RobByers1

Durin, hi! That is great to hear. Thanks for sharing it. We've been working on that for a long time and are really pleased. /u/nprserri was a huge force behind it. We are really pleased!

Personally, I see broadcast radio continuing to be a major source of content in the coming decade! Listener habits are changing, yes, but I think streaming/podcasting will continue to be a wonderful partner to broadcast radio.

My job is a ton of fun! I work as a Production Specialist in the NPR Training team. I have to have the skills of an audio engineer — the fundamentals like understanding signal flow, properties of microphones, how the gear works, how to use the technology to achieve creative ideas. I also have to have a real solid understanding of the production side of things — understanding workflow, translating the goals of storytelling in to audio, understanding the pressures of a newsroom, editorial concerns. I started my career as an audio engineer, and have worked in broadcast and music... and recently joined NPR Training.

Most of the successful workflows I've seen are a combination of automation and manual operation. You might choose automation when you can't provide staff - like during late night hours, or for tasks that can be easily completed by a computer (like loudness normalization). But I've learned that it's really valuable to have a human monitor or be a part of the processes. When automation fails, it's good to have someone there to keep things going! And, computers still can't hear bad edits, upcut files, distorted audio, and the like! That role could be played out in any number of ways, such as a master control-type position who keeps an eye on all automation in the plant.

I think it comes down to a combo of workflow and budget needs.

Totally!

Intern or volunteer at your local public radio station. That's a great way to meet folks and see the action in-person.

Invite folks from your local station out to coffee and pick their brains. Great way to meet folks and you'll find that people are super friendly when you express curiosity.

And finally - check out informational websites like http://npr.org/training. It's a great resource for learning how to tell stories with audio. Transom.org is another long-time favorite.

When I go to conferences and offer training one-on-ones, I get many questions about levels — balancing various audio clips of voices, nat sound, etc to each other. It's really important to develop your ears to hear whether or not a transition from one piece of audio to another is smooth... and that takes time and practice!