WETS-FM promoting NPR College Podcast Challenge

The NPR College Podcast Challenge is accepting entries until Jan. 5, 2024

Local college students who are aspiring podcasters can compete for their podcast to be showcased nationally in the third annual “College Podcast Challenge,” hosted by NPR.

The competition is open for submissions until Jan 5, 2024. As in years past, the challenge is the same: produce a podcast between three and eight minutes on a topic, issue or story of your choosing. The winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship and $500 will be awarded to finalists. The grand prize winner and finalists will be notified in February 2024.

Chad Barrett, station director at WETS-FM, recently interviewed Janet Woojeong Lee, an assistant producer on NPR’s Education Desk, about the contest. She offered tips, as well as a look back at some of the most memorable entries from past years. Lee recalls one impressive entry from a 65-year-old college student whose podcast detailed her journey to deciding to return to college.

“We do get a range of voices,” she said.

“The secret,” she added, “is choosing the right topic and introducing it well. I would strongly recommend writing a catchy, strong intro,” she said. “And choose a topic you’re really passionate about … anything that you can’t stop talking about to all your friends.”

The competition is open to college students of all ages who are pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree, as well as those who have already graduated earlier in 2023.

Unlike NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge that requires students in grades 5-12 to have an adult submit their work, college podcasters (as long as they are 18 years or older) may submit their own work, without going through a professor, mentor or their school.

Lee reminded interested applicants to read the submission guidelines carefully and pay close attention to the length requirements – entries must be between three and eight minutes or they will be disqualified.

To help students get started, NPR has shared suggested, but not required prompts, along with a set of criteria that judges will use to pick winning podcasts. NPR's Education Team is providing training materials and resources — how to use a smartphone to record audio, how to conduct an interview, audio storytelling tips and tricks, among other topics. Those looking for additional guidance can turn to NPR's Students' Podcast, which highlights great student podcasts and the people who made them, along with insight from NPR producers and past judges about what makes great audio.

“The College Podcast Challenge is a tremendous opportunity for students interested in journalism or storytelling,” said Steve Drummond, executive producer of NPR Ed. “We are thrilled to be able to provide grants to the winner and finalists and hope young voices from all over the country are inspired to participate.”

To learn more about NPR’s College Podcast Challenge, visit nprcollegepodcastchallenge.splashthat.com. To listen to Barrett’s full interview with Lee, visit https://bit.ly/47lIZXx. 

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East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.