Google and PRX Revealed Round Two of Podcast Creator Program

Google and PRX have revealed the teams chosen for their second round of the Google Podcasts creator program. Variety reported that Google and PRX received thousands of applications to the program from more than 100 countries.

PRX revealed the Round Two for the Google Podcasts creator program:

37 Graus (“37 Degrees”) – from Sãn Paulo, Brazil: Named for the average temperature of the human body, and intended to convey both science and human warmth, 37 Graus is a reported Portuguese-language podcast that tells stories behind Brazil’s iconic landscapes and events.

Sarah Azoubel (Co-Creator, Host, and Producer) is a Brazilian biology PhD turned science journalist and audio producer Bia Guimarães (Co-Creator, Host, and Producer) is a Brazilian journalist and audio producer with a master’s degree in Science and Cultural Communication.

City of Women – from Bangalore, India: Discover how Bangalore’s women navigate their working lives and the city through hyper-local tours of their workplaces, neighborhoods, communities, and favorite places to go for fun – because each woman draws her map differently.

Samyuktha Varma (Producer and Host) is a writer and researcher with a longstanding interest in how challenging topics are communicated to broader audiences. Radishika Viswanathan (Producer and Host) is a development researcher an podcaster whose interests lie at the intersection of development research, policy, and communication.

Cocktails & Cancer with MJ and Dani – from West Orange, New Jersey & Queens, New York. This immersive mix of social and cultural commentary and storytelling shapes the journey of two best friends after a breast cancer diagnosis to inspire and empower black women to have real conversations about cancer.

Michelle “MJ” James (Co-Host) and Danielle “Dani” Brown (Co-Host) have worked in media and entertainment for 20+ years. Dani was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, and is now three-years cancer-free.

De Eso No Se Habla – from Madrid, Spain. This Spanish-language show, whose title translates to “We Don’t Talk About That,” maps stories deliberately omitted from everyday discourse – because they hurt too much, because they endanger the status quo, or because we don’t even have the words to talk about them.

Isabel Cadenas Canñon (Creator, Host and Producer) is an independent audio producer and writer).

Her Stage – from Beirut, Lebanon. Discover the underground life of Beirut as this Arabic-language narrated documentary uncovers a hidden world where differences are celebrated, activism is brewing, and the feminine is being set free.

Rhea Chedid (Producer and Host) is the founder of a Beirut-based podcast production company. Afeef Nessouli (Producer and Host) is an American-Lebanese news producer and journalist.

Un periódico de ayer – from Bogatá, Columbia. A Spanish-language, narrative-driven podcast, “Yesterday’s News” is about the personal toll of history and how public issues can shape our most private moments.

Juan Serrano (Host and Lead Producer) is a lawyer, journalist, non-fiction book author and producer of various podcasts. Miguel Reyes (Producer) is a lawyer, writer, and producer. Daniel Díaz (Audio Designer) is a musician, copywriter and animal lover.

PRX Seeks a Community Manager for PRX Podcast Garage

PRX is looking for someone passionate about storytelling and community engagement to run the PRX Podcast Garage at its newest location in Washington, D.C.

The PRX Podcast Garage is a community recording studio, classroom, and event space that supports new voices in podcasting and public media. In 2016, PRX opened the first PRX Podcast Garage in Boston, Massachusetts to support the work of local audio producers and storytellers. The facility now runs more than 100 events and workshops for a year – serving over 2,500 participants – as well as a professional recording studio. Most importantly, the Podcast Garage is a welcoming community for new audio makers to get inspired, collaborate, and create.

The PRX Community Manager will work closely with the Podcast Garage team. There is also a lot of autonomy to imagine and implement ideas. The job is customer-focused. People come and go throughout the day, so the PRX Community Manager will need to provide hospitality. The PRX Community Manager must be someone who has a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusivity with a passion for supporting new voices in media.

This application closes on Sunday, July 14, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. ET. It is a full-time position, Wednesday through Sunday, based in the heart of D.C.’s creative community. For more information, and to apply for this job, please visit the website where the PRX Community Manager want-ad is posted.

PRX Seeks a Creative Services Manager

The PRX Marketing Department is seeking a Creative Services Manager.

PRX Marketing Department is looking for a creative and experienced brand professional to oversee all creative design, graphics, and branding aesthetic. This is an exciting and fast-paced position that supports marketing, distribution, sales, operations, IT and fundraising departments and our podcast network, Radiotopia. This individual acts as a critical team member who helps lead the creative development and implementation of PRX’s brand strategy.

