Off the beaten track 🛤️
Where to pitch your experimental audio
I don’t know about you, dear audio pros, but I *really* don’t like pitching. It’s my least favourite part of this job. And I’ve been freelancing for lost-count number of years, so pitching is something I’m have to do on a regular basis.
Anyone who’s familiar with pitching stories will be all too aware of the three questions we have to ask ourselves when crafting a good pitch:
1) Why does it matter?
2) Why should it be told now?
3) Why are you the one to tell it?
All good and useful questions in ensuring that whatever you eventually make will be relevant to your audience and will satisfy certain business models. (And it’s worth noting here that #3, the “why you” question, is important in preventing helicopter journalism, storytellers wading into communities or experiences they aren’t connected to or would be better told by someone else).
But lately I’ve found myself increasingly hamstrung by the confines of traditional pitching. As storytellers we’ve conditioned our minds to only develop ideas that fit in clear boxes. The downside of that is I will often immediately shut down an idea if it can’t be easily labelled.
I even experience this outside of journalism – the restrictions of pitching have spread out into other areas of my work and creative practice, like it’s hard to experiment or just play in sound without those three questions echoing around my head. I’ll throw out a sketch or outline, concluding that nothing has value unless there’s a news peg.
So it’s been a joy to hear more and more stories lately - beautiful, sound-rich pieces - that utterly defy categorisation (The 11th’s LOVE episode is a great example). They’re abstract, experimental, sometimes a bit weird … and I find myself thinking: how was that pitched?!
It’s encouraging to hear work that’s going against the grain. As a journalist and producer, I know why the rules of pitching exist, but it’s fun to free yourself from them every once in a while, isn’t it?
Below are a few outlets accepting pitches for audio stories that defy easy categorisation…
The 11th
From Pineapple Street Studios, The 11th takes on a new format and style every episode. “Think of it a bit like a mystery box. We want to present original reporting, personal stories, musicals, advice columns, miniseries, concept albums, and whatever else you’ve got.” Pitch here.
Transom
Transom is looking for stories that are off the beaten track. “Submissions can be stories, essays, sound portraits, intimate interviews, found sound, fiction pieces, audio art, podcast pilots, whatever, as long as it’s good listening. We are a good destination for that one-off labor of love that doesn’t fit anywhere else.” Pitch here.
LAist Studios
LAist are looking for stories “for and about the LA-minded” but that’s defined broadly. They want work that breaks molds and represents the “values that drive LA: diverse and inclusive, ambitious and optimistic, always forward facing”. Pitch here.
PRX Remix
They’re looking for short, evergreen stories. Much of what’s broadcast on PRX Remix isn’t heard elsewhere. Pitch here.
Know of any more outlets accepting experimental work? Drop me a message or reply, and I’ll keep a running list on the webpage for this email.
Jobs
🌴 Podcast Producer (part-time) ~ Fascinate Productions ~ London, UK (apply by 16 May)
🌴 Project Coordinator Intern ~ Jar Audio ~ Remote, Canada
🌴 Several roles at Lemonada Media, including Audio Engineer, Producer, Associate Producer and Story Editor
🌴 Audio Engineer (Freelance, Part Time) ~ Condé Nast ~ New York
🌴 Executive Podcast Producer ~ At Will Media ~ Remote
Workshops, festivals, fellowships and more
♉ Live Wire Production Fellowship ~ paid remote position requiring 20 hours per week for a 10-month tenure ~ apply by 20 May
♉ AIR New Voices Fellowship ~ apply by 25 May
♉ BLK Podcast Festival ~ 28-29 May ~ Atlanta
♉ Story Editing for Audio ~Salt workshop from Jen Chien ~ 19-25 June at Monson Arts, Maine
♉ Pitch: KALW News’ radio news magazine Crosscurrents ~ ongoing
Thanks for reading folks. If you found it useful, share with a friend or colleague 💌