Professional Submission Guidelines

Living on Earth is an independent media program and relies entirely on contributions from listeners and institutions supporting public service. Please donate now to preserve an independent environmental voice.

For information on how to listen to audio on our website, click here.

No animal has such a vast array of habitats as humans, and no animal has such a broad impact on its own habitat, and the habitat of other creatures. Living On Earth is a chronicle of our relationship with those habitats--the natural and human environments.

Living On Earth is produced for National Public Radio by the World Media Foundation in Somerville, Massachusetts. Our features, interviews, documentaries and commentaries examine the social, economic, political and technological forces behind environmental change. We also assess the impact of environmental change on our communities, our economies, our health and the natural world. In essence, our approach is an ecological one: we see discreet topics as part of a larger whole, in the same way that individual organisms influence--and in turn are influenced by--their larger ecosystem.

Living On Earth is a weekly, one-hour program. Our material includes everything from short news reports to full length documentaries; most features fall into the 5-7 minute range. The bottom line, in all material, is quality, creativity, integrity and authority.

The journalists we work with demonstrate broad familiarity with their subject and an understanding of both how it fits into a broader context and why it's important to a national audience. They think creatively about reporting and presentation; they are fair and impartial in their presentation but are not afraid to make judgments based on thorough exploration of an issue; they write effectively and record and produce the highest-quality audio elements possible. Attention to detail is vital--in reporting, writing, delivery and production.

How to Pitch: Define your story idea as clearly as possible before you pitch. Specific issues, news value, voices, sound, production elements, structure and length should all be part of your proposal. We are interested in issues both cutting edge and apparently mundane, addressing both unique phenomena and examples of larger trends. Ask yourself these questions: Has the story been told before in the national media? If not, why is it of interest to a national audience? If so, how can you advance it?

Please note: All initial inquiries should be accompanied by a demo tape. As a rule, we will not accept a pitch from someone whose work we have not heard.

An Important Note: The broadcast cycle for Living On Earth is one week. All pieces must be able to hold up for at least seven days after each Friday's uplink to stations. Keep this in mind when honing and timing your pitch.

Production: We strongly encourage reporters to produce and mix their own material. Living On Earth reserves the right to judge the acceptability of all elements and mixes.

Acceptance criteria: Stories are considered "accepted" when your editor approves a final version of the script, contingent upon review and approval of the air-worthiness of all elements. If news developments or scheduling changes require additional work after acceptance, additional payments beyond the per-minute, or contracted rate, will be negotiated.

Deadline: The normal deadline for receipt of all elements is one week before broadcast date. However, specific deadlines for each piece will be established by your editor.

Payment: Our basic rate is $100/minute for all pieces, rounded to the nearest 1/4 minute. Higher rates may be negotiated, based on the producer's experience and the complexity of the piece. Payment is made upon airing or 30 days after receipt of air-quality elements, whichever comes first.

Expenses: We reimburse driving expenses at $.365/mile, plus appropriate tolls and parking (with receipts). Approximate distances must be agreed upon before commencing travel. Reimbursements for public transportation (i.e. train, bus, boat, camel) can be discussed. Expenses other than transportation are covered only with prior agreement with your editor. Rates outside US/Canada by arrangement.

We pay $75 for field tape synchs of up to an hour in length, $100 for synchs which require more than an hour. We will reimburse for travel expenses only outside of a local or metropolitan area.

To get in touch with us: Reporters based in the western US, Asia or the Pacific, contact West Coast Bureau Chief, Ingrid Lobet at 310-930-6738 or ilobet@loe.org. Reporters based in the eastern US and elsewhere contact Senior Editor Eileen Bolinsky 617-629-3629, bolinsky@loe.org.

Production requirements: Unless given prior approval by your editor, all tape must be recorded live and on location. Tape-synchs can be arranged through our office for subjects whom the reporter is unable to interview in person due to time or distance. Phone sound is acceptable only with prior approval of your editor. When recording in the field--whether it be a press conference, an office or a forest--reporters should gather at least 2 minutes of ambient sound at each site. Please note: Reporters and producers are responsible for delivering high-quality tape. Since most of our pieces are edited over the phone, we are not always able to judge the quality of elements during the editing process. It is the reporter's responsibility to alert the editor to any possible problems with tape quality. Living On Earth reserves the right to reject a story or require that new tape be gathered or new tracks be recorded if tape is deemed unacceptable upon arrival.

How to file: Unless otherwise agreed upon with your editor, all elements should be delivered on DVD-R, CD, DAT; or mini-disc; or mono, 1/4-inch analog tape, recorded at 15 ips (with permission of LOE Technical Director). Also, be sure to include a clean version of your final script and a list of the contents of the elements as they appear on the reel(s) or digital source. We prefer that actualities appear first, on the tape; followed by narrator's tracks, followed by ambient and other sound effects. When dubbing, cutting or transferring sound, please leave a few seconds of the raw tape before and after the in- and outcues of your elements.

Reporters are generally responsible for making their own studio arrangements. LOE may be able to help arrange studio access depending on location and schedule. Shipment to LOE should be via Federal Express or similar carrier, billable to LOE.

Technical specifications for reporters and tape synch engineers. All field interviews and sound should be recorded in Dolby B on chrome cassettes, or on DAT, or mini-disc. Only professional tape decks and microphones should be used. Living on Earth editors producers will go over equipment with you the first time you are assigned a story or a tape synch.

If you are sending us a DAT tape, please use the 44.1 sampling rate.

When recording, subjects should be close-miked and the reporter/recordist should listen carefully to ensure a quality recording. Tape synch engineers should pay special attention to make sure the interviewer's questions are not bleeding from the telephone onto the recording.

Recordists should do everything possible to minimize ambient noise, including closing doors and windows, shutting down heating, air conditioning units, and computers. Watch those fluorescent lights. If necessary and practical, move the interview to another room. All reporters and tape synch engineers should gather at least 2 minutes of ambience at each location, regardless of how quiet the location.

If you have any technical questions, please direct them to Living on Earth's Technical Director, Andy Farnsworth at 617-629-3649, or afarnsworth@loe.org.

If you are interested in submitting material to Living On Earth, please send a resume and sample tape to: Eileen Bolinsky, Living on Earth, 20 Holland Street, Suite 408, Somerville, MA 02144 .

All tapes and resumes will be kept on file.