The Environment Report encourages freelance contributions from station reporters and other producers to help us provide the best possible environmental journalism. These guidelines outline what we need from you and your pieces.
While anyone is welcome to submit a story to us, your chances of actually having your story aired increase substantially if you have some knowledge of how to produce a radio piece. These skills can be learned through courses at some community colleges or by volunteering at community radio stations.
The Editor
Any story idea begins by discussing it with the editor. The editor works with each reporter to help craft the best possible story for our stations. Contact Lester Graham at graham@environmentreport.org.
The Pitch
All stories begin with the "story pitch." A short note is sent to the editor that begins with a simple sentence that puts the story in this form - someone is doing something for a reason.
"President Bush releases a new plan to deal with greenhouse gas emissions because he hopes the plan will help repair his damaged reputation with environmentalists."
"Activist Chad Pregracke spends most of his waking hours pulling trash from the Mississippi River because he hopes to return the river to a more pristine condition."
"Sewer officials with the city of Detroit have constructed a major underground cavern because they hope the cavity will help them control sewer overflows during heavy rainstorms."
Each of these examples shows that someone is doing something for a reason. We use this "focus statement" because it allows us to see the actual story we hope to tell. While we are journalists first, we are also storytellers.
Each initial pitch should be followed by a paragraph or two explaining how you see the story being told. Include some of the sources you hope to interview for the story. Give enough detail so the editor will be able to clearly understand what it is you are proposing. But, keep it brief.
While developing your proposal, please keep in mind a very important point -the Environment Report produces stories about the environment and why it's important to the people's everyday lives. While there are many great stories of local interest, if they do not have a broader connection, they will not be of use to our service. Try this simple test - ask yourself whether someone in Chicago, IL and someone else in Columbus, OH would care about your story. If you can answer that each might be interested, then you probably have a good story idea.
Story Length, Submission
Once your story idea has been approved, you will discuss with your editor the appropriate length. No feature for the Environment Report can be longer than 4:00, including the host introduction, unless previous approval has been given. All news spots must be no longer than :60, also including host intro, unless prior permission is given.
As you're writing your piece, be sure to read the script out loud from time to time. Remember, you are telling a story. Your script should read like one. Avoid the use of jargon. Pretend you're telling your story to a friend for the first time.
Do not hesitate to ask questions during the time you are reporting or writing. The editor would rather hear that you have a problem or an uncertainty earlier, rather than later in the process.
As you report on the story, you may find that the story has changed somewhat from the story you pitched. Don't be concerned; this is a rather common occurrence. However, be sure to alert your editor.
When the reporting is finished and you have a script, you should be prepared to perform your piece for the editor. This means playing your tape down the phone line, as well as reading your narration. Your delivery should be similar to how you would sound on the air. The purpose of this edit is to make sure the piece will make sense to a listener. It's also important to get a final length on the piece, so the phone edit must be done in real time, so the editor can run a stopwatch.
The Produced Piece
If the editor gives final approval for the piece, then it's time to produce the story. It is expected that, unless given prior approval, you will have the ability to mix your piece. We pay based on your ability to mix your own work.
Once the story is produced, it can be sent to us in a number of ways. The most preferred method is a process known as "file transfer protocol," or FTP. This is a very easy process that moves the finished file from your computer (if you edit and mix your pieces on the computer) to our computer via the Internet. We prefer that you FTP a .wav file. Produced pieces can also be submitted on DAT or minidisc. While we encourage our producers to mix the piece before sending, all stock tape should also be sent (actualities, natural sound and narration tracks) in case the piece requires re-mixing by our staff.
All submitted pieces must also include a final copy of the script. That final copy will be e-mailed to the editor. Our staff will also require your contact information - phone number and mailing address, along with your social security number for payment. And a short bio and a photograph are required for inclusion on the producer's page of our website.
Payment
We pay standard public radio rates for our pieces. News spots are paid $40 and features are paid $400. Commentaries are paid at the flat rate of $150.
We pay upon airing of a story. That means that payment will be processed the week a story is sent out to stations. Payment comes from the University of Michigan, and is subject to the university's internal process. Freelancers should receive a check within four weeks of the piece airing.
Expenses are sometimes incurred during the reporting of a story. We will reimburse you for some expenses; however the cost should be discussed with your editor beforehand.
It is not necessary to send an invoice for your story. Our staff works from the weekly feed schedule. Payment is submitted upon the airing of each particular story. You will need to send us an e-mail detailing any approved expenses. If it's for mileage, the e-mail should include where you are going to/from, the total mileage, and who you are interviewing.
Commentary
In addition to producing news stories about the environment, we also distribute commentaries from time to time. Commentary by nature is driven by opinion. Some of the best commentators are those that by expressing their views anger us, because they challenge our very belief systems. And they help us to think differently about an issue, perhaps in a way we may have never considered otherwise. A good commentary can move us to action, or stir a memorable emotion - and sometimes it can do both.
A good commentary is grounded in fact. It uses the truth to persuade. In other words, commentary is not simply an opportunity to rant.
It is the policy of the Environment Report to air as wide a range of ideas and opinion as possible. However, the key is ideas. We do not encourage commentary that serves simply to criticize or tear down. We want commentary that presents new ideas, from almost any perspective. The idea is to shed light, rather than produce heat.
It is advisable to discuss your idea with the editor before actually taking the time to write a full commentary.