Internships

The Dinner Party Download is looking for an intern in LA

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LA internship with The Dinner Party Download. For college credit only – but a very cool show! Forward to your favorite West Coast learners. Details HERE and below.

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Position Summary:

 

Do you have a passion for the arts, entertainment, storytelling, and music? Want to explore the frontiers of food and cocktails? Looking to make waves in public radio? (Do you have a high tolerance for terrible puns?!)  The Dinner Party Download wants YOU to apply for our fall/winter internship.

The Dinner Party Download is a national culture show, airing on 135+ stations, that provides listeners with all of the information and bon mots they'll need to "win" their dinner parties.  Each week's episode brings together interviews with leading entertainers, memorable stories, music, and food trends and serves them up with a fresh, irreverent tone.  This is an opportunity for interns to gain hands-on production experience with one of public radio's fastest-growing shows.

Internships will last up to 6 months. Interns work typically 2-3 days a week, for a total of 15-20 hours.  These are volunteer/unpaid internships and must be completed in conjunction with college-level course credit.

The Intern will be an integral part of The Dinner Party Download team. This job would be perfect for individuals with a deep interest in film/TV, music, books, theater, fashion and art. The DPD team is especially looking for candidates with experience in – or a passion for – the behind-the-scenes production work that makes for great radio (i.e. crafting/editing stories in sound).

Past interns with the DPD have gone on to develop their skills further via internships and (paid) jobs with KPCC, Snap Judgment, Weekend Edition, and, well, The Dinner Party Download.

 

Position Responsibility:

  • Sound editing: edit rough drafts of our Soundtrack, Guest List, and Eavesdropping segments.  (Prior audio editing experience is necessary as a foundation to build upon.)    
  • Research odd news and under-the-radar stories for hosts to discuss in their "Small Talk" segment, as well as for occasional appearances on the business show Marketplace.
  • Research details of historical events we could talk about in our History/Cocktail segment.
  • Identify potential bars/bartenders to pair with the history in our cocktail segment, and practice booking phone interviews with these guests.
  • Record and edit news clip montage to be used in our "Small Talk" segment.
  • Help identify upcoming artworks, people, events that should be on our booking radar.
  • Keep tabs on new books and other media coming into office, and add to database.
  • Log music used in each episode; post completed segments to Soundcloud.
  • There may be opportunities to do "tape synchs" (taped interviews with remote guests.)

 

Required Education and Experience:

  • Current college student or college graduate. Broadcast journalism, Radio/Film, English, Music, or Audio Engineering majors preferred. Others are still very welcome to apply. 
  • College course credit is required.

 

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

  • Excellent written communication skills a must.
  • Knowledge of some sound editing (i.e. Pro-Tools, Audacity, Audition, DAVID, Dalet, etc) a must.
  • Fluent computer skills with the knowledge of basic Internet & computer standards.
  • Ability to work efficiently with limited direct supervision. (The production team is small, which means there will be bouts of independent work interspersed with 1:1 guidance.)
  • Ability to work collaboratively & effectively with colleagues in multiple departments.
  • Ability to work with changing deadlines & in fast-paced environment.
  • Energetic & motivated to serve online audiences.
  • Ability to handle tight deadlines & quick turnaround.

 

Preferred Skills and Experience:

  • We'll provide training on how to use our equipment and DAVID editing system, but pre-existing familiarity with DAVID would be a nice bonus.
  • Openness to creating content for web and fueling the expansion of our site / social media.
  • Some background with field recording a plus.
  • Adeptness with Twitter, Facebook, and other social media outlets.

 

Reporting To This Position:                N/A

 

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation

Physical Demands:   

  • Required to move about in an office environment and sit for extended periods of time
  • Required to move about in the community
  • Frequent use of hands for data entry/keystrokes and simple grasping

Working Conditions:

  • Moderate noise level
  • Occasional exposure to prevalent weather conditions
Gigs

Freelance job opportunities at Public News Service, multiple locations

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An interesting opportunity from the Public News Service. I have to admit I don't know much about them (they say they're a for-profit mainly funded by non-profits, not sure which ones)… but it could be a good fit for someone. Drop me a line if you know anything about this org – I'm intrigued! -Mia

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Real Work in a Changing World for an Inspired Radio Producer/Reporter

Love news? Passionate about social, environmental, economic and community issues? Have superior digital audio editing and news writing skills? Have we got the job for you!

