Urgent News/Talk Volunteer Opportunities (updated January 2024)
Web posting:
- Post web content weekly for the Access Hour. Read position description.
6pm Local News:
- The 6pm news needs headline writers to help write a comprehensive summary of local, breaking stories. Headline writers are asked to emphasize timeliness and relevance to our local broadcast area as they utilize their clear summarization skills for the radio. This shift is approximately two hours a week, from 4-6pm. Open positions are available Monday through Thursday. See position description.
- The 6pm news needs news reporters to produce high-quality reporting on our 6pm local news show. Volunteer on one day a week – whether Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays, from about 11am to broadcast time at 6pm. Report out in the field and from the WORT newsroom. Learn the tools of the trade, gain real-world reporting and broadcast experience, and bring untold stories to light. See position description.
- The 6pm news needs feature producers to produce a 5-8 minute weekly segment on a regular topic. We have openings on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This position has a weekly deadline but is time-flexible. Knowledge and/or expertise in a particular field is encouraged. See position description.
Producing/hosting opportunities:
- Madison BookBeat: Our weekly literary show is dedicated to local authors of interest and writers coming to town. It airs Mondays, from 1-2pm. This show is in need of fill-in and monthly hosts to interview writers, in either a live or prerecorded format. See position description.
- Perpetual Notion Machine: Our weekly science news show is dedicated to tapping the diverse mix of Madison’s science community – from researchers at UW-Madison to local environmental groups. Anything in the realm of science / technology is fair game. This show airs on Thursdays, from 7-:730pm. It is in need of monthly hosts and producers to interview guests or to produce stories, in either a live or prerecorded format.
- Queery: Our weekly LGBTQIA+ program is Madison’s longest-running radio show dedicated to the queer community. This show airs on Wednesdays, from 7-:730pm, and is followed by a national syndicated program of LGBT news. This show is in need of monthly hosts and producers to interview guests or to produce stories, in either a live or prerecorded format.
Eight O’Clock Buzz
- The Tuesday 8 O’Clock Buzz is in need of a show producer. Manage the booking calendar, solicit and confirm guests, create show script and help write copy. This position is flexible, with intermittent but brief work throughout the week as needed. The ideal candidate would be available on Tuesday mornings, from 7:50am to 9am, thought that is also flexible. See the comprehensive position description here.
ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES IN NEWS & TALK:
HER TURN, Sundays 11-11:30am | News and features by and about women from a feminist perspective.
Her Turn is in need of producers, reporters, and especially an engineer to get the show on the road on Sundays.
Please submit supplemental Her Turn volunteer application. Click Here.
WORLD VIEW, Sundays 5-6pm
(Critical, anti-imperialist coverage of world news and in-depth interviews.)
Volunteers are needed for news reading, writing, engineering, and interviewing.
EN NUESTRO PATIO, Tuesdays 7-8pm
Locally produced Spanish language news, Tuesday 7-8pm. Collective members, especially women, are needed for news interviewing and reporting.
QUEERY, Wednesdays 7-7:30pm
Madison’s longest running LGBTQIA+ radio program needs your help. Members of the LGBTQIA community are invited to become hosts and producers.
PERPETUAL NOTION MACHINE, Thursdays 7-7:30pm
A show about science from a local perspective. Collective members needed for on-air hosting and interviewing guests, engineering, or preparing short features.
LABOR RADIO, Fridays 5:30-6pm
News by, for, and about working people. Production meetings Tuesdays, 7am. Help out as a reporter, on-air reader or producer.
Current On-Air Music Host Opportunities (updated March 2024)
🔊 LATE NIGHT DJs 🎵🎶
Time commitment: 4-6 hours every other week
Tasks: Host your own radio show!
- Prepare and execute original program concepts
- Curate a variety of music from WORT’s library and other sources
- Make on-air announcements as appropriate
- Comply with all station policies and FCC regulations
Schedule: Alternate weeks at these times [flexible if recorded]
- Sunday overnights [2-5 am Monday)
- Tuesday overnights [2-5 am Wednesday)
- Wednesday overnights [2-5 am Thursday]
Note that most of WORT’s music shows have long-term individual hosts, so opportunities for a new show of your own are usually limited. However, we’re always looking for volunteers to train as substitute backup hosts (see below.) For more information please email Sybil Augustine: musicdirector@wortfm.org
ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES:
Immediate openings for these off-air positions
📆 ONLINE CALENDAR EDITOR 💻
Time commitment: 1-3 hours every week
Manage WORT’s online music and community events calendars. Duties include data entry and using the internet to update the wortfm.org online web calendar. Knowledge of WordPress is helpful, but not required; all necessary training will be provided. Work may be done remotely or performed onsite.
Tasks:
- Review, edit and publish events
- Add new events as directed
- Communicate with artists and promoters about the process when needed
Schedule: Flexibles schedule at your convenience, as needed to keep up with online submissions
Music Promotions Assistants
Weekdays and evenings, onsite and virtual, working with local venues and artists to promote WORT at area events. Flexible time commitment, varies.
Music Department Blogging & Social Media
Write about WORT program specials; edit and post recorded interviews and live performances; review past or upcoming area concerts, new music and more for publication on our website and social media. Research information, links, photos, videos, etc. to add multimedia content. All genres of music welcome-bring us your own ideas, or receive assignments from staff and volunteers. (1-2 hours/week, flexible, work virtually or at the station.)
Current on-air music hosting positions
SUBSTITUTE HOSTS/PROGRAM CONTRIBUTORS (various days and times)
Volunteers are needed as substitute hosts, to produce radio and podcast specials, share interviews, research and write program promotions, anchor and engineer during live remotes and more. To apply, fill out the overall volunteer application and at the bottom check the box for “Music” and a separate music host application will open up with additional questions.
OTHER IN-PERSON VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
RECEPTION, Monday – Friday (shifts from 8 AM – 8 PM)
The WORT receptionist is the first point of contact for everyone who enters the WORT studios. As the friendly face of WORT, the receptionist has a host of responsibilities during their shift.
Each day and shift for a receptionist has different responsibilities based on the programming schedule. One shift may help with ticket giveaways, while another may check in guests for a show or transfer calls to reporters in the newsroom.
See position description.
THE PROMOS, Tuesdays 7-10pm (day and time IS flexible, and may change)
Get on-air and production experience with a multi-disciplinary team incorporating musical knowledge and skills in research, script writing, music selection, voice-over, engineering and audio editing with computer software. (Women are always needed for voice-over of announcements.) Email: aaron@wortfm.org
DIGITAL LIBRARY ASSISTANTS
Flexible weekday and evening hours managing digital music downloads and working with our digital music and audio library. Email: aaron@wortfm.org
AUDIO ARCHIVE MAINTENANCE
Volunteers with strong computer & data entry skills (experience with Windows XP required/Mac & Linux a plus) Familiarity with recording software preferred. Trim and edit digital recordings and transfer between different computers and media. Work with programmers to maintain updated descriptions in archive database. 1-2 times/week.
COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION
Engineering; Events; Community Advisory Board; Programming Committee.
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
The CAB is comprised of community members interested in the diverse needs and interests of WORT’s listening audience. The CAB advises WORT’s Board of Directors as to how the station’s programming and policies address community needs. The CAB meets once a month except for June, July and August. To volunteer for the CAB, email adrienne@wortfm.org.
PLEDGE TAKERS
Be part of the fun that keeps the station running. 2-3 hour shifts taking pledges by phone. To volunteer, call: 608-321-9583 and ask for Adrienne Ranney or email adrienne@wortfm.org.