How to Submit a Show

Interested in submitting a new program to Pagan Radio Network?

Do you dream of being a DJ? Do you have a perspective that you think needs to be shared? Pagan Radio Network accepts new program proposals for regular airtime. Your proposal can be for a music program, talk, spoken arts or something else.

Before you send us your pitch, here are a few things to remember:

• PRN is committed to broadcasting predominantly Pagan-oriented shows.
• PRN receives proposals every year and only a very few are selected for broadcast.
• Submissions are usually processed within three (3) months.

Want to REALLY get our attention? Here are some tips for writing your show proposal.

The Idea

Your proposal doesn’t need to be long and complicated, but it should be well thought out. Make sure you’ve taken the time to dream it, debate it, mull it and polish it before you send it our way.

To help you get your idea down on paper, here are some questions you should ask yourself.

1. When you tell others about your dream radio show, what excites them the most? This is often a good way to start your pitch.
2. How would you describe your show’s attitude toward its content? Will it be light-hearted or more serious? Cheeky or respectful? Entertaining or informative? Probing or reflective? Is there anything new or different about how your show will sound?
3. Who is the host? Do you have someone in mind? If not, what qualities would your ideal host possess? What should they sound like? What’s his or her role on the show? Does he or she have a strong point of view?
4. What will we hear on a typical program? A list of segment ideas or interview guests is a good start, but it’s not enough. Help us imagine what we’ll hear coming out of the radio. How will your show’s tone and attitude affect the content?
5. What is the online component? What opportunities do you imagine for the web and social networking? Does it make sense for your concept be expanded for multiple platforms? At PRN our shows drive people to our website … can you tell us how your show will do that?
6. What makes your show perfect for PRN rather than another broadcaster? Why should it air now? Does it take PRN somewhere new? Does it do something that we aren’t already doing? Does it fit our values as a Pagan broadcaster (high quality, distinctive programming that’s intelligent, insightful and entertaining)?
7. What format do you see your idea taking? Is it a one-shot deal, a limited series, a feature within another show, a full run show? Is it a half hour, an hour, longer?
8. If your show is music-based, can you list at least twenty (20) artists and song titles that you would play?

The Checklist

Once you’ve worked through your idea, here’s a quick checklist of other things you should include in your proposal:

1. Who You Are: Tell us why you’re the best person to do this show. If you’ve hosted, produced or written for radio before, let us know. Also: what led you to your idea? Give us a sense of your background, your passions.
2. Who is Who: If you’ve got people you want to work with, tell us who they are. Who’s producing? Who’s hosting? Assume we don’t know these people. Give us an idea why they’re the best people for those roles.
3. The Proposal: Do the tone and style of the writing in your proposal reflect the tone of show that you’re proposing?
4. Reach Beyond PRN: Do you have plans for using social media or other tools to attract audiences to your site, beyond those who already come to paganradio.net?
5. Support: What kind of support do you need? Mentoring? Coaching on your performance? Digital audio editing? Don’t be embarrassed – we’re here to help and the more we know upfront the better.
6. Timing: Is your proposal time-sensitive? Are there times when you can work on this, times when you cannot?
7. How to Get Hold of You: Don’t forget to include your e-mail, home phone, cell phone, etc.

Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

1. How original is the concept? If your show brings something new to PRN, and if it is creative or innovative in its approach and treatment, then you’ve cleared an important hurdle.
2. Does the show have a personality? If your program has a distinct personality and tone – and if it has a host with a distinct and engaging personality – the pitch might move to the top of the pile. On the topic of hosts, you need to show a clear connection between the host and the content.
3. Is the proposal coherent? Is your pitch grammatical? Does it make sense? Read it over before you send it in. Remember: you want us to be able to “hear” your show. And your program should come across as more than a bunch of segments strung together.
4. Will it connect with a Pagan audience? How is your concept relevant to our target audience? What’s in it for that audience – why will they bother to listen?
5. Does the show have a strong identity? Ask yourself, why would a particular item be heard on this show? What can the audience expect to hear from this show?
6. Does this show have the potential for “magic”? Will your show cause delight, ignite laughter, or inspire deep thought? Will it hold listeners captive? With radio, that’s always the goal.

Once you have your written proposal ready, email it to us: info [@] paganradio.net

Keep in mind that if we find your written proposal appealing, you will then be asked to submit a full-length pilot or “test show” for us to hear and evaluate as well.