The Public News Service has several part-time ( some possibly full-time positions) for experienced news producer/reporters (benefits included for over 3/4 to full time). Significant reporting experience and digital audio editing skills are critical. The right candidates are results-oriented, self-starters who can also follow established protocols and work well with different personalities in a rapidly changing environment. You must have a home office capable of recording and producing complete audio stories ready for broadcast.  Sense of humor and innovative spirit very important. Must be available for afternoons edits.

The Candidate Needs:

— At least 3-5 years of experience working in a fast-paced online news environment (commercial stations and wire service work preferred)

— High comfort with technology and use of various software; demonstrated expertise with digital recording and editing

— Strong communication skills and the ability to coordinate intense levels of e-mail correspondence and phone calls

—  Familiarity with the news environment, progressive politics, cultural trends, and emerging issues.

—  Excellent editorial, voice, social media, technical and interpersonal skills.

Details: Primarily phone sound, story duration approx. 1:30 min each.  We have coverage areas available is New York City and Pennsylvania, Texas and several Southern states, upper Mid-West and California and possibly Oregon. These positions will also be involved in social media with Twitter.  Some night, weekend and holiday work may be required. Competitive pay and benefits. 

Before you apply please visit our website for examples of what we do: http://www.publicnewsservice.org and then send a send a cover letter and resume to jobs@publicnewsservice.org – with "PNS Producer (your home state)” in the subject line.

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Lisa Collard

Human Resources & Digital Media Associate

3980 Broadway
Suite 103, Box 139
Boulder, CO  80304

pdf icon Public-News-Service-Producers-Wanted.pdf

Workshops

Radio Boot Camp Fall Session @UnionDocs, Oct 4-5, 10-6, Brooklyn

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DO NOT MISS this two-day-long intensive class for beginners to learn how to produce radio. Details below.
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Don't just listen to stories, tell your own!

Do you love Ira, have a secret crush on Terry Gross, or wanna be Audie Cornish when you grow up? Come to Radio Camp's October Boot Camp and learn how to produce a radio story from start to finish. 
This hands on class will cover the basics of writing for the ear, (very different than print) and producing for radio using professional equipment and software. The provision of a laptop for financially challenged students is possible. Be prepared to grab your gear and hit the streets. Learn interviewing and mic techniques by doing the real thing. Voicing will also be covered. Students will produce two stories over the course of the weekend. *There will be an hour and a half (approx) of homework on Saturday night.

October 4th and 5th, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
AT UnionDocs, 322 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211
More here: http://www.uniondocs.org/radio-boot-camp/

Pitches

How To Pitch Personal Essays To BuzzFeed Ideas

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For what it's worth, BuzzFeed Ideas posted this guide to pitching personal essays. I have no idea what "we pay" amounts to, but might be worth a shot. Details below.

BuzzFeed Ideas is relaunching and we’re looking for unique, well-told personal essays that people will want to share. Here’s an FAQ.

How do I know if my story is worth telling?

Ask yourself: Is this something that is either a) taboo yet relatable that no one has ever articulated as well as you can, b) an experience SO crazy and foreign that people will feel compelled to share it, or c) a really big idea from the vantage point of the only person who could have had that perspective.

We’re particularly interested in stories by women, non-white, and LGBT writers, as well as previously unpublished writers.

What subject areas are you interested in?

We’re looking for pitches on a variety of topics, including but not limited to:

Sex and dating/relationships
Debt/money
Disease, especially the experience of being sick and invisible illnesses
Mental illness
Parenting and parents (including the experience of parents aging)
Drugs and addiction
Race
Work

We’re interested in serious subjects, but not necessarily serious takes: If you have an idea for a humorous approach to any of the above (or anything else), go for it. There’s also no strict word count, but pieces tend to be in the 800 to 1,200-word range, and we pay. We are also open to stories in other formats, such as graphic essays, photo essays, and audio pieces.

