New York Women’s Foundation IGNITE! Fellow, In The Thick

In The Thick is a political podcast where journalists of color discuss what’s missing from the mainstream news. Co-hosted by award-winning journalists Maria Hinojosa and Julio Ricardo Varela, In The Thick has conversations about race, identity and politics few people are discussing or want to discuss. It’s a podcast that values and gives platform to POC voices so communities of color understand they matter in the country’s political discourse. In 2020, In The Thick was awarded Adweek’s Diversity and Inclusion Podcast of the Year and the Latin Podcast Award for best English language podcast. 

We are seeking recent graduates from a journalism program or journalism professionals with a passionate interest in reporting that centers the voices and stories of girls, young women, and gender-fluid individuals of color in NYC. The fellowship is funded by the New York Women’s Foundation and will focus on stories that encourage girls, young women, and gender non-conforming youth of color to lead self-determined lives and create a culture and narrative shift to advance gender and racial equity in NYC.

The fellowship is open to female, gender-fluid, trans and/or non-binary individuals who are early-career reporters with no more than five years’ experience in the field. They will gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them, honing their journalistic and storytelling skills as well as gaining technical radio broadcasting and podcasting skills.

The fellowship will begin February 16, 2021 and end October 15, 2021. The fellow will work four days a week at the rate of $15/hour that will be paid out bi-weekly throughout the duration of the fellowship. Currently this fellowship will be remote through June 1, 2021 as the Futuro office is virtual due to COVID-19. We will be continuously monitoring the situation and the return date is subject to change. But the fellow should be NYC-based with the expectation of returning to Futuro’s Harlem office later in the year. A monthly MTA metrocard will be provided to the Fellow once Futuro’s office reopens, if travel is necessary. The Fellow will be immersed in In The Thick’s editorial and production process, particularly gaining feedback on how to research, pitch, produce and edit stories from In The Thick’s unique perspective.

The ideal candidate should play well with others and enjoy production and reporting. They should have a passion for telling POC stories and working with voices that are rarely heard in the public media landscape. We’re a small shop, so we need someone who is a true team player, unafraid of rolling up their sleeves and doing whatever it takes to complete an assignment.

Duties and Expectations

Reporting to In The Thick Producer, the Fellow will:

• Attend editorial meetings on days they are in the office;
• Generate ideas for coverage of episodes that encourage girls, young women, and gender-fluid youth of color to lead self-determined lives and create a culture and narrative shift to advance gender and racial equity in NYC;
• Bring well-developed pitches to our meetings;
• Produce no fewer than four (4) episodes during the duration of the Fellowship. 
• Provide multimedia content (web copy, social media, photos, etc.) for each story;
• Encourage local community organizations to share episodes with their communities.
• Support the daily and weekly production process for In The Thick, including prep, recording and post production of weekly episodes; support of live show productions; and, administrative tasks as needed
• Work approximately 4 days a week.

For episodes that they produce, the Fellow will be expected to:

• Write and report episodes as needed;
• Report, write, voice and edit segments;
• Edit episodes and segments in ProTools;
• Secure and organize audio materials for episodes;
• Participate in final listens for their episodes;
• Assist in fact-checking scripts to ensure editorial integrity and quality of content

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, Multicultural studies, or a related field, or comparable work experience;
• 1+ years work experience in radio/podcast journalism, or 2+ years experience in other journalism medium plus some audio production experience;
• Identify as female, gender-fluid, trans and/or non-binary
• A knack for developing relationships and sources and show guests;
• Experience with ProTools or similar digital audio editing platforms;
• Demonstrated ability to follow a beat;
• Commitment to diverse coverage within and outside of POC communities, in terms of sexual orientation, gender, and race;
• Have an ear for good tape;
• Demonstrate ability to pitch POC-centric political, social and cultural roundtable and evergreen episodes that are newsworthy with voices that are not given a platform in the mainstream media
• Excellent attention to detail is key;
• Excellent team player and thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment;
• Be someone who would do anything to not miss a deadline;
• Strong time management skills;
• Ability to work independently while also fitting into a small, focused team;
• Be curious with a desire to keep learning;
• Accept productive criticism and feedback intended to help you grow;
• Must love radio/podcasts.

Additional Details 

• Location: NYC
• Salary: $15/hour paid bi-weekly, for 4 days a week.
• Monthly Metrocard provided once Futuro’s office reopens and travel is necessary (amounting to $127/month)
• Recording equipment and audio editing software will be provided.
• Duration: 2/16/2021 through 10/15/2021 (8 months)

DEADLINE AND APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit the following:

a cover letter summarizing your background and goals, and why you would be an appropriate fit for this fellowship;

your resume stating qualifications;

two (2) work samples to your audio work (can be links); 

and two (2) references.

Must be submitted by Monday, January 25, 2021 to be considered for this position, but we encourage early applications. 

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter via email with the subject “ITT NYWF Fellowship” to jobs@futuromediagroup.org. Please include where you saw this job posting. 

Only the most qualified candidates will be contacted. 

No phone calls, please.

Futuro Media is a diverse work environment and encourages female, gender-fluid, trans and/or non-binary individuals from all backgrounds to apply. Journalists of color and of other diverse backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply. 

About In The Thick:

In The Thick is currently remote but usually is produced out of our Futuro Media office. In The Thick drops two episodes a week. It is a roundtable podcast hosted by award-winning journalists Maria Hinojosa and Julio Ricardo Varela that discusses politics, race and culture from a POC perspective.

About The Futuro Media Group

The Futuro Media Group is an independent nonprofit organization producing multimedia journalism that explores and gives a critical voice to the diversity of the American experience. Based in Harlem and founded in 2010 by award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa, Futuro Media is committed to creating multimedia content for and about the new American mainstream in the service of empowering people to navigate the complexities of an increasingly diverse and connected world.