I donât know about you, dear audio pros, but I *really* donât like pitching. Itâs my least favourite part of this job. And Iâve been freelancing for lost-count number of years, so pitching is something Iâm have to do on a regular basis.Â
Anyone whoâs familiar with pitching stories will be all too aware of the three questions we have to ask ourselves when crafting a good pitch:Â
1) Why does it matter?
2) Why should it be told now?Â
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 itâs worth noting here that #3, the âwhy youâ question, is important in preventing helicopter journalism, storytellers wading into communities or experiences they arenât connected to or would be better told by someone else).Â
But lately Iâve found myself increasingly hamstrung by the confines of traditional pitching. As storytellers weâve conditioned our minds to only develop ideas that fit in clear boxes. The downside of that is IÂ will often immediately shut down an idea if it canât be easily labelled.Â
I even experience this outside of journalism â the restrictions of pitching have spread out into other areas of my work and creative practice, like itâs hard to experiment or just play in sound without those three questions echoing around my head. Iâll throw out a sketch or outline, concluding that nothing has value unless thereâs a news peg.Â
So itâs been a joy to hear more and more stories lately - beautiful, sound-rich pieces - that utterly defy categorisation (The 11thâs LOVE episode is a great example). Theyâre abstract, experimental, sometimes a bit weird ⌠and I find myself thinking: how was that pitched?!Â
Itâs encouraging to hear work thatâs going against the grain. As a journalist and producer, I know why the rules of pitching exist, but itâs fun to free yourself from them every once in a while, isnât it?
Below are a few outlets accepting pitches for audio stories that defy easy categorisationâŚÂ
The 11thÂ
From Pineapple Street Studios, The 11th takes on a new format and style every episode. âThink 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 youâve got.â Pitch here.Â
Transom
Transom is looking for stories that are off the beaten track. âSubmissions can be stories, essays, sound portraits, intimate interviews, found sound, fiction pieces, audio art, podcast pilots, whatever, as long as itâs good listening. We are a good destination for that one-off labor of love that doesnât fit anywhere else.â Pitch here.
LAist Studios
LAist are looking for stories âfor and about the LA-mindedâ but thatâs defined broadly. They want work that breaks molds and represents the âvalues that drive LA: diverse and inclusive, ambitious and optimistic, always forward facingâ. Pitch here.
PRX Remix
Theyâre looking for short, evergreen stories. Much of whatâs broadcast on PRX Remix isnât heard elsewhere. Pitch here.Â
Know of any more outlets accepting experimental work? Drop me a message or reply, and Iâll keep a running list on the webpage for this email.
Jobs
đ´ Podcast Producer (part-time) ~ Fascinate Productions ~ London, UK (apply by 16 May)
đ´ Project Coordinator Intern ~ Jar Audio ~ Remote, Canada
đ´ Several roles at Lemonada Media, including Audio Engineer, Producer, Associate Producer and Story Editor
đ´ Audio Engineer (Freelance, Part Time) ~ CondĂŠ Nast ~ New York
đ´ Executive Podcast Producer ~ At Will Media ~ Remote
Workshops, festivals, fellowships and more
â Live Wire Production Fellowship ~ paid remote position requiring 20 hours per week for a 10-month tenure ~ apply by 20 May
â AIR New Voices Fellowship ~ apply by 25 May
â BLK Podcast Festival ~ 28-29 May ~ Atlanta
â Story Editing for Audio ~Salt workshop from Jen Chien ~ 19-25 June at Monson Arts, Maine
â Pitch: KALW Newsâ radio news magazine Crosscurrents ~ ongoing
Thanks for reading folks. If you found it useful, share with a friend or colleague đ