Pitches wanted (the art of audio documentary) | $200 to $400 per article

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: SOUND FIELDS

Deadline: 7 September 2023

Our first issue asks you to help us answer: What is an audio documentary?

HERE ARE SOME GUIDING THEMES WE INVITE YOU TO CONSIDER:

• What defines audio documentary as a distinct creative practice?
• What makes audio documentary distinct from other forms of audio or from documentary traditions in other mediums?
• How do we understand genre and schools of practice in audio documentary?
• Who are audio documentaries for, and who gets to make them?
• What does it mean to call yourself a documentarian vs. something else?
• What does the lived experience of working as a documentarian tell us about what this genre means and who it serves?
• How do audio documentaries intervene/interact with systems of power in the world?
• How do we make audio documentaries?
• What are the roots and/or future of our craft? What do we want to preserve and what do we need to leave behind?
• What are the essential ingredients of an audio documentary?
• What is your personal theory of how to make audio documentaries or of how audio documentaries work?

HOW TO SUBMIT

Pitch ideas for commissioned written work by September 7th, 2023:

Original essay - considering questions related to the theme of this inaugural issue.

Pitches should be 300 words or less. Final essay 1500 words or less (can be less!). If your pitch is approved, you’ll be matched with an editorial board member who will provide a round of feedback on your piece. $400 honorarium. We have capacity to accept a maximum of 3 works of this type.

Q and As/Conversations (written/transcribed)

This could be a conversation with documentarians/artists/producers/thinkers whose work speaks to something interesting or provocative or inspiring related to the issue theme. It could be an interview with an artist/creator in another medium or a conversation with someone who was impacted by or involved in an audio documentary in an interesting way. Format for publication will be an edited-for-length transcription. $200 honorarium. We have capacity for 2-3 of these.

PITCH original essays and Q+As here.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Submissions: Via the webform
• Website: https://www.soundfields.org/

TO HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR PITCH:

• Learn more about the publication: Sound Fields is an online publication and event series dedicated to the art of audio documentary in theory and practice. It aims to gather audio documentary makers — including narrative podcasters — to learn from each other as they collectively explore and define their critical orientations, artistic goals, ethical concerns, creative lineages, and dreams for the future of their field. More information here.
• Check out our collection of pitch excerpts on this page and find more sample pitches at The Open Notebook and at SuccessfulPitches.com.
• Do not forget to end your pitch with (1) a short introduction about yourself; (2) a few lines highlighting your writing experience, relevant credentials and publication credits; and (3) links to your strongest work or portfolio, and online profile.

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