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Submission Guidelines

Grassroots groups – see How to Suggest a Story

July 2023 – Pitches currently on hold

Please note that we are not accepting new pitches at this time. Please check this page again in the future, or sign up for Freelancer Updates at the bottom of this page. Thanks!

Pitching a story

Write a one or two paragraph description of idea, including potential interviewees. If you haven’t submitted work to “Making Contact” before, send links or mail samples of your work. “Making Contact” is not a news program; it delves deeper into the economic, social, and political issues underlying the news headlines.

Stories should avoid time-dating and should be relevant three to six months after broadcast.  We seek sound-rich stories with ear-grabbing characters, interesting angles and solid facts. We encourage you to explore grassroots solutions and the ways communities are organizing. Before pitching a story, be familiar with the mission of “Making Contact.”

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? What’s the race, class, gender, ability and geographic dynamics?
  • Explore any alternatives or solutions?

Recording Guidelines

  • Use a professional microphone and recording device
  • Clearly label recording files and accompanying material
  • No audible edits; avoid excessive internal editing
  • Narration should be conversational, not glossy or heroic
  • “Making Contact” adheres to the highest technical standards for audio, including:
    • Recording levels must be precise: no over-modulation or off-mic recordings.
    • Sound elements and/or ambient tracks must have at least one minute of uninterrupted sound.
      • get your room tone to us for mixing

Editorial Process

  • Get story pre-approval, edit deadline, and final deadline from an MC producer
  • This includes an MOU that specifies timeline and expectations
  • Submit anchor intro, script, and actualities (include phone number and mailing address on script)
  • Discuss any changes or re-writes with your MC Producer
  • Record and edit narration
  • Submit final edit, script, and contact information for guests (or other elements per MOU photos etc)
  • Final mix conducted at “Making Contact” unless other arrangements are made. Supply all discrete elements.

Rates

For radio freelancers:

Level 1. $1,200 plus travel reimbursement up to $100
9-12 minute piece that will: Involve research and original reporting • Require the reporter to have substantial subject matter expertise • Involve time-consuming reporting • Have a sophisticated narrative • Might require travel by the reporter • Have sound that does not involve phone tape • Be rich in a variety of sounds demonstrative or supportive of the story.

Level 2. $750 plus travel reimbursement up to $100
9-12 minute piece that will: Involve multiple interviews • Involve interviews conducted where the interviewee is carrying on activities relevant to the story • Involve sound, scenes, and advanced radio storytelling techniques • Involve reporter having good prior knowledge of subject matter • Require editorial mentorship provided by “Making Contact”

Other lengths and repurposed content, terms discussed

We accept a range of content, including original and repurposed content to a fill 26 minute documentary edition, as well as unedited recordings of interviews, speeches and events. Rates vary. An exclusive is not necessary, but air dates for multiple outlets should be discussed. Please submit pitches by email to pitches@radioproject.org.

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