Radio Diaries-Seidel Fellowship

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Deadline: Monday, October 26, 2026

 

About Radio Diaries

Since 1996, Radio Diaries has been giving people tape recorders and working with them to report on their own lives and histories. These unscripted stories, intricately weave together dozens of hours of tape to create initmate, first-person documentaries. Radio Diaries has worked this way for more than 30 years and produced dozens of award-winning pieces for broadcast on NPR and the Radio Diaries Podcast. 

 

The Seidel Fellowship

The Seidel Fellow will receive editorial support and funds to produce an unscripted story—or stories—in our signature, non-narrated style of audio storytelling. The Fellow should pitch a story centered on an individual other than themselves. (This is not intended for personal, autobiographical projects based on the producer’s own life.) In addition to funds, the Radio Diaries production team will mentor and support the Fellow from tape collection to production to final mix. 

 

The final story should be completed within 12 months of the start of the Fellowship. Fellow will be required to meet with the Radio Diaries team with updates on a semi-monthly basis, in person or via video conferencing. Fellow may use funds as they see fit, for their time, travel, recording gear, DAW subscription, etc. 

 

Radio Diaries has non-exclusive rights to feature the story on the Radio Diaries Podcast and www.radiodiaries.org. A version of the Fellow’s story will be pitched to NPR, with which Radio Diaries has a 30-year relationship. The Fellow is welcome to obtain additional funding and after the initial release, they are welcome to distribute the story on other outlets as they see fit. 

 

We strongly encourage applicants from under-represented groups in public media to apply, including but not limited to, people of color, veterans, people with disabilities, and gender-nonconforming candidates. 

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The Fellowship has been made possible thanks to a generous gift from Kathleen Gilles Seidel, honoring the memory of Larry R. Seidel.  
 

Requirements

• This Fellowship is intended for early- or mid-career journalists.

• Applicants are not required to have experience mixing, scoring, or producing non-narrated stories. 

• Applicants should be comfortable conducting and recording interviews themselves. 

• Applicants should be proficient in an audio editing software (your choice of DAW).

• Applicants can be located anywhere in the United States.
   

Compensation
$12,000 (over the course of production)

 

How to Apply

Email a single pdf to fellowship@radiodiaries.org. Subject line should include your First and Last Name in the subject line. Please include: 

• Resume

• Two references with names, phone numbers, and email addresses.

• Cover letter that includes:

  • A bit about yourself and your storytelling, journalism, or audio experience.

  • At least 1 pitch for a story you want to produce with support from our team:

    1. Identify the central voice if you already have one. Or describe the kind of diarist you want to work with and how you will go about identifying them. Be as specific as possible! 

    2. We find the best stories are ones where something is happening in the subject’s life. Describe possible plot points that you want to include, we understand this is subject to change.    

    3. Our diaries are more than just diary entries, they often include location-based recordings or interviews with loved ones. Describe possible scenes or conversations you want to capture. 

    4. A sample of tape if you have it! 

    5. Why you think this is a good story.

  • Why you would like to do a Fellowship with Radio Diaries in particular.

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The deadline to apply is Monday, October 26. Start date is flexible depending on applicants other commitments and diarist's timeline.
 

Important Notes

• We cannot offer college credit.

• Applicants must be a resident of the United States