Looking to sharpen your audio reporting skills? Want to see how a broadcast newsroom works?
WORT’s award-winning news department seeks volunteer reporters for the 6pm Local News. Applicants must be available from 11:30am-6pm once a week on one of the following days: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.
BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
❏Pitch and discuss story ideas with editor. Include potential sources, angles, stakes, and timeliness.
❏ Identify and locate sources for interview. Attend press conferences and events as needed.
❏ Schedule, conduct, and record interviews in studio, by phone, or on location.
❏ Identify potential sources of sound relevant to your story and obtain audio.
❏ Gather broadcast-quality ambient and interview sound with portable microphones and recorders.
❏ Identify and edit sound clips from audio files.
❏ Compose script using conversational broadcast language.
❏ Deliver clear, concise, and factually accurate script. Verify claims.
❏ Turn in script to editor by agreed-upon deadline.
❏ Make revisions as requested by editor. Ask questions as needed to seek clarification.
❏ Record clear vocal tracks in studio.
❏ Mix together all audio clips into one WAV file with 41,000 hz sample rate and deliver on deadline.
❏ Work cooperatively with editor and other reporters.
❏ Abide by all FCC and station regulations.
OUR EXPECTATIONS:
❏ You’re curious — and have a healthy dose of skepticism. A sense of humor helps, too.
❏ You’re committed to truth and accuracy.
❏ You pay attention to details and want to do quality work. Details are the currency of the trade.
❏ You can work quickly under deadline, and pivot when required.
❏ You have a willingness to explore multiple points of view.
❏ You’re able to make a weekly commitment for a minimum of one semester. One year preferred.
WE PROVIDE:
❏ Real world experience with professional feedback and mentoring in a friendly environment
❏ Access to the tools of the trade
❏ A chance to bring untold stories to light and be heard on the southern Wisconsin airwaves
❏ An opportunity to participate in a newsroom that consistently wins state-level awards, and a community media institution consistently voted Madison’s Favorite Radio station
QUESTIONS/MORE INFORMATION:
For more information, contact News, Talk and Public Affairs Director Chali Pittman at chali@wortfm.org or call 608-321-9586. To submit an application, fill out our online volunteer application.
DISCLOSURES:
WORT’s mission is to “include audiences and programmers underrepresented by other media.” People who are Black, Indigenous, women, transgender, and/or nonbinary are strongly invited to apply.
WORT has taken strong precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Only fully vaccinated, on-air programmers are currently permitted into the station during the pandemic. Programmers must present proof of vaccination to use WORT’s studios. Reporters may also choose to work from home during the pandemic.
WORT staff regularly clean studios and disinfect equipment. WORT upgraded its HVAC system/air exchange during the pandemic to ensure constant air flow out of the building. Masks are and have been enforced at the station throughout the pandemic, though exceptions when hosts are on-air.
ABOUT WORT:
WORT is a noncommercial, community radio station broadcasting from downtown Madison to south-central Wisconsin. We are a full-power station broadcasting on the 89.9 FM frequency, online 24/7, through the WORT app and other third-party radio apps, and through podcasts.
We are volunteer-powered, which means that all programmers you hear (including this position) are unpaid volunteers. In return, we provide skills training, professional real-world broadcasting experience, and a community of friends and colleagues.
View this position listing as a PDF.
