge is partnering with the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture to produce 18 audio stories about “Spiritual Exemplars” around the world. Spiritual Exemplars are defined as extraordinary people working on humanitarian causes, such as poverty and human rights, who are inspired and sustained by their spiritual beliefs and practices. We imagine that these will be sound-rich, strong human-interest stories of 8-20 minute in length, produced in a variety of audio styles. Final products will air on KALW and will also be put together as a podcast series.


We just finished selection of a small group of seasoned and talented journalists and are now seeking an editor to help guide the reporting, edit scripts and mixes, and help design the overall sound and feel. The ideal candidate will have past professional editing experience, is a creative thinker, works well collaboratively and is interested in telling nuanced stories about religion that neither vilify nor exalt. International reporting or editing experience is a plus. Bay Area residence is preferred. Second best would be within the Pacific standard time zone. And if you’re really good, and are located elsewhere, we still want to hear from you.

This is a part-time position that will pay $36,000 to edit 18 in-depth feature stories over the next two-plus years, and up to 10 additional short, non-narrated, StoryCorps-like pieces. Other than reporters, with whom you’ll work from pitch to completion,  you will be working with KALW sound engineers and the executive editor of The Spiritual Edge. We anticipate a rigorous editing process, including group edits, to ensure stories of the highest quality.

KALW is a chill, fun, creative working environment where audio journalists are encouraged to experiment and grow. Women and POC encouraged to apply. Deadline to apply is Tuesday, April 23. Please include a resume and cover letter that tells us why this project appeals to you and why you think you’re qualified. Please also include clips that you’ve edited and a note about how you contributed to the final product. Send to thespiritualedgeradio@gmail.com.


2. KALW Public Radio seeks a part-time editor to become part of a team working on an eight-part broadcast/podcast series about a Native American tribe in Northern California.


The project is complex and ambitious in the ground it hopes to cover. The tribe is fighting to save its sacred sites. In addition, the series will wrestle with how the state and federal government approach water resources, land ownership, and recognition of tribes and their religious rights.

Our ideal editor has great storytelling skills and journalism chops to help guide two reporters as they do original reporting. The reporting will cover questions about the tribe’s loss of land, the reasons for its non-federally recognized status and a water district pushing policies that would irreversibly harm sacred sites. Once the reporting is done, the editor will be expected to work with the journalists on structure, script writing and sound design.

We’re looking for someone with previous professional editing experience. S/he has edited complex subjects that involve cultural sensitivity and has experience working with the Native American community. The candidate enjoys getting creative when it comes to sound. Bay Area residence is preferred. Second best would be within the Pacific standard time zone. And if you’re really good, and are located elsewhere, we still want to hear from you.


Total compensation is $24,000. We anticipate doing regular check-ins with the editor through about October, which is when we plan to start writing scripts and when the work of the editor will become more intense. Release of the podcast is planned for early 2020.  


KALW is a chill, fun, creative working environment where audio journalists are encouraged to experiment and grow. Women and POC encouraged to apply. Deadline to apply is Tuesday, April 30. Please include a resume and cover letter that tells us why this project appeals to you and why you think you’re qualified. Please also include clips that you’ve edited and a note about how you contributed to the final product. Send to thespiritualedgeradio@gmail.com.


3. KALW Public Radio seeks a part-time editor to become part of a team working on a seven-part broadcast/podcast series about Muslim converts in the United States.

The series is part of KALW’s reporting project The Spiritual Edge which began airing stories in 2014. We’re launching a podcast in which we’re using religion as a tool to tell complex stories and go deep into one of the fastest growing religions in the world.

Our ideal editor has great storytelling skills and journalism chops to help guide an experienced KALW reporter and one-two freelancers as they do this original reporting. The series about Muslim Converts will center around personal stories, but also investigate trends such as the religious dilemmas faced by many American women converts, the Black Muslim movement and online radicalization.

We’re looking for someone with previous professional editing experience. S/he has edited subjects with cultural sensitivity and ideally knows something about the Muslim community. The candidate enjoys getting creative when it comes to sound. Bay Area residence is preferred. Second best would be within the Pacific standard time zone. And if you’re really good, and are located elsewhere, we still want to hear from you.

Total compensation is $24,000. We anticipate that the total length of the project will be about a year. This will include regular check-ins followed by bursts of more intense activity as stories are being scripted and edited. Release of the podcast is planned for spring of 2020.


