90.5 KCSU Podcast Director (Work Study)
Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation is committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing a culturally responsive work environment. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities. While RMSMC is an independent corporation from the University, we embrace Colorado State’s Principles of Community to guide us in our educational mission.
90.5 KCSU-FM Podcast Department Job Description
The mission of KCSU is to train students to collaboratively operate a radio station that
delivers and creates content that informs and inspires our listeners.
KCSU is looking for students interested in learning by doing and gaining knowledge
through experience. Interested applicants are not expected to know everything about
journalism, broadcasting or radio equipment.
Please fill out all the required forms and return in a PDF document to station@kcsufm.com. The KCSU Student Media Application is listed at the bottom of this document
Short Department Description:
The KCSU Podcast Department oversees the creation and release of all podcasts produced at KCSU on a wide range of different platforms. This includes the four staple podcasts (KCSU Music, KCSU Live In-Studio, KCSU Sports, and KCSU News) produced by KCSU staff, student produced podcasts, and outside clients. Additionally, the podcast department selects podcasts for air-play(broadcast)during the KCSU Podcast Block (6 a.m. and 11 p.m.) .
Podcast Director:
The Podcast Director is responsible for the production, publishing, recording and editing
of podcasts. The director must be familiar with Adobe Audition and always willing to improve recording/editing skills. Together with the Station Manager, the Podcast Director works to program podcasts on-air, as well as review and discuss the podcasts released. They work with students and clients to make quality podcasts, conduct regular (monthly) reviews with established podcast creators to review progress on episodes (release schedules, promotion plans, etc).
The Director works closely with the other departments of KCSU to ensure the regular release of staple podcasts and inform the promotions team with the release of new episodes. Finally, they work with the Web Editor to upload podcasts to the KCSU website and other listening platforms.
Assistant Podcast Director:
The Assistant Podcast Director assists the Podcast Director in editing and releasing
episodes with KCSU departments, students, and clients.
The Assistant oversees the training of students/volunteers who want to make podcasts;
teaching them the overview of podcasting, interviewing, and editing with Adobe Audition. The assistant helps trainees with technical elements of podcasting, like reserving the studio for recording, how to save files correctly, and conducting monthly/semesterly air checks with new podcasters to review progress.
Preferred Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
● Technical knowledge/understanding, or willingness to learn programs like Adobe Audition (editing, recording, mixing, mastering), Transistor (publishing), AP Style (Writing), and Client and Billing services
● Strong communication with clients/volunteers/students. This includes:
- Responding timely to messages
- Scheduling podcast training sessions
- Reaching out to the KCSU promotions team to promote new podcasts and episode releases
- Conducting regular (monthly/semesterly) check ins with podcast producers to provide feedback on produced episodes and plans for the upcoming podcast episodes
Principle Duties and Responsibilities:
● Make sure all content meets KCSU’s mission statement.
● Serve as the executive producer for all four KCSU Staple Podcast (KCSU News, KCSU Sports, KCSU Music, KCSU Live In-Studio)
● Publish staple podcasts or work with other KCSU departments to create and maintain a clear release calendar
● Schedule and renew the KCSU Podcast Corner, a radio broadcast of KCSU’s latest podcast episodes
● Hosting regular in-person office hours to meet with clients/volunteers/students.
● Create and lead KCSU podcast training for new students interested in starting a podcast
● Work with the KCSU General Manager to produce/record material for KCSU Clients podcasts. This includes on/off campus businesses and individual production services.
- If available outside of paid KCSU office hours, the Podcast Department Directors may serve as client podcast producers. Podcast Directors may only take on clients if they have time and must communicate with the GM about availability/skill level to work with clients.
- Anyone who helps produce a client podcast gets a stipend based on project work time; recording, editing, publishing.
- Client podcast producers are also in charge of billing clients when the work (per episode) is completed.
Podcasting Director supervises:
Asst. Podcast Director, Volunteer Podcast Producers, podcast clients as needed
Podcasting Director’s Supervisors:
Station Manager, General Manager
Job Information:
If you are an interested applicant or want more information about this position, please
see the attached document titled “90.5 KCSU-FM Podcast Department Application.”
For additional questions or concerns, please email station@kcsufm.com.
KCSU is looking for students interested in learning by doing and gaining knowledge
through experience. Interested applicants are not expected to know everything about
journalism, broadcasting or radio equipment.
All student management team applicants must take at least one credit class, and be a degree-seeking, fee-paying Colorado State University or Front Range Community College student.
Applications are due on Monday, March 27th, by noon.
