If you want to produce the story with us, we pay freelancers on a sliding scale, dependent on the scope of work. We’re happy to work with non-professional audio producers – the most important thing is that you demonstrate a passion, knowledge, and interest in the story you’re pitching. We can help with the audio side of things.
Stories should take place in the Middle East (loosely defined geography), or its diaspora elsewhere in the world. Our episodes are typically sound-rich, character-driven stories about history, science, culture, or current events.
Stories should answer some kind of question by the end. There should be some kind of conflict, a plot. A good pitch will be surprising, and will be about something you’re fascinated by.
No, really, take a moment and ask yourself: is this something you’re obsessing over? Is it something you turn to friends at dinner and go, “Do you want to hear something crazy?”
In our interview tape, we look to hear vulnerability or enthusiasm or passion or excitement from our interviewees, depending on the story. We’re not interested in topics, themes, or abstract ideas. Those are actually the hardest to work backwards from and find an interesting story. Rather, we’re looking for actual persons, an event, a specific story. We also tend to stay away from news or heavily political stories.