[Imc-dnc-discuss] Free Speech Radio News request for footage/segments

[Svea Eppler]

     Hello Boston IMC Video and Audio Teams!

     Earlier this morning I received a telephone call
from Monica Lopez of Free Speech Radio News. Monica
and several other audio folks are in Boston covering
the Democratic National Convention counter-protests.
They are interested in working with the Independent
Media Center and indy journalists to obtain work for
their radio show. They have offered us their standard
freelance rate if we have a radio-friendly audio story
for their daily television show.
     They will need the audio (from an audio recorder
or captured from an audio/video device) converted to
an mp3 or .ogg format. They have daily deadlines and a
specific format that submissions should follow, and
they are looking to include as many different voices
and perspectives as possible in any stories that we
may contribute.

     This may be a time-consuming process, but the
benefit to any IMCsters who volunteer to help with
this type of programming & conversions will also be
helping out Audio and Video projects for IndyMedia
distribution. 
     The price of a story varies based on the length
and type of segment. 

     2 min broadcast quality/$80
     4 min broadcast quality/$160
     headline/$30

     In order to be considered for their show, indy
reporters would need to follow several steps: propose
the story to FSRN and/or capture the footage, submit a
script to FSRN (which will be sent to Editorial team),
upload segment to FSRN (they will master audio levels,
etc), Editorial team will consider application and
decide if it will be included in the daily show. If
segment is approved, FSRN will cut a check to the
individual or organization specified by the freelancer
for the amount used, and invoice will be generated
that will describe the segment, the amount of payment
and receipt/use of the segment on their show.

     There are daily deadlines for this project –
script deadline is 1:30pm EST, upload deadline is
2:30pm EST. They will consider segments after an event
if it contains other breaking news, but they are
looking for inclusive segments with local interest,
several different perspectives, and a range of topics
related to the DNC in specific and off-shoot topics in
particular.

     If you are interested in having Video (audio part
only) converted into a segment for FSRN, the DNC Video
Team can digitize and convert your footage for upload.
 We can only provide this service if the proceeds will
benefit the Boston Independent Media Center DNC
Projects. As always, if individuals are interested in
creating segments for their own freelance, our public
terminals are available in the Convergence Center to
be used for this purpose. You may need to install the
appropriate open source program (such as audacity from
http://audacity.sourceforge.net) for this task. Also,
IMC reports and news coverage will always have first
priority unless funds generated by your footage
benefit the Boston IndyMedia DNC Projects.

     If you are interested in finding out more about
how Free Speech Radio News works, or would like to
contact Monica, the information can be found at:

mllopez at sbsglobal.net, www.fsrn.org, or in the
forwarded message below:

     Cheers!

     Svea.

* * * * * * * * * 

Thanks to you and Boston Indymedia for being so
responsive to the possibility of working together at
the DNC.

When pitching a story as an individual or as a
collective please include the following information:

+ a paragraph explaining the story and its
significance to a national audience

+ a list of who you have or plan to talk to (could be
general descriptions like "union rep," "student")

+ ambient sound you plan to get

+ the length of the piece

+ when you expect to turn a script around

Send pitch emails to 2 email addresses: 
fsrn-features at wbai.org and mllopez at sbcglobal.net


I've also pasted below a generic letter we send out to
new FSRN reporters...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'm glad you'll be producing this piece for us! 
Following are some of our guidelines.  Please keep in
mind that we make every effort to avoid using
telephone interview tape.  You can also find technical
guidelines and tips on our web site at www.fsrn.org .

Best,
Monica

***********************

SOUND QUALITY:

Please keep in mind that we make every effort to get
rich field recordings and to avoid using telephone
interview tape.  

*********************** 

DEADLINES:

Our maximum allotted time for a feature story is 4
minutes, with suggested cuts to 3:30 provided by the
correspondent. A shorter news story runs between
1:30-2 minutes and typically includes 2 voices. 

If you have actualities that are not in English,
transcribe the acts fully and our production team will
take care of the Voice Over mixes.

And, we always like to remind our reporters to avoid
excessive microphone popping in your narration tracks
by paying close attention to your narration in your
headphones.

Our deadlines are:

SCRIPTS-- 10:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

AUDIO UPLOAD-- 11:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time

*(www.worldtimeserver.com shows all time zones)

Encode your mixed story as an .mp3 file at 128kbps
MONO.

upload to:  www.savepacifica.net/free.html
password:  freezepeach

Finally, send an email confirmation with the filename
and TRT to fsrn-features at wbai.org

Invoices should be sent to bookkeeper Julie Alexander
at BillhelpJ at aol.com.  It should include the amount
for which you are invoicing, your full name, current
mailing address, social security number or tax
identification number (reporters outside of the US
should ask Julie how to handle this), story
slug/title, total length of story, and the air date.

FSRN pays: 
$160 for a feature.
$80 for a shorter news story.

*************
You can also find technical guidelines and tips on our
web site at www.fsrn.org
 
Fsrn - 818-985-2711 ext. 227




		
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