Do you have examples of the kinds of stories you’re looking for?

Why, yes! These are some essays BuzzFeed has published in the last few months that worked really well for us.

Notes On An Eating Disorder
The Last Time My Grandmother Slapped Me
Running Into My 12-Year-Old Self Online
I Was Sure Freezing My Eggs Would Solve Everything
The Worst Day Of My Life Is Now New York’s Hottest Tourist Attraction

So how do I *actually* pitch stories?

You should submit your pitch in the body of an email to buzzfeedideas@buzzfeed.com with the subject line IDEAS PITCH. (Emails with attachments will be deleted unread.)

Uncategorized

[conferences] New Avenues in Journalism, conference for freelancers, Oct 10-11, SF

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Interesting upcoming conference for freelance writers, Oct 10-11, San Francisco. Details below. -Mia

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Faced with sweeping changes in their industry, three leading journalism organizations are holding a conference to help freelance writers re-envision their careers.
New Avenues in Journalism will bring together media innovators to coach freelancers about custom content, new publishing models, crowd, funding, venture capital, grants and fellowships and other sources of income.
Sponsored by the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), San Francisco State University (SFSU) Journalism Department and the Online News Association (ONA), the conference will take place Oct. 10-11, 2014, in the SFSU Humanities Building.
Keynoter and preeminent tech journalist Kara Swisher is  the former co-host of AllThingsD. She will give her view of the shifting world of independent journalism in her address. Swisher recently embarked in her own entrepreneurial venture as co-CEO of the tech blog Re/code.
Much of the meeting will address the burgeoning field of custom content — journalistic articles commissioned to support products and services.
Other speakers will discuss how writers can secure funding from investors, foundations and philanthropists; successfully act as their own publishers; and sell merchandise and consulting as auxiliary income.
Attendees can choose the full day on Friday ($195 for 10 am – 4:30 pm plus networking event) and/or the half day on Saturday ($95 for 9 am to noon). Admission includes an informal lunch and a wine reception Friday. ONA, ASJA and Pacific Media Workers Guild members will receive a discount. PMWG members use discount code SF20PMWG.

For an additional $25, participants can meet face-to-face with representatives looking to hire writers.

 

For a complete program and other information visit the conference website.

Register through ASJA.

Awards/Fellowships

Journalism Fellowships at Latino USA, deadline Sept 5 [CORRECTED]

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A couple more weeks left to apply for this fellowship with Latino USA. Details below! -Mia

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NPR’s weekly program Latino USA is taking applications for two year-long California-based fellowships, open to early career reporters with no more than five years’ experience in the field. Each fellowship will last 12 months and will include a stipend of $1,000 a month for 40 hours of work each month. The fellowships are funded by the California Endowment and will focus on reports about current health issues in California, including the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The fellows will be located in California and will be supervised by Latino USA staff, and will participate in editorial meetings via phone or Skype. Each fellow will be expected to produce no fewer than three stories for air on Latino USA and also provide multimedia content (web copy, tweets, Facebook entries, photos, etc.) for each story.

 

               Fellowship applications should be sent to Latino USA’s senior editor, Leda Hartman, at ledahart@mindspring.com. Please include a resume and cover letter summarizing your background and goals, and why you would be an appropriate fit for this fellowship. Please also include three links to your audio work. The fellowships are open to everyone. Journalists of color and of other diverse backgrounds and graduate journalism students are especially encouraged to apply.

 

               The first-year fellowship will begin on October 1st, 2014 and last until September 30th, 2014. The application deadline for the first-year fellowship is Friday, September 15, 2014. The deadline for the second-year fellowship will be announced early in 2015.

              

               Thank you!