KALW is a chill, fun, creative working environment where audio journalists are encouraged to experiment and grow. Women and POC encouraged to apply. Deadline to apply is Tuesday, April 30. Please include a resume and cover letter that tells us why this project appeals to you and why you think you’re qualified. Please also include clips that you’ve edited and a note about how you contributed to the final product. Send to thespiritualedgeradio@gmail.com.


Oral History Summer School workshops 2019, Hudson, NY – applications open now

Hey FC folks! I can speak from experience when I say that Oral History Summer School is WELL worth it. Details for their upcoming season below.
-mia

+++++++++++++

Applications are now open for Oral History Summer School 2019! We have two workshops in Hudson, NY this summer:
June 10 – June 19
June 27 – July 2

Come all ye budding oral historians, artists, advocates, and researchers who wish to make of use of oral history in your practices. More information and registration on our website: www.oralhistorysummerschool.com

two jobs available at San Francisco Public Press

Bay area gigs! Details below.
-mia
https://sfpublicpress.org/blog/2019-04/san-francisco-public-press-seeks-radio-host-reporter
https://sfpublicpress.org/blog/2019-04/san-francisco-public-press-seeks-radio-producer

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

San Francisco Public Press Seeks Radio Host / Reporter

The San Francisco Public Press is a nonprofit news organization that provides independent analysis of government and other powerful interests through in-depth investigative reports published online and in a quarterly print edition. We cover politics, housing, education, environment, labor, economics, immigration, health, public safety and a range of other topics. You can learn more at our website, sfpublicpress.org. We are expanding the scope of our work with more frequent, detailed coverage of local government by adding podcasts and terrestrial radio broadcasts via a new independent radio station.

We are seeking an experienced radio / print journalist to host a daily audio program and post news articles focused on San Francisco City Hall. The radio program will consist of one-on-one interviews and roundtable discussions about timely topics with elected officials, city employees, subject-matter experts and community members who care about important local issues. Segments will audio and video stream online and go live on KSFP, a low-power FM radio station that begins broadcasting on 102.5 FM in San Francisco this summer. Segments may also run on local and regional partner public radio stations.

The show will guide listeners through the daily news of local government and provide context and depth for complex, evolving policy stories, well before they’re placed on a ballot or presented publicly by agencies. The show also will tackle civic education topics. Our goal is ambitious: To create the essential audio news source about the inner-workings of one of the world’s great cities. And you will have a role in collaborating to build an audio news product from scratch, and continuing to refine it based on responses from listeners and the community.

WE’RE SEEKING A RADIO / PRINT JOURNALIST WHO

* Is a news hound, with an insatiable appetite for and familiarity with local current affairs.
* Has experience and fluency in sparking open and in-depth conversation and dialogue.
* Can be welcoming while maintaining a critical distance from sources who may opine on controversial topics.
* Knows how local government works and who the key players are.
* Maintains high editorial standards and sound news judgment.
* Can work independently and can collaborate with others in a small team.
* Demonstrates excellent writing, editing, and fact-checking skills and can work on short deadlines.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

* Hosting a daily show featuring live on-air interviews, with introductory scripts based on research.
* Generating guest lists and show ideas, and pre-recording interviews when necessary.
* Reporting on local policy issues when news breaks and coordinating with senior editor on web and print stories.
* Working with a producer to refine, post and promote podcast segments and Facebook Live broadcast.
* Collaborating with Public Press editorial staff to facilitate in-depth reporting projects.
* Assisting with social media, community engagement and live events.
* Making occasional public appearances consisting of interviews and panel moderation.

EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

* Three+ years radio experience in news reporting and public affairs programming.
* Mastery of, and comfort with, on-air live interviewing techniques.
* Advanced digital audio editing skills.
* Familiarity with crafting social media posts.

PAY & BENEFITS

* Full-time compensation commensurate with experience, in the market range for comparable positions in nonprofit local independent news.
* Health insurance and flexible spending plan.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

* Resume, including your e-mail address and phone number.
* A thoughtful cover letter about what you’d bring to the Public Press and its radio startup, KSFP. We want to hear your ideas for making civic policy into relevant, engaging audio. How would you create distinctive local news content that connects with listeners? Do you have experience in entrepreneurial journalism, program creation and audience development? Can you thrive in a small-team environment? What stories are under-reported in the city? What voices have been excluded from the airwaves?
* Three examples of your radio/audio/print work: Shows or podcasts you have hosted or produced, reporting, and/or promos you have scripted or produced.
* Three examples of your writing. Can include radio scripts.
* Three professional references.