When you email in your application, include all the times you are available for a 1-hour interview between March 28th - April 7th. Interviews will be conducted in person, unless remote accommodations are requested. KCSU-FM is an equal opportunity employer.
--
90.5 KCSU-FM Podcasting Department Application
TO: KCSU-FM Management Applicants
FROM: Brighid Bandel, Station Manager
SUBJECT: KCSU Student Management Team Application Process
The mission of KCSU is to train students to collaboratively operate a radio station that delivers and creates content that informs and inspires our listeners.
Thank you for your interest in KCSU-FM for the 2023/24 school year! Please don’t hesitate to make an appointment with myself, Brighid Bandel, if you have any questions about the job description or any other matter.
Both the podcast director and assistant podcast director positions are available. When you apply, please indicate in your cover letter if you are interested in the director position, assistant position, or both (you may ONLY be hired for one). You will partake in one interview for director, assistant, or both.
The podcast director works for a 30-week period for 12-hours a week. The assistant podcast director works for a 30-week period for 7-hours a week. Both positions pay minimum wage. (this is subject to change once we get a confirmed budget for next year)
All student management team applicants must take at least one credit class and be a degree-seeking, fee-paying Colorado State University students in good academic standing (2.0 GPA or higher).
Please fill out all the required forms and return in a PDF document to station@kcsufm.com. All student management team members are expected to voluntarily train with their predecessor a minimum of 2-hours each week after they are hired.
Your application is due by Monday, March 27th by noon. When you email in your application, include all the times you are available for a 1-hour interview between March 28th-April 7th. Interviews will be conducted remotely. KCSU-FM is an equal opportunity employer.
Your application should include:
1. One-page letter cover letter to:
- Brighid Bandel
- KCSU Station Manager
- 1101 Center Ave Mall, Suite 118
- Lory Student Center
- Colorado State University
- Fort Collins, CO 80523
2. Completed application form (see below)
3. Personal Resume
4. Audio file of a Podcast you created/edited (Optional)
--
Student Media Application
Date _____________
Name_______________________________________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number (____) ___________________ CSU ID Number _____________________
Alternative Phone Number (____) _______________
E-mail_______________________________
Year in school during the 2023/24 academic year __________________________________
How many credits will you be taking while you work here? ____________________________ Approximate GPA __________________
Major ___________________________________________
Indicate Position(s) Desired __________________________________________________________
Date available for employment? ____________ Planned graduation date? ____________
Additional Comments_________________________________________________________________
Applicant’s physical or
e-signature______________________________________________________________
--
Podcasting Director Interview Questions
Read through and become familiar with these questions. You will be asked these questions during your interview*. There is no need to provide a written response, though you are permitted to bring notes and visual/audio aids during your interview. Use these questions and the job description to prepare you for the interview.
* It is not common practice in the professional world to provide a job applicant topics
and questions in advance. In the interest of your preparation for this interview, and
because KCSU is a learning institution, we are providing you with questions to prepare
answers to. Expect more questions than this in the interview.
1. For which positions are you applying? Would you prefer assistant or director? a. Would you be open to another position other than your preference for this department?
b. Would you be open to another position outside of this department at KCSU? (This is unusual but we always like to check.)
2. Why do you want to be the KCSU podcast director or assistant director?
3. What is your vision of KCSU, and how does podcasting tie into that vision?
4. What role do you think podcasting should have at KCSU?
5. The podcast director must balance the training and organization or student-led podcasts, as well as maintain KCSU house podcasts. With this in mind, how many podcasts do you think KCSU should be producing at any given time?
6. What ideas do you have to develop the podcasting department?
7. It’s your responsibility to make sure that KSCU podcasters are adhering to the station’s rules. You may have to have some uncomfortable conversations with those who don’t. Talk about your conflict management style.
8. Describe your favorite podcasts and how you will bring elements of those to KCSU podcasts.
9. The podcast director manages the volunteers who make podcasts at KCSU. Talk about your experiences in management of a team.
10. An in-house podcast is produced by and managed by KCSU staff to represent the station as a whole. Volunteers are allowed to contribute to these podcasts. Do you have an idea for an in-house podcast you would like to produce? Why?
11. Editing can be extremely time consuming. Remember that it's not necessarily your job to make all KCSU podcasts, but to see that they are made. Talk about your time management skills.
12. The podcast director shares their office and recording space consistently with production, sports, and anyone who reserves the space. How do you intend to balance your work while not having a consistent space to work in?
13. How will you maintain a consistent quality that listeners can rely on for KCSU podcasts?
14. Do you own a radio? Well, a lot of students don’t. What creative steps will you take to keep students engaged with KCSU content?