Werk It 2019 Offers Scholarships

Werk It 2019 will take place at The Theater at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, California, October 3-4, 2019. They are offering scholarships.

It is a women’s podcast festival. Werk It is for women+ in all stages of their careers currently working in or hoping to break into audio and digital media.

Although Werk It focuses on women, they encourage podcasters and podcast fans who identify as genderqueer, non-binary, or other who feel inspired by what Werk It is doing to join in at the festival and be a part of the community.

Werk It offers a limited number of scholarships in order to ensure a robust mix of participants including students, freelancers and nonprofit employees who would otherwise be unable to attend. Scholarships cover conference registration but not travel expenses.

The scholarship application period for Werk It 2019 is now open. Scholarships are made possible with support from Spotify. The deadline for scholarship applications is July 15, 2019.

Before applying, it is wise to take a look at the criteria. Successful scholarship applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

Core Mission: The Werk It Festival was established to support early- and mid-career women+ in the field of audio.

Financial need/Employment status: The scholarship fund was specifically designed to support students, freelancers, and nonprofit employees. Consideration will also be given to those applicants who demonstrate the need for assistance in the narrative portion of the application.

Diversity: Werk It aims to support and elevate diverse voices in podcasting. Our hope is that the scholarships will create a cohort of attendees that are as professionally and geographically diverse as possible. Priority for scholarships is given to first time Werk It attendees and applicants whose perspectives are currently underrepresented in podcasting.

Narrative: A successful scholarship application will have a clear statement of purpose that demonstrates how attending Werk It will offer both career development and training as well as community impact.

Werk It 2018 will be in New York City

Werk It 2018 will take place at venues across New York City from November 12, 2018, through November 17, 2018. It is a Women’s Podcast Festival that is produced by WNYC Studios.

Join Werk It: A Women’s Podcast Festival, the inimitable annual gathering for women shaping the future of podcasting!

Werk It is for women+ in all stages of their careers working in or hoping to break into audio and digital media. Past attendees have come from 23 states and 13 countries. They have been producers, hosts, writers, reporters, editors, engineers, social media managers, marketers, sound designers, video producers, and more.

Although Werk It is focused on empowering women, they encourage podcasters and podcast fans who identify as genderqueer, non-binary, or other who feel inspired by what we’re doing to join them at the festival and be a part of their community.

Werk It launched in 2015 with a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to expand women’s voices in podcasting. At the time, research showed that only 20% of all podcasts in the iTunes top 100 chart were hosted by women. Their mission is to get to 50% or more. By giving women opportunities to learn new skills and make professional contacts, Werk It is one way we will get there.

Visit the Werk It 2018 website to see their long list of this year’s presenters. In addition, you can also check out the 2018 Conference Schedule. It includes things happening on their Main Stage and Second Stage, as well as some Sessions.

You Can Now Register for Werk It 2017

Werk It is described as “a women’s podcast festival”. This year, it will take place on October 3-5 in Los Angeles, California. Registration is now open.

Werk It is for women in all stages of their careers currently working in or hoping to break into audio and digital media. Podcasters are welcome. Women who are not a podcaster right now are welcome, too. The daytime sessions of Werk It, including the Podcast Bootcamp, are created by and for women only. Men are welcome to purchase tickets to the tapings in the evenings.

Early registration for Werk It is open now. Discounted festival passes are available in limited quantities until May 1, 2017.

All-Access Pass – $499 (regular $550) includes:

  • Podcast Bootcamp (October 3)
  • Two-Day Werk It Festival (October 4-5)
  • Tickets to all 3 live podcast tapings (October 3, 4, 5)

Festival Pass – $450 (regular $499)

  • Podcast Bootcamp (October 3)
  • Two-Day Werk It (October 4-5)

Werk It Pass – $299 (regular $350)

  • Two Day Werk It (October 4-5)

Podcast Bootcamp Pass – $175 (regular $200)

  • Podcast Bootcamp (October 3)

Werk It offers a limited number of scholarships in order to ensure a robust mix of participants such as students, freelancers, and nonprofit employees who would otherwise be unable to attend. Scholarships will cover the cost of the sessions. Recipients will be responsible for travel expenses and tickets to the live tapings. Those who want to apply must do so before March 1, 2017.

