Call for Applications: Humanities EXCEL Fellowship with KSQD Community Radio, 2024-2025
This role is open to work-study and non-work-study students. This role requires work authorization.
Application Deadline: Sunday, October 13, 2024
The Humanities Division and The Humanities Institute are excited to announce an experiential learning opportunity for undergraduates at UC Santa Cruz to work with KSQD Community Radio.
The Humanities Experiential Career Exploration and Learning (EXCEL) Program connects Humanities majors and minors to organizations in the community for paid internships. In this cohort program, EXCEL Fellows gain practical experience and professional training while learning about positions outside of the university that build on their studies in the humanities. At the same time, community partner organizations benefit from students’ assistance and academic expertise. EXCEL Fellowships carry on the success of THI’s Public Fellows program, and they foster positive collaborations between the campus and community, demonstrating the value of a Humanities degree for a range of careers.
About KSQD
KSQD is a community radio station based in Santa Cruz, broadcasting to the Monterey Bay area on 90.7FM, 89.7FM, and 89.5FM. We recommend any applicants listen to the station and browse the website to see if we are a good fit. The mission of Natural Bridges Media/KSQD is to build community through quality broadcasts, podcasts, training programs, and community events. We celebrate the uniqueness of our region through news, arts, and culturally diverse programming. We are primarily volunteer-run, with two part-time paid staff and 140 volunteers. The station is run by a board of directors of 10, Natural Bridges Media. We do broadcasting, podcasting, events, and social media outreach.
Position Description: Reporter-Producer
KSQD seeks an intern to learn radio writing, reporting, producing, and editing for community and public radio stations.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS
- Radio Writing (20%): Write short radio news stories about local topics
- Research & Reporting (35%): help research local issues and procure guests for talk shows, conduct interviews
- Producing (20%): learn to operate radio equipment; read and talk live on the air.
- Editing (15%): Produce and edit interviews and short promotional spots. UCSC Humanities can provide Descript software for editing.
- Fundraising (10%): Help with fundraising events as needed
REQUIRED Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- You are a declared major or minor in a department in the Humanities Division and are in good academic standing. If you are currently proposed, you can declare by the end of the academic year in June 2025. [required]
- You have work authorization. [required]
- You are punctual and have strong communication skills in person, via phone/email/text.
- You consistently pay careful attention to detail in correcting mistakes
- You have a proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment with deadlines
- You have a basic understanding of journalism practices, ethics, and processes with attention to fairness, objectivity, and fact-checking.
- When it comes to your work habits, you are responsible, proactive, and reliable.
PREFERRED Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities (KSQD will train you)
- Audio & Digital editing - experience with Apple Garage Band, Adobe Audition or Adobe Suite, Audacity, Descript
- Radio or podcasting, live or produced
- Knowledge of/interest in local issues and news
- Familiarity with Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube; bonus points for experience managing social media for an organization, business, or brand.
- The ability to write with clarity and conciseness for radio audiences
- Ability to use or learn to use technology quickly and accurately
- Public speaking/Reading aloud
- Interviewing
- Fact-checking
What You’ll Gain From This Experience: You will work with a mentor on various projects at the KSQD studios, at home, and in the field doing radio reporting. You will get help on script writing, voice work, interview techniques, and technical skills. If all goes well, you will have a positive reference for future opportunities. You will also have published work for a portfolio.
Internship Term: November 2024 – June 2025
Hours: 10-20 hours/week
Compensation: $20/hour
Location: Hybrid. When working on-site, our studio is located at 399 Encinal Street (near Costco). A quiet workspace on campus in Humanities 1 can be provided for remote work. Students may also use the David Kirk Digital Commons as an interview space or to check out equipment.
Mentorship: You will report to Howard Feldstein (KSQD Program Director) and Rachel Goodman (UCSC Lecturer and KSQD Board Chair). The partner supervisor will delegate tasks and review your work, provide coaching, and help you understand what working in this field is like. You will meet to check in at least once per week
Apply By Submitting
- Your updated resume
- A short cover letter (no more than one page) answering these questions: Why are you interested in this position? How does your academic expertise and skillset prepare you for this role? What are you hoping to gain from this opportunity?
REVIEW these resume and cover letter resources to ensure you are a strong candidate!
- Address your cover letter to the KSQD Team
Once the application window closes on Sunday, October 13, at 11:59 pm, there will be a virtual interview process for top candidates with KSQD’s Program Director and Board Chair. This position is expected to begin in early November.
Please contact the EXCEL Program coordinator, Kylie Rachwalski, at hum-experiential-learning@ucsc.edu with any questions.
The Mellon Foundation, The Helen and Will Webster Foundation, The Humanities Institute, and the UCSC Humanities Division generously support the Humanities EXCEL Program.
