WORT 89.9 FM VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES – Updated May 2023
News and Talk
Shifts are weekly unless stated otherwise. All tools and training provided! Email chali@wortfm.org for position descriptions and more information.
6pm News
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 two openings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This position has a weekly deadline but is time-flexible. Knowledge and/or expertise in a particular field is encouraged. See position description.
Insurgent Radio Kiosk
The Kiosk is in need of producers to add to our regular rotation. You would record each day’s community calendar and mix together with music and short, pre-produced commentaries to produce a segment totaling four minutes. Each day’s segment is different; all segments for the coming week are due by Sunday. See position description.
Madison Book Beat
Our weekly literary show highlighting local authors and authors coming to town is in need of monthly interviewers/hosts. See position description.
Eight O’Clock Buzz
The Monday 8 O’Clock Buzz is in need of a web editor. Post interviews online following the show, following station guidelines.
The Tuesday 8 O’Clock Buzz is in need of a web editor. Post interviews online following the show, following station guidelines.
ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES:
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.
Music
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
Music Calendar Editors
Duties include data entry and using the internet to update the wortfm.org online web calendar. Flexible time commitment of 1-3 hours per week, which may be done in-person at the station or virtually. Knowledge of WordPress is helpful, but not required; all necessary training will be provided.
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 positions
MUSIC HOST ASSISTANT/SUB TRAINEE
On the Horizon host Ford Blackwell needs an assistant for tasks such as entering playlists, finding/re-filing CDs and vinyl in our libraries and helping to program digital music. Ford hosts every three weeks on Sundays from 3-5 pm, so you’d need to be live in the studio those days. You’ll also learn the skills needed to sub host OTH or other world music shows. Contact musicdirector@wortfm.org and put “On the Horizon assistant” in the subject line.
SHOW TUNES HOSTS
Better Living Through Show Tunes (Sundays, 2-3 pm) needs volunteers who are knowledgeable about Broadway musicals and show tunes to host this program once a month. Email musicdirector@wortfm.org for more information.
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: wortpromos@wortfm.org
DIGITAL LIBRARY ASSISTANT
Flexible weekday and evening hours managing digital music downloads and working with our digital music and audio library. Email: wortpromos@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.