Right now, Werk It is seeking pitches for Session ideas. Sessions typically run 45-60 minutes and will be recorded and edited in the Werk It podcast feed. Some are also streamed and shared as video.

When pitching a Session, consider the audience. Werk It attracts women in various stages of their careers and from around the world, all looking to meet others in the field and be challenged and inspired, and to walk away with new ideas.

In the past, Sessions have covered vocal fry, reporting vs. storytelling, social media and marketing, interviewing skills, sound design, talent management, career advice, editing, and more. They encourage you to think outside of the conference box. Anything to do with producing audio while female is fair game.

Werk It Festival Has Added Speakers

Werk It a Womans Podcast Festival logoWerk It is a podcast festival bringing together innovative women working in audio and digital media. It is hosted by WNYC Studios and will take place on June 15 – 17, 2016. Werk It has added more speakers to the event and revealed the schedule.

Werk It is intended for women who work in audio and digital media. It is where they can hone their skills, meet other women in their field, and learn from peers and experienced industry professionals.

The event includes “uncomfortable conversations and invigorating debates”, mentoring, networking, and immersive training sessions. There will also be three straight nights of live podcast tapings from some of the most provocative and inspiring women hosts in the biz.

In April, Werk It had announced only a few speakers. They have since added more.

Speakers include:

* Jessica Williams & Phoebe Robinson – Co-hosts of 2 Dope Queens

* Manoush Zomordi – Host of Note to Self

* Molly Webber – Features Producer & Guest Host of Radiolab

* Jessica Chaffin & Jamie Denbo – Co-Hosts of Ronna & Beverly

* Kate Bilinski – Mix Engineer / Music Editor of Serial

* Mitra Kaboli – Senior Producer of The Heart

* Kelly McEvers – Host of Embedded

* Megan Tan – Host of Millennial

* Julie Shapiro – Executive Producer of Radiotopia

* Jenna Weiss-Berman – Co-Founder of Pineapple Street Media

* Tracy Clayton – Host of Another Round

* Amanda Aronczyk – Reporter for Only Human

* Marlo Mack – Host of How to Be a Girl

* Maria Hinojosa – Executive Producer and Anchor of Latino USA

* Kelsey Padgett – Producer of Radiolab

* Brittany Luse – Host of Sampler

The schedule, for all three days of Werk It is available and can be viewed on the event’s website. Space is limited and applications for the 2016 Werk It Festival are now closed.

Werk It Women’s Podcast Festival Will Happen in June

Werk It a Womans Podcast Festival logoWYNC Studios will hold Werk It a Woman’s Podcast Festival on June 15-17 of 2016. Space is limited and attendance is by application only. The applications are due on April 15, 2016, by 11:59 p.m. Werk It will take place at the Jerome L. Greene Performance Space in New York City.

Werk It brings together innovative women working in audio and digital media who are looking to hone their skills, meet others in their field, and learn from peers and experienced industry professionals.

The event includes “uncomfortable conversations and invigorating debates”. There will be mentoring, networking, and story workshopping. There will also be three straight nights of live podcast tapings from some of the most provocative and inspiring women hosts in the biz. Some of the presenters for this year’s Werk It have already been revealed. More speakers will be added later on.

Speakers include:

* Jessica Williams & Phoebe Robinson – Co-hosts of 2 Dope Queens

* Manoush Zamorodi – Host of Note to Self

* Molly Webster – Features producer and Guest Host of Radiolab

* Jessica Chaffin & Jamie Denbo – Co-hosts of Ronna & Beverly

* Kate Bilinski – Mix Engineer/Music Director of Serial

* Mitra Kaboli – Senior Producer of The Heart