Past Workshops 2019

Audio Storytelling and Podcasting

by kbyrne

In this five day workshop, NPR Story Lab senior producer Michael May and award-winning Montana Public Radio reporter Nora Saks taught participants how to produce a compelling audio story — from conducting interviews and gathering natural sound to story structure and script writing. Students also pitched podcast ideas at the start of the week and left with project blueprints to take those ideas from concept to launch.

All participants’ final audio pieces aired on public radio stations across Montana.

Interested in workshops like this? See what’s coming up next at the Lab.

This workshop exceeded my expectations!

Michael and Nora were excellent instructors and helped us produce an audio piece in five days! I highly recommend this workshop to anyone who is interested in learning about audio storytelling.

Erica Zurek
Photographer

By the end of the workshop, I understood the entire flow for putting an audio story together.

It was so incredible to hear all of the stories we created on the last day when so many of us had walked in wondering, “Can we even do this?”

Scott Shigeoka
Producer & Writer

Michael and Nora’s guidance throughout the week was wildly helpful.

Their combined skills helped me make an impossible task to complete in just five days, way more possible.

Amanda Ceaser
Events & Marketing Coordinator | Missoula Food Bank

I can’t believe how much I learned in five days!

Nora and Michael are two of the best producers in podcasting. I left feeling confident in my abilities and with a professional, quality story ready to air.

Damon Moss
Freelance Audio Reporter & Producer

Past Workshops 2019

Writing Well

by kbyrne

Compelling, concise writing is an art. In this three-day workshop, University of Montana associate professor of journalism Jule Banville taught the fundamentals of solid writing through hands-on exercises and one-on-one edits.

From business and nonprofit communications to writing for the web and social media, participants learned the importance of sentence structure, grammar and writing flow across multiple platforms.

Interested in workshops like this one? Check out our upcoming workshops.

Writing Doesn’t Have to be Boring

Banville used the children’s book Where the Wild Things Are to demonstrate proper syntax, good writing, and simple storytelling.

More From Our 2019 Writing Well Workshop

The Writing Well workshop gave me the boost I needed to fine tune my writing.

Jule Banville presented what could have been sleepy content on commas and editing in a fascinating and enthusiastic manner. I highly recommend the class for anyone who wants to communicate more effectively.

Victoria Emmons
Poet, Writer, Editor

In just a few short days, my writing was transformed.

I’m finally able to put down on paper the story I have in my head; clearly and with correct punctuation! I am no longer putting off the parts of my job that include writing; I’m owning them.

Cassidy Green
Marketing Coordinator | Montana Food Bank Network

Jule’s workshop provided a needed and valuable writing refresher for me.

Her engaging instruction benefitted both new and experienced writers alike.

Bryan Haines
Communications Consultant |
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana

Past Workshops 2019

Audio Tools for Non-Audio Storytellers

by kbyrne

This three-day workshop taught photographers, filmmakers and writers how to add audio tools to their storytelling toolbox.

Participants received hands-on training with digital audio recorders, practiced capturing quality sound in the field, learned how to edit what they gathered and left with a fully produced audio story. Instructor Lacy Roberts, of Transmitter Media, also discussed writing for the ear and the idiosyncrasies of unfurling a narrative in audio—whether it’s a longform narrative or a minute-long news piece.

Interested in more workshops like this? Check out our upcoming workshops.