Apply to KALW's Summer Podcasting Institute
KALW Public Media's Summer Podcasting Institute is a paid fellowship for teenagers. Selected students produce the next season of tbh, a unique podcast made by, about, and for teenagers. The institute brings cohorts of ambitious, open-minded, and energetic high school students or recent graduates together.
Participants learn how to report, interview people, write radio scripts, and voice their own audio stories, and the produce podcast episodes that reach a broad audience.
The stipend for participants is $1,250.
The program requires roughly 24 hours of work over the course of 4-6 weeks during July and August. That includes attending in-person workshops and completing take-home assignments that may include listening homework and reading, as well as reporting assignments (i.e. researching, calling sources, field reporting, interviewing, and writing stories to work on and edit in class.)
This is a unique and intense — but rewarding — opportunity.
For more information about the experience, check out this Teen Vogue article from tbh producer Meher Indoliya.
Topics covered in the program include:
- Reporting
- Finding reliable sources and distinguishing between primary and secondary sources.
- Listening and reading comprehension
- Pitching stories
- Recording audio
- Researching
- Interviewing
- Writing
- Voicing
Under the guidance of instructors, along with KALW staff, students in the institute will create stories for a six-part podcast series based on a chosen theme.
KALW broadcasts and distributes the episodes in the fall. The stories air on KALW public radio, on the tbh podcast, and are also published on our website.
Young people who are interested in journalism, audio engineering, writing, and public media should apply.
Social media and video experience is helpful but not required. Please reach out to tbh@kalw.org with any questions.
The 2024 class has already been selected. Applications for the next cohort will be announced by early 2025.