 

Leda Hartman

NPR’s Latino USA

919-542-0008

ledahart@mindspring.com

 

 

Uncategorized

2014 CA Documentary Project Grant Announcement

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It's time to apply for the California Documentary Project grants. Details and workshop dates below! -Mia

 

Application Materials and Info Sessions for Cal Humanities’ 2014 California Documentary Project Grant 

New guidelines and free informational grant workshops are now available for the California Documentary Project (CDP), a competitive grants program that supports documentary film, radio, and new media productions that enhance our understanding of California and its cultures, peoples, and histories. Media projects that use the humanities to provide context, depth, and perspective and are suitable for California and national audiences through broadcast and/or distribution are invited to apply.

 

Eligible applicants can apply for research and development or production funding. Award amounts range from $10,000 up to $50,000. Complete guidelines, application instructions, and a list of previously supported projects are available at www.calhum.org.

 

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, October 15, 2014, 5 pm.

 

FREE INFORMATIONAL GRANT WORKSHOPS

RSVP for one of these sessions and get answers to all your application questions! Please read the guidelines in advance. Space is limited.

 

San Francisco

Tuesday, September 9, 6:00-8:00pm

Ninth Street Independent Film Center

To attend, please RSVP here.

 

San Diego

Monday, September 15, 6:00-8:00pm

Media Art Center San Diego

To attend, please RSVP here.

 

Los Angeles
Tuesday, September 16, 7:00-9:00 pm
International Documentary Association (IDA)

To attend, please RSVP here.

 

 

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Uncategorized

Kitchen Sisters Recording & Interviewing Workshop Returns to NYC – Wed, Sept 17

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Attention NYC folks! It doesn't get any better than this. The Kitchen Sisters are amazing – even their event image is awesome. GO TO THIS WORKSHOP!

 

Dear Friends,

The Kitchen Sisters (Davia Nelson & Nikki Silva) are holding their Interviewing & Recording Workshop in New York City on Wednesday, September 17 from 10am to 1pm at WNYC Radio. The three-hour session is designed for people who want to acquire and hone their skills for an array of audio projects: radio, online, podcasts, storytelling, oral histories, audio slideshows, family histories, news, investigative reporting, documentaries and other multimedia platforms.

The workshop will cover interviewing approaches, miking techniques, sound gathering, use of archival audio, field recording techniques, how to make interviewees comfortable, how to frame evocative questions that make for compelling storytelling, what equipment to use and what to pack in your kit, how to build a story, and how to listen (which is harder than it seems).

The workshop is customized to fit the projects you are working on. People who attend come from radio, film, multimedia, newspapers, blogs, journalism, photography, oral history, historical societies, music, writing, libraries, archives, web design, detective agencies, farms, universities, restaurants, health care organizations, theaters and beyond. The groups are always lively and good contacts are made.
Of course, snacks will be served.

The workshop will be held on the 8th floor of WNYC, 160 Varick St., NY, NY. 10013.

Fee: $135.00.  Register here.

Questions? Email us at kitchen@kitchensisters.org.  And please pass this announcement along to your community.  Expand your skills, meet new people, support the work of The Kitchen Sisters.

See you there,

Davia & Nikki

Gigs

freelancer writers wanted for AIR websites

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The fine folks at AIR are looking to build long-term relationships with freelancers who can write on a variety of topics. A few themes are below. Contact betsy@airmedia.org with pitches or questions!

• The first time

First-person stories (as told to) about highly interesting, highly educational moments in public media careers: first pitch, first sale, first job, first huge mistake, first time using a fixer, first whatever. I'm looking for two of these each month, $75 per piece, with a mix of famous/not-yet-famous people in our field. Slight preference for independent storytellers, or people who started that way, but we're open to other ideas.

I'd like to work with one or two regular freelancers on these. The right writer has reasonably good access and lots of good ideas, and can get these short-ish pieces (max. 750 words) turned around efficiently.

Also, I am eager to hear pitches for thoughtful reporting. Our pay rate range is based on complexity, length and availability of supporting audio/video/etc. Subjects that we're actively pursuing right now:

• Diversity in public media (perspectives, yes, but especially analysis). This is going to be part of a long-range project and core focus of the site when we relaunch later this year. We're working on how public media leaders, funders and participants define and/or experience diversity; data sets that describe our workforce, our story subjects/sources, and our audience; analysis of efforts to diversify public media's workforce, storytelling and reach; and all of the other things that affect the mission of pubmedia that serves all Americans.