All application materials must be RECEIVED by close of business on Friday, April 12.

Please submit all materials to:

ATTN: Michael Stoll, Executive Director
San Francisco Public Press
44 Page St., Suite 504
San Francisco, CA 94102

OR

jobs <at> sfpublicpress <dot> org

The San Francisco Public Press is committed to diversity and seeks to reflect the cultural richness of the Bay Area in its editorial content production, community engagement and work environment. The Public Press encourages and actively recruits applicants representing a broad diversity of backgrounds including but not limited to age, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, gender or political affiliation.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

San Francisco Public Press Seeks Radio Producer

The San Francisco Public Press is a nonprofit news organization that provides independent analysis of government and other powerful interests through in-depth investigative reports published online and in a quarterly print edition. We cover politics, housing, education, environment, labor, economics, immigration, health, public safety and a range of other topics. You can learn more at our website, sfpublicpress.org. We are expanding the scope of our work with more frequent, detailed coverage of local government by adding podcasts and terrestrial radio broadcasts via a new independent radio station.

We are seeking an experienced radio producer to develop, record and distribute a daily audio program focused on San Francisco City Hall. The radio program will consist of one-on-one interviews and roundtable discussions about timely topics with elected officials, city employees, subject-matter experts and community members who care about important local issues. Segments will audio and video stream online and go live on KSFP, a low-power FM radio station that begins broadcasting on 102.5 FM in San Francisco this summer. Segments may also run on local and regional partner public radio stations.

The show will guide listeners through the daily news of local government and provide context and depth for complex, evolving policy stories, well before they’re placed on a ballot or presented publicly by agencies. The show also will tackle civic education topics. Our goal is ambitious: To create the essential audio news source about the inner-workings of one of the world’s great cities. And you will have a role in collaborating to build an audio news product from scratch, and continuing to refine it based on responses from listeners and the community.

WE’RE SEEKING A 3/4-TIME PRODUCER WHO

* Is well versed in the issues in local news, passionate about public affairs and committed to diverse community programming. 
* Can multitask many jobs that span technical editing, equipment management, journalism and people management.
* Is up to date with current technologies for live and time-shifted broadcast distribution.
* Can work independently and can collaborate with others in a small team.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
* Managing communication with audience during the show via phone, email and social media.
* Supporting host during shows and subbing in for the host when needed.
* Working with host to produce podcast segments.
* Writing summaries of segments and posting to sfpublicpress.org and social media.
* Managing college interns.
* Coordinating with and assisting director of membership and community on live events.

EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

* Three+ years experience in audio engineering, production and content creation.
* Mastery of digital audio editing and digital asset management.
* Expertise in audio studio equipment setup and maintenance.
* Demonstrated competence in interviewing for audio broadcast.
* Familiarity with crafting social media posts.

PAY & BENEFITS

* Thirty hours per week compensation commensurate with experience, in the market range for comparable positions in nonprofit local independent news.
* Health insurance and flexible spending plan.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

* Resume, including your e-mail address and phone number.
* A thoughtful cover letter about what you’d bring to the Public Press and its radio startup, KSFP. We want to hear your ideas for making civic policy into relevant, engaging audio. How would you create distinctive local news content that connects with listeners? Do you have experience in entrepreneurial journalism, program creation and audience development? Can you thrive in a small-team environment? What is your technical editing background? Have you ever set up or renovated an audio studio?
* Three examples of your radio/audio/print work: Shows or podcasts you have hosted or produced, reporting, and/or promos you have scripted or produced.
* Three examples of your writing. Can include radio scripts.
* Three professional references.

All application materials must be RECEIVED by close of business on Friday, April 12.

Please submit all materials to:

ATTN: Michael Stoll, Executive Director
San Francisco Public Press
44 Page St., Suite 504
San Francisco, CA 94102

OR

jobs <at> sfpublicpress <dot> org

The San Francisco Public Press is committed to diversity and seeks to reflect the cultural richness of the Bay Area in its editorial content production, community engagement and work environment. The Public Press encourages and actively recruits applicants representing a broad diversity of backgrounds including but not limited to age, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, gender or political affiliation.