Fellow Position 1: Producer

Job Description

PBS provides a service to all Americans by presenting programs that share a wide variety of perspectives and lived experiences. We also strive to elevate talented individuals from a variety of backgrounds to innovate and deliver on our mission.

The PBS Creative Voices Initiative supports filmmakers and content creators who have experienced barriers to entering the media industry including those who can bring lesser-known stories or insightful perspectives to the media industry.

As a part of this Initiative, the PBS Accelerator Fellowship for Creatives provides mid-career content makers who have experienced barriers to entering the media industry paid employment opportunities for up to one year with third-party productions working on PBS shows. The Fellowship Program will not only support Fellows, it will also accelerate changes in the producing ecosystem by bringing more voices into the production process in key roles, including producers and editors.

The Fellow is hired by a PBS producing partner to work within a production team where the Fellow will be provided with an opportunity to make substantial contributions to programming, observe and learn practical leadership skills, and build a network of connections within the public media system. The Fellow will obtain a production credit for their work, receive a competitive salary, benefits, and will be a contract, full-time employee of the production company where placed. More information on the production company will be provided to those selected for interviews. 

To complement their job experience, Fellows become members of the PBS fellowship cohort which provides monthly cohort sessions, individual mentorship with prominent leaders in public media, access to industry events and professional networking opportunities with PBS senior leadership and partners. 

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria: 
• The fellowship program is for mid-career professionals with 
o A range of five (5) years to eight (8) years of mid-career production experience (i.e., 5 – 8 years of experience as a producer, journalist, editor) OR  
o Minimum of two (2) production credits with the same or similar job title as the fellowship position you are seeking
• A Fellow should be able to demonstrate they have experienced barriers to entering the media industry including those who can bring lesser-known stories or insightful perspectives to the media industry
• Participants must commit to and be available for the duration of the fellowship
• Applications must be submitted by January 12th, 2025

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

The producer will be a part of a dynamic team on a popular multiplatform series that tells real stories from people affected by natural disasters and climate change and explores how building a better future is possible. This producer will work on both broadcast and digital episodes.
• Project Management/Line Producer: Collaborate with the director, producers, and editors to manage the workflow for 1-2 digital episodes (10-15 minutes each) per month plus long format multiplatform episodes.
• Digital Story Development: Work closely with the team to shape and create compelling narratives focused on extreme weather, climate science, and preparedness.
• Interview Coordination: Identify and schedule expert interviews relevant to each episode. Prepare thoughtful and engaging interview questions that align with the episode's themes.
• Visual Content: Source and organize visuals, including archival footage, photography, and relevant graphics. Manage the creation of custom graphics to enhance the storytelling.
• Scriptwriting: Assist in writing narration and developing scripts for each episode, ensuring clarity and engagement while maintaining the technical accuracy of the content.
• Deadline Management: Help keep production timelines on track, ensuring episodes are delivered punctually each month.
• Collaboration: Participate in team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and creative discussions to contribute ideas and solutions for episode development.

Requirements for success:
• Interest and Experience: A passion for climate science, weather, and environmental communication. Some experience or educational background in these fields is preferred.
• Storytelling Skills: Strong ability to shape narratives and communicate complex scientific topics in an accessible and engaging manner.
• Organizational Skills: Excellent project management and multitasking abilities, with a knack for meeting deadlines in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to conduct interviews and script narrations effectively.
• Team Player: Comfortable working in a small, flexible team, where members often wear multiple hats.
• Technical Knowledge: Solid understanding of video production workflows. Familiarity with video or photo editing software is a plus but not required.
• Excitement and desire to make an impact through rigorous, science-based, engaging, multiplatform media.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-g35z4n-18-219-92-7-42 in your application.