• Skill building for independent producers in public media (one example, not necessarily a template, but a good starting point). Useful subjects: negotiation; finding and cultivating development teams around an indie project; pursuing grants and fellowships; writing a business plan; launching a project/podcast; etc., etc.

• Analysis of R&D and/or interesting pubmedia projects (to include the development of tools like those emerging from Civic Media, the Knight Lab, etc.)

If you have colleagues or students who are interested in these questions, please forward this email and put them in touch with me. We are rapidly (and radically) expanding our editorial effort, and I'd like to build some long-term relationships with writers who need steady work.

Thanks for reading and sharing.

Betsy

Betsy O'Donovan
AIR/editorial
Office: 617-885-4400
Twitter: @AIRmedia
For information: www.airmedia.org
For inspiration: www.airmediaworks.org

Gigs

Job Opening at the Stanford Storytelling Project, Stanford University

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This is pretty much my dream job. Too bad it's 3K miles away. May it go to one of you worthy freelancers. -Mia

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The Stanford Storytelling Project, an arts program at Stanford University that, among other things, produces the radio show State of the Human on KZSU, is looking for a new, full-time Fellow who would both teach undergraduate courses, workshops, and help produce the radio show. Details about the position are below, but the basics are: an advanced academic degree, college-level teaching experience, and audio documentary production experience are required; start date is sometime in September or early October; salary will be between 50-59K, depending on start date, and the position starts as a one-year appointment, to be renewed if all goes well.

if you're interested, please read the ad carefully and visit the link to the application page. More information about the Storytelling Project is at our website (storytelling.stanford.edu) and on our facebook page. And please feel free to forward this widely.

Thanks all!
Jonah Willihnganz, MFA, PhD
Director, The Stanford Storytelling Project
Stanford University
jonahw@stanford.edu

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FELLOW, THE STANFORD STORYTELLING PROJECT Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE)
Stanford University
Job Application Close date: September 23, 2014

Stanford University is seeking a full-time Fellow for the Stanford Storytelling Project, an arts program within the Oral Communication Program. The initial appointment will be for the 2014-15 academic year, with the possibility of re-appointment and the salary range is $50-59k, depending on start date.

The Stanford Storytelling Project (SSP) provides students opportunities to develop skills in the narrative arts through a range of courses and projects. SSP sponsors courses, grants, events, a weekly workshop, and an award-winning radio program featuring stories produced by students. SSP explores in particular the power of performed stories, live or recorded, from myth and memoir to research-based narratives. More information about SSP and its mission is at storytelling.stanford.edu.

The SSP Fellow will offer instruction in oral, audio, and multimedia storytelling craft in a variety of settings across the university and will support the activities and initiatives of SSP. Major duties include developing and teaching courses, designing and delivering workshops, training SSP student staff, mentoring students, and collaborating with faculty to design storytelling course components. The Fellow will also help develop and manage the SSP’s radio program, State of the Human, and help lead its weekly craft workshop, StoryLab.

The Fellow will have the opportunity to develop his/her own courses, participate in professional development through SSP and the Oral Communication Program, collaborate with faculty across the university, and, through the events series, engage with some of the best storytellers in the country. The Fellow will also have the opportunity to help produce, with other SSP staff and students, stories for large live and radio audiences.

Job Requirements:

Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in a field focused on narrative craft such as English, Creative Writing, Performance, or Documentary Studies. 2-3 years experience teaching college-level courses, mentoring others in creating stories for recorded media or live performance, and some form of media production. Qualified applicants must also have demonstrated knowledge of oral and/or multimedia storytelling forms, trends, and programs, understanding of up-to-date pedagogy in teaching narrative craft, and the organizational and leadership skills to help manage workshops and media production.

Information and Application Process Instructions:

For a more comprehensive job description and to apply, please visit: http://apply.interfolio.com/25649.

Stanford University is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and is committed to recruiting and hiring qualified women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Applicants with dual-career considerations can find postings of other employment opportunities at the Stanford University and at other institutions of higher education in the region on www.AcademicCareers.com