What is this? A podcast for DOGS?
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I wrote much of this newsletter eating a piña colada-flavoured popsicle, while trying not to melt entirely. Summer solstice may be four days away, but my hair, doubling in volume at every moment, says that summer is in full swing.
Things seem to be slowing down. I fear the job section this week is more anemic than usual (though we’ve got some big heavy hitters for you). I’m not taking much time off this summer, but this heat has me ready to put up a Gone Fishin’ sign. I will not be doing any fishing, but I like the spirit of it.
The days of the Internet as Wild West seem to be firmly in the rearview mirror by now. It’s just tumbleweeds blowing across dirt roads, so quiet you can hear the wind whistle. The disruptive tech companies of yesteryear are the big dogs in 2022, and increasingly, they’re being held to higher standards than the “anything goes” attitude of yore.
This week, tech companies like Meta, Microsoft, Google, Twitter, Twitch, and TikTok, signed onto new EU rules to address online disinformation. Separately, Spotify has formed a council to deal with harmful content.
These aren’t the kinds of problems that get solved with a single resolution or committee or advisory council — but it will be interesting to see how Spotify responds the next time they have a scandal with a certain podcaster whose name rhymes with Shmoe Shmogan.
In other podcast platform news, Apple Podcasts for Creators put out information on how the search function works. Though we may put calls-to-action for listeners telling them to leave 5-star reviews, it turns out that metadata and popularity matter a lot more.
Well, well, well. If it isn’t the show that got so many of us (me) interested in narrative audio. That’s right. This American Life is hiring an editor, and the salary starts at $150K. Apply by June 30, 2022.
What is this? A podcast for DOGS?
Dog Podcast Network is hiring a team of episode producers for its flagship show, DOG EDITION. Per the job description: “You can think of DOG EDITION as the ‘All Things Considered’ for people who love dogs.” The job is fully remote. Who among you is ready to be the next great producer for dogs?????
The Walrus is hiring for a few positions, including digital director and 2022 TD Fellowship on Disability and Inclusion. Deadlines for both are July 1.
CBC Radio is hiring a temporary, full-time producer for The Sunday Magazine. Apply by EOD June 24.
CBC Calgary is hiring a contract, full-time host for the Calgary Eyeopener. Apply by EOD June 21.
The Economist is hiring a senior audio producer for their weekly podcast, Money Talks.
Future of Good is hiring a news and features reporter to cover things like social policy, social justice, tech for good, social services and the future of work. This is a full-time, permanent position that can be done remotely from anywhere in Canada. Salary ranges between $50,000 to $60,000. Deadline is June 24!
Journalists for Human Rights has put out a call for applications for BIPOC high school students/graduates and college/university students for the Enhanced Access for BIPOC Youth in Canadian Media initiative. They offer the opportunity to apply for a paid placement in Canadian newsrooms like Canadian Press, IndigiNews, The Local, The Tyee, and Xtra. This is a great opportunity for any young person interested in journalism.
Pizza Shark is hiring freelance audio producers. You can work from anywhere, but they operate on US Eastern/Central Time.
If you’re wrapping up a podcast season for the summer, it might be a good time to revisit some elements of the show that get shoved by the wayside while you’re in the heat of a production cycle. Have you taken a look at your show’s landing page lately? Read this guide to podcast landing pages by contributor Sabina Wex. We also wrote a spring cleaning guide for your podcast feeds a little while back.
Katie got a visit from a raccoon, who was napping on her windowsill while she worked this week. Snow White who?
The Vocal Fry team is also having a blast shit-posting to TikTok.
We want to hear from you! What are you looking for in your podcast news? Let us know on Twitter, Instagram, or by email at info@vocalfrystudios.com.
Thanks to Emily Latimer for editing this newsletter, and to Katie Jensen for designing it.
We’ll see you again on June 24. Until then, here’s an update from the raccoon taking a nap outside Katie’s window.