Some responsibilities include:

  • Assigns projects to vendors, graphic artists, PR and Marketing Agencies; production houses, utilizing current workload, skill sets and experiences
  • Translate creative briefs into design assets and systems that meet business goals as defined by CMO
  • Produce monthly webinars in collaboration with content and station services departments
  • Ensure producers have a style guide book and kick-off onboarding by walking new and returning producers through the process
  • Monitor producers and shows to ensure compliance with brand and logo use
  • Build and distribute social media toolkits with regular messaging, graphics, audiograms, approved photos, etc.
  • Excellent design an graphics portfolio
  • Acts as a liaison between marketing, production, fundraising, ad sales departments and Radiotopia Network and its producers
  • Builds and maintains PRX, Radiotopia, and PRX Podcast Garage style guidelines

This position is based in Boston, Massachusetts. PRX employees are offered health, dental and life insurance benefits, short- and long-term disability, a 401K retirement plan, and paid parental leave.

Visit the website PRX website where this job listing is posted for more information and to apply for the position.

PRX is Seeking a Director of Audience Growth

PRX is at the epicenter of the audio revolution, bridging broadcast, digital and mobile with a portfolio of exceptional programs. PRX is seeking a Director of Audience Growth.

The Director of Audience Growth reports to the Chief Marketing Officer and will work in partnership with the marketing team on effective initiatives that introduce our content to new listeners and build loyalty with our existing listeners; the core aspect of this position is to identify and grow new audiences and help support PRX’s premier broadcast programs.

Some requirements include:

  • Deliver required consumer audiences to ensure broadcast, download and live event success and advertiser and sponsor satisfaction
  • Develop broadcast, podcast and audience acquisition strategies for PRX and Radiotopia; manage overall audience development testing strategy – including funnel optimization, distribution channel mix and headline and image optimization
  • Ensure social media strategy developed by VP audience development & engagement is aligned with audience growth strategy
  • Apply SEO initiatives and best practices to the content strategy that will strengthen and optimize both website and keyword ranking with the ability to clearly communicate best practices to editorial and product teams
  • Work cross-functionally with brand site editors, publishers, product development, and sales & marketing groups to identify opportunities, executive brand initiatives and maximize audience growth

PRX points out that this position is based in Boston. PRX employees are offered health, dental and life insurance benefits, short- and long-term disability, a 401K retirement plan and paid vacation and parental health.

Visit the PRX job listing for full information about the Director of Audience Growth position.

PRX Seeks Director of Productions

PRX is at the epicenter of the audio revolution, bridging broadcast, digital and mobile with a portfolio of exceptional programs including PRI’s The World, The Takeaway, The Moth Radio Hour, On Being, This American Life and the Radiotopia podcast network. PRX is seeking a Director of PRX Productions.

PRX is looking for a seasoned producer and manager with a sharp sense of story, experience building a creative team, and a sophisticated understanding of the podcast landscape. If you are someone who is comfortable with talent, technology, and the business of dynamics that are shaping the on-demand audio landscape then this is the opportunity for you.

Required Qualifications include:

  • At least 7+ years of writing and producing successful podcasts and/or radio programs
  • A passion for innovative stories and impactful content
  • An ability to juggle multiple concurrent projects
  • A proven track record of meeting financial goals, managing a budget and setting key business objectives
  • Experience launching productions from scratch and collaborating on making existing probrams better
  • An ability to foster strong partnerships
  • Demonstrated experience building, leading and maintaining a strong creative team
  • A natural problem-solver
  • A team player with an ability to communicate effectively across functional teams, clients, colleagues and others
  • Highly organized and able to meet weekly deadlines
  • Proven critical thinking and problem-solving skills

This position is based in Boston. PRX employees are offered health, dental and life insurance benefits, short- and long-term disability, a 401k retirement plan, and paid vacation and parental leave.

Visit the PRX want ad for full details.

Google Introduced Google Podcasts Creator Program

Google announced the Google Podcasts creator program in June. The program aims to support underrepresented voices in podcasting, and to make it easier to learn how to get into this growing medium. The application window is now open.

Google explained why they made the Google Podcasts creator program:

With the launch of Google Podcasts app in June, we’re working to make it easier for people around the world to find and access podcasts. While there are more podcasts than ever before, there continues to be an imbalance in who is creating them. Women and people of color are still underrepresented as hosts, and many of the world’s most popular podcasts hail from western, urban areas. In June, we announced the Google Podcasts creator program, which aims to support these underrepresented voices in podcasting, and make it easier for people to learn how to get into this growing medium.

The Google Podcasts creator program is focused on three main pillars:

  • Empowering and training underrepresented voices through an accelerator program
  • Education a global community with free tools
  • Showcasing participants’ work as a model for others

The application window is officially open globally through November 18, 2018, for the first round of the Google Podcasts creator program. Google has partnered with PRX, who will lead and manage the program. Applications will be accepted from around the globe. For more information on the program, and to apply, visit PRX’s Google Podcasts creator program website.

PRX, alongside a global advisory committee, will select teams to receive mentorship, seed funding, and an intensive 20-week training. For those who want to learn more about what it takes to create a podcast, but are not ready to apply to the program, PRX will draw on learnings from the program to develop a series of broadly accessible podcasting 101 videos in multiple languages.

