A key part of an eye-catching pitch is finding engaging characters. And that’s where a a good pre-interview comes in. Sally Herships writes about what a pre-interview is, why it matters, & how to make the best of it for audio.
transom.org/2016/art-pre...
“The H5studio is a worthy successor to the H5 - with significant improvements in sound quality.” These are big words of praise from our very own Jeff Towne – though they come with a few caveats! Towne breaks down the pros & cons of Zoom’s new recorder. Read the review!
transom.org/2026/zoom-h5...
We’re sharing archive pieces on responsible reporting & community trust as we prepare resources for audio storytelling with immigrant communities amid ICE activity. @lewispants.bsky.social’s 2020 manifesto wrestles with power, objectivity, & who gets to tell stories.
transom.org/2020/lewis-r...
Transom is turning 25 and we’re marking it the best way we know how: by getting together for a weekend of exceptional audio. Join us in Woods Hole, MA for a very special gathering:
• Workshops + talks
• Deep listening
• Food + beach + rest
Sept 17–19, 2026. Details coming soon. Save the date.
@willcoley.bsky.social
If you liked Will Coley’s tips on pitching, you’re going to love his deep dive with Rob Rosenthal on the topic, with real examples and advice from other freelancers. Listen to the latest Sound School now!
transom.org/2026/the-nak...
So you’ve made a beautiful piece of audio, or maybe have the makings of something special–how do you get your stories in front of people that can play it on the air or the nearest RSS feed? Will Coley breaks down the art of the pitch:
transom.org/2026/pitchin...
“If you want to learn something and feel scared, find a bunch of people who are just as scared about it as you are and join forces. Transom did the work of finding these people for me.”
Our latest TTW has just ended. Read participant Swati's reflection on the week: buttondown.com/a-week-at-th...
As we prep resources for reporting on and with immigrant communities amid increased ICE activity, we’re resharing archive pieces on trust & responsibility. Jesse Hardman wrote a how-to on civic media that’s built on deep listening instead of parachuting in:
transom.org/2023/are-you...
How do you cover traumatic events? From the archives: hear Rob talk to NPR’s Debbie Elliot about her reporting on the Sutherland Springs church shooting, Hurricane Harvey, and the Charlottesville marches.
transom.org/2018/reporti...
Until then, we're sharing pieces from the archive that might be of help. First up is Alice Wilder’s manifesto on trauma-informed reporting:
transom.org/2021/trauma-...
How do you build trust, report humanely and create audio responsibly in besieged communities? That’s something Transom’s been thinking of in light of increasing ICE raids across the country. Please msg or comment what you’d like to see from us on these topics.
Transom students this week are learning how to make an audio documentary in Bombay Beach. One student, Swati Singh, started writing a newsletter about her time there. Check it out! Thank you to our sponsor Hindenburg for their support.
buttondown.com/a-week-at-th...
“Remember salt in addition to sugar... Let listeners be confused sometimes…listeners are not babies ...Now that you’re old, and now that the world is ending, try to be useful.” Erica Heilman’s personal “Rules for Radio” are sharp, poignant, & funny too. You can read these and more below on Transom.
Deadline tomorrow!
In audio, what we do is simple: we record & we share. It can feel small. But it isn’t. Sometimes, the act of documenting can turn the tide.
Erica Heilman from Rumble Strip knows a thing or two about telling stories about neighbors. Here’s her rules for how:
transom.org/2026/my-rule...
DEADLINE FEB 20th: Join Transom in Bloomington, IN for a week-long intensive on making audio documentaries, with our partners at WFIU and the Hundredth Hill Artist Retreat. Scholarships are available. It will be a week you won’t forget – get excited!
transom.org/2025/traveli...
Young men in South Africa are taught to be stoic: a survival skill in a country shaped by youth unemployment. Reporter Kabir Jagram talks to Rob about what emotional silence costs, and how he turned it into a powerful radio documentary.
transom.org/2026/reporti...
@vermontpublic.org
On Mar 11! An evening of live, true stories told by Brattleboro-area community as part of Retreat Farm’s America at 250 series. Selected storytellers will get workshop training days before the event. New & underrepresented voices esp. encouraged to apply!
retreatfarm.ticketspice.com/being-american
Happy Friday! Our latest issue of Over The Transom is out:
transom.substack.com/p/over-the-t...
Violent encounters & raids involving ICE are in national headlines. But what happens after the dust settles & the people most impacted are left to pick up the pieces? In 2007, Virginia Lora’s audio doc about an immigration raid in New Bedford, MA explored this question
transom.org/other-pieces...
DEADLINE IN 2 WEEKS (Feb 1st). Calling all audio storytellers and documentarians! Surrounded by quiet, trees, and water, we’re partnering with Blue Mountain Center to provide a 1 month residency at no cost with meals provided. Info below 👇🏽
transom.org/workshops/bmc/
Residencies! What are they? Why should you do one? And how do you get accepted–then make the most of them? Avery Thompson answers these questions and more, specifically for audio storytellers!
transom.org/2026/the-art...
The latest edition of Talia Augustidis' "All Hear" newsletter is out and it's full of fantastic audio opportunities. This month's spotlight is on the Transom x Blue Mountain Center residency program. How about a month in the Adirondacks to work on whatever you want?
transom.org/2026/all-hea...
Come join us for audio and island vibes off the coast of CA -- there's still time to apply for our Transom Traveling Workshop on Catalina Island! 🏖️ 🕶️ 📻
Go from zero to finished audio story in just one week. Applications close tomorrow night!
transom.org/2025/traveli...
@rob-rosenthal.bsky.social thinks your New Year’s Resolution should be to attend a Transom Traveling Workshop. To help you along, this week’s @soundschoolpodcast.bsky.social features two stellar stories produced by new and emerging audio producers at a Transom workshop in Nashville back in 2019.
Audiophile, disability activist, Macarthur Award winner, & writer, Alice Wong died this past November. Here, friend & colleague @lulumiller.bsky.social honors Alice's remarkable life and legacy. In it, there's a link to the companion episode on @radiolab.bsky.social.
transom.org/2026/13-ques...
All Hear just dropped! In it, @taliaaugustidis.bsky.social highlights exciting upcoming opportunities, such as NYC’s Artists & Mothers Grant, the @radiophrenia.bsky.social Open Call and the Sonic Dash. Plus, the Tiny Spaces Deep Connections Open Call. Check it: allhear.substack.com/p/all-hear-d...
In a 2022 manifesto from Robert Krulwich, he writes, “Play — the ability to have fun, to get free, to dance a little while exploring the subject — that’s the magic; and radio/audio can do it as well, and sometimes better, than any other medium.” So… go for it. And play! transom.org/2022/conside...
