Eligibility

Next Generation Leadership is looking for producers who create and intend to lead the creation of works for public media, either through a public media station or independently.  It is an opportunity for these Fellows to prepare themselves for programming leadership roles by working intensively on executive and editorial skills that will benefit them most, through classes in leadership and through direct contact with some of public media’s most talented personnel.

Criteria for selecting the Fellows include:

• diversity in a wide sense, including under-represented groups that are identified by race, ethnicity, geographical location, physical ability, and other factors
• experience and skills in radio, television, or digital media production
• leadership readiness, as assessed through recommendations and mid- to high-level positions at stations or other media organizations 
• commitment to public media, as judged by where candidates work, the recommendations they include, and their statements of goals

NGL is open to qualified station-based producers as well as applicants from outside public media stations (for example, members of the independent maker community), particularly if they have partnered with public media in their work, and have an interest in and capacity for the quality and substance that characterize national public media. Producers who are transitioning to public media work are also eligible.

The definition of "producer" includes producers, writers, directors, and other individuals working in editorial or content production on all platforms; individuals who have worked locally as well as nationally, in all genres of programming (children’s, science, news, etc.); professionals who work in radio, video, film, or interactive media; and those who work in studio-based as well as field production. 

It is important to note that NGL is not for beginning producers.  The program has been designed as advanced training, to hone and upgrade skills at a relatively high level so that the participants can move into senior producer, executive producer, or other content leadership positions.

Applicants must work in the United States and its territories, and must have time to complete preparatory readings and other assignments in the six weeks before the program begins on January 25, 2016.