Cited Media Productions is seeking freelance audio producers to add towards a casual roster who can work on individual projects in an ad-hoc basis. If you are interested, please email Gordon Katic a cover letter, CV, and links to three pieces of previous audio work that you are proud of.
There is no deadline here. We will consider producers on a rolling basis.
About Cited Media
Founded in 2013, Cited Media is one of Canada’s leading independent podcast production companies. We have produced podcasts like Cited Podcast, Darts & Letters, and CRACKDOWN that have garnered substantial popular and critical acclaim. These projects have an extensive track record of being honoured for reporting excellence and public impact, including by organizations such as: the Canadian Association of Journalists, the Jack Webster Foundation, the National Campus and Community Radio Association, the New York Radio Awards, the Sidney Hillman Foundation, and the Third Coast International Audio Festival.
In addition to Cited Media-published podcasts, we develop podcasts with research-focussed organizations that work in the public interest, especially: universities and scholarly organizations, health authorities, community organizations, professional associations, and other educational and advocacy-focussed not-for-profits. These podcasts generally aim at knowledge mobilization, professional development, or community engagement.
The Role
We are seeking experienced producers who can provide leadership and production support to our client podcasts.
You will be work on all aspects of podcast production including: ideation of episodes, leading interviews and scripting, creating drafts, implementing edits, and presenting the end product.
You must have a thorough understanding of journalistic ethics, practices, and production approaches–especially in audio and podcasting. Additionally, you should understand and develop our unique method to academic journalism, which is centred on co-production (in which scholars, students, journalists, and sometimes community members work together in partnership). This means the ideal producer will have cross-sectoral competencies (with some experience working in academic, arts, or not-for-profit sectors), a collaborative mindset, and the patience and problem-solving skills to work with diverse teams towards projects that work in the public interest.
Summary of Duties
Show Running & Client Communications
- Showrunning, including: building and managing production systems for podcasts, keeping track of deadlines and targets, and generally guiding a loose idea to becoming a real podcast.
- Developing workflows with clients, including: crafting effective communication and project management strategies to facilitate seamless work across sectors and workplaces, setting dates for client feedback and input, and problem-solving when deadlines are not met.
Audio Production & Distribution
- Hands-on audio work, including all aspects of podcast production, from research and booking, to pre-interviews and interviews, scripting and narration, audio editing and mixing, etc. (Note: you must be able to work on Adobe Audition or be able to quickly learn Audition if you happen to work on another DAW).
- Managing podcast websites and files, writing show pages, copy, and supporting social media and other outreach campaigns.
Client Support & Consulting
- Supporting our clients’ visions, including: developing podcast ideas and concepts so that they meet the organization’s knowledge mobilization and community engagement goals, providing general consulting, and vetting/supporting individual show plans and ideas.
- Providing support and training to client hosts and partners, including: formal and informal feedback on narration and interview technique, offering hands-on tutorials and sharing helpful resources, and generally providing critical but constructive feedback to interested but inexperienced podcast creators.
Qualifications:
You are an experienced producer:
You have experience recording both live and virtual (Zoom) interviews. You know how to capture a good-quality recording. You have experience editing audio in Adobe Audition, and can take tape from a rough cut to a finished mix. On a higher level, you’re passionate about storytelling, and able to edit tape for the most compelling narrative. You have an ear for keeping a production alive and growing, whether that be through music selects, incorporating field sound, or adjusting show formats to keep things interesting.
You can work well in an academic setting:
We work in the post-secondary sector, and therefore a postsecondary degree is important. The ideal candidate would have strong familiarity with higher education – including its cultures, practices, values, rhythms, and institutional bodies. However, we would consider experiences in comparable domains like the public sector, independent media, arts, or not-for-profit sectors. At a minimum, you must be curious about new ideas and you must be able to read, understand, and explain academic texts.
You can work well in a journalistic setting:
You’re comfortable in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. You should also be an open-minded problem solver who takes initiative, isn’t afraid to ask questions, and is oriented towards the public interest, social justice, and being a decent person. You understand journalistic ethics and trauma-informed reporting. You should be able to work with marginalized communities and on sensitive issues, and you know how to create a safe space for them.
You are an exceptional writer and communicator:
You are a professional, confident, clear, and compassionate communicator. You are experienced with liaising with internal and external clients and partners, you are comfortable with working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and you can represent Cited Media professionally and respectfully. You will also be able to write clear internal documents (meeting agendas, weekly reports and rundowns, etc.) and external ones (client emails, marketing copy and show pages/blog posts, etc.)
You are detailed-oriented, and you can keep track of administrative needs:
We work on many projects at once, with many clients and partners from various sectors, and most of our work is virtual. This means that you must be a detail-oriented person who can carefully integrate within our existing technical and project management systems, otherwise our productions are liable to break down. Therefore, you can work autonomously and keep track of deadlines and hours. You’re comfortable with project management platforms like Asana, and virtual platforms like Google Workspace. You practice good file management, you can solve technical problems, and have an eye for making improvements when needed.
The Nitty-Gritty
We pay our freelancers approximately $30-$40/hr, adjusted to be commensurate with your skills and experience.
This position is either completely remote or it is hybrid. Preference would be given to a Toronto or Vancouver-based producer, but anyone in Canada can apply. We have a Toronto office in which we work in-person with freelance producers who come in occasionally. Secondarily, we have many Vancouver-based projects, and therefore we would also give preference to a Vancouver-based producer. However, people from across Canada should not hesitate to apply.
How to Apply
If you are interested, please email Gordon Katic a cover letter, CV, and links to three pieces of previous audio work that you are proud of.