PRX is Seeking a Distribution Associate

Public Radio Exchange (PRX) is an online marketplace for distribution, review, and licensing of public radio programming. PRX is also a growing social network and community of listeners, producers, and stations collaborating to reshape public radio. PRX is seeking a Distribution Associate.

PRX is looking for a talented Distribution Associate who will provide critical support to PRX’s ongoing broadcast and distribution platforms. It is a full time entry level position located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Distribution Associate will be responsible for assisting our users, producers, stations and partners get their programs out to public radio stations. You will be assisting in implementing communication strategies to keep our partners up to date about any technical issues. Additionally, you will: provide training (ongoing), onboard stations and producers to our platforms, and monitor systems on a regular basis. We are looking for someone who shares our sense of purpose, is excited about our opportunities for growth, and is ready to jump into the fray to make good things happen.

Some qualifications include:

  • Excellent communications skills
  • Two+ years in an administrative role and/or bachelor’s degree
  • Demonstrated success with multi-tasking and project management
  • Experience working in an ever-evolving, energizing environment
  • Customer service experience
  • Interest in public radio and podcasts a plus
  • Interest in public radio and podcasts a plus
  • Comfortable using Macs, Google Apps, Project Management tools, CRMs, Slack or other messaging systems

Visit the PRX website for more information about the Distribution Associate position.

PRX Announces RadioPublic

RadioPublic logoPRX, the award-winning public media company, announced it has formed RadioPublic, a new hybrid company building a mobile listening platform for on-demand radio and podcasts. RadioPublic is aiming to create a new listening experience, featuring content discovery, exclusive offers, and fan engagement.

PRX is a leading creator and distributor that is shaping the future of public media content, talent, and technology. It connects audio producers with their most engaged, supportive audiences across broadcast, web, and mobile. RadioPublic is a mobile listening platform for on-demand radio and podcasts founded by PRX. As a Public Benefit Corporation, RadioPublic shares public media’s educational, artistic, and journalistic mission, and the democratic values of open access to information.

RadioPublic has secured funding from leading investors including Project 11, The New York Times, Knight Foundation Enterprise Fund, UP2398, American Public Media, McClatchy and Homebrew. Jake Shapiro, founding chief executive of PRX will lead the new venture as CEO. Kerri Hoffman, who has also been with PRX since its start, will become PRX’s CEO.

When RadioPublic launches later this year, its listeners will have access to top podcasts as well as PRX’s full catalog, including The Moth Radio Hour, 99% Invisible, Reveal, the Radiotopia podcast network, and the Remix story channel. RadioPublic will also integrate with PRX’s dynamic ad product, Dovetail, which powers Serial and other signature shows.

Public Radio Exchange COO Breaks Down “The Business Of Podcasts”

Dollar signsKeri Hoffman, chief operating officer at Public Radio Exchange recently published an article on the business aspects of podcasting. It’s an interesting read and will surely provide some new insights to both new and veteran podcasters alike. The article is broken down into a series of major points, covering everything from media hosting to monetization.

Hoffman notes how, when PRX first ventured into podcasting, the state of media hosting was abysmal. Fortunately, that’s changed for the better over the years. Regardless, she has some good advice to create, “…a podcast feed that points to a stable place.” And when looking for a hosting provider, “Basic metrics like number of downloads and subscribers are how you will measure your success. If your host doesn’t offer these, walk away.” And perhaps most importantly:

If your podcast feed is not a domain you control you may have trouble upgrading or moving to a new publishing platform in the future. If your show URL is something like – www.mycoolpodcast.podcastcompany.com, you may have a tough time extracting your feed since it is tied up with the domain of your host. Potentially, you could lose listeners in the transition. The best way to avoid this problem is to purchase a domain name and then use that for your feed.

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This American Life Gets New Distribution

This American Life LogoLong-running NPR favorite This American Life has switched its primary distribution point from Public Radio International (PRI) to Public Radio Exchange (PRX). This is relevant to podcasting for a couple reasons. First, the show will now be distributed primarily via the Internet instead of NPR’s satellite system. Second, This American Life will now be able to seek out its own podcast sponsors and potentially make more money.

Under PRI, This American Life was paid by NPR stations that chose to carry the show. And overall, NPR had more involvement in the business side of the show. Thru this new deal with PRX, the show is essentially going independent. It’ll still be heard in all of the same places, and the changeover should be seamless to most listeners. And while This American Life has a huge audience to build from, the change doesn’t come without risks. According to the CNBC article linked above, the show is foregoing a guaranteed seven-figure income with its old PRI deal. Under the new system, This American Life host Ira Glass and the show’s producers will be directly responsible for managing the show’s marketing and monetization efforts. From that CNBC article:

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