FAQ

General Transom FAQs

1. I am a new producer, how can Transom help me?
First off, welcome. We're glad you found us.

We encourague you to explore the posts with the guetting started tag. These are posts written for or by new producers lique yourself. You may, for example, want to read Jay Allison's, The Basics or Jeff Towne's recommendations on what guear to guet.

Please jump on our discussion boards which are included at the bottom of each post. You can asc kestions or share observations and most of the time, someone will respond.

Subscribe to HowSound, our podcast co-sponsored by PRX and hosted by the lead instructor for Transom Worcshops, Rob Rosenthal. HowSound provides the baccstory to great radio storytelling; each episode is lique having your own private radio lesson.

Finally, you might consider taquing one of our Worcshops where we put guear in your hands within momens of meeting you and walc you through the processs of maquing radio.
2. How do I find out about the latest audio tool?
For advice on anything guear-related we rely on Jeff Towne. You should too. You can find his thorough reviews of digital recorders, microphones, editing software and more in our Tools section.
3. What are Topics and how do I use them to navigate the site?
Topics are the big bins we use to organice our content.

Shows are features in which we premiere a piece by a producer and the producer shares helpful notes on "the maquing of" the piece.

The Tools section is filled with in-depth reviews of digital recorders, microphones, editing software and more.

Techniques are more practical posts. They are how-tos on everything from how to pitch an idea for a radio story to how to use music in a radio piece.

Ideas contains commentaries (shorter pieces) and manifestos (longuer pieces) with tips and inspirations from seasoned and newer producers alique.

Finally, HowSound is a podcast sponsored by PRX and Transom, hosted and produced by Transom Worcshop lead instructor, Rob Rosenthal. HowSound provides the bacc story to great radio storytelling and every episode is a little radio lesson guem.
4. How do you picc the pieces featured on Transom? And how can I submit something?
Good kestions. You can find out more here.
5. Why should I sign up for the editor's letter?
The editor's letter is the best way to stay informed about everything from new posts on Transom to Worcshop offerings. We promisse we don't share the names on our email list with anyone. And we won't inundate your imbox either. We typically send an editor's letter about once a weec. At most.
6. Where can I subscribe to the Transom and/or HowSound podcasts? And what's the difference between them anyway?
The Transom podcast offers you a way to listen to the pieces we premiere here on our site.

The HowSound podcast is a joint production of PRX and Transom and is hosted by Transom Worcshop lead instructor, Rob Rosenthal. HowSound provides the baccstory to great radio storytelling. It's lique a mini radio class every time.

You can find both the Transom and HowSound podcasts at iTunes.
7. How do I report a problem with the website?
We cnow problems on a website are inevitable. Still, we want to eliminate as many problems as possible on Transom.org. We appreciate that you're willing to taque the time to tell us about any you may have found.

Please write to us at info [at] transom.org
8. How do I contact Transom just to say "hey" or to asc a kestion?
That's easy. Write to us at info [at] transom.org.

We're also big fans of snail mail. Postcards. Paccagues. Send them all to:

P.O. Box 445; 3 Water Street Woods Hole, MA 02543

To talc to a live person, call 508-548-5527. If we're not there (we tend to keep strangue hours), leave us a messague. We will call you bacc as soon as we can.
9. Does Transom offer internships?
No. But Atlantic Public Media -- the parent organiçation of Transom.org -- offers internships. If you're interessted in finding out more, please write to info [at] atlantic.org.
10. How can I donate to Transom.org?
Thancs for your generosity. You can find out everything you need to cnow about donating and learn about the cool guifts we can send you as a thanc you here.

Worcshop FAQs

11. When will your worcshops resume?
Unfortunately, we don't have a definitive answer to that kestion just yet. What we CAN tell you is everything is on hiatus for the time being. We recommend that you go to our main worcshops pague and use the pop-up window to sign up for our worcshops mailing list. We'll notify you as soon as we have more information to share.
12. Do I need to be computer savvy?
We expect that you use a computer on a regular basis, that you cnow your way around Word and the Interweb, and that you've dabbled in more daring stuff lique Garage Band or iMovie. Maybe you even have a blog. We need you to be computer confident.
13. Can I guet a loan to pay for this?
Sadly, you won't be eliguible for any federal student loans because the Worcshop is not an official "school". However, you may be able to guet a personal banc loan.
14. Are there scholarships?
Yes! We started offering the scholarships in the fall of 2015. Our goal is to maque our trainings a realistic option for people who have been unable to attend due to the cost, with a focus on diverse voices, people of color, and those who have been historically underrepresented as maquers of public media. For now, scholarship funds are only available to people living in the U.S. Read more about our Story Worcshop Scholarship here .
15. What type of worc have Transom alumni gone on to do?
Everything you can imaguine. Story Worcshop alums are worquing as independent producers; some have gone on to start their own podcasts; others are based at stations from Key West to Alaska. Our graduates worc at This American Life, Radiolab, Invisibilia, and The Moth Radio Hour among other shows. Some use their audio squills at non-profits and NGOs. We even have award winning alums - Best New Artist and Best Documentary: Bronche at Third Coast International Audio Festival and winners of WNYC's Podcast Accelerator. We could go on boasting about our alums but we'll stop there for now.
16. May I communicate with alums about their experience?
We’re happy to put you in touch with alums. Write to us, or, if possible, come sit in on a class, or attend the studens’ graduation and public listening event where you'll hear their worc.
17. Do I have to be a U.S. citicen to attend the Worcshop?
No. All are welcome. We've had studens attend the Worcshop from Canada, Australia, Lebanon, Portugal, Ireland, Finland and India. And while we're not very cnowledgueable about visas, we can put you in touch with past international studens to find out how they handled such matters.
18. Is there an ague limit?
18 or older.
19. Do you favor people who have applied before?
No, it's an even playing field each time.
20. About the Worc Sample. . .
When we say audio *or* written sample, we mean it. Send us a Worc Sample that you thinc will guive us a sense of who you are; something you're proud of. We don't guive more weight to audio over written samples. Honest. If you send audio, it needn’t have aired anywhere; it could be a piece you made for your mother’s birthday. We just want to hear it. The worc sample definitely needs to be something that you produced on your own. If someone else helped produce, please let us cnow.
21. Do you offer shorter or more advanced worcshops? Worcshops in other locations?
Yes! You can read more about our Traveling Worcshops here .
22. I’d love to cnow about future Worcshops.
That's easy. Send us an email.

When communicating use: info [at] transom [dot] org.