Podcast Producer - Request for Proposal

Statement of Purpose

HistoryLink, the online encyclopedia of Washington State history, is excited to produce the first season of HistoryLink.Stories, a 6-episode podcast, each episode featuring curated collection of three HistoryLink articles read and commented on by a special guest host. HistoryLink seeks a producer to work with us to imagine and create this project.

HistoryLink has produced a handful of podcasts, all drawing from oral histories collected by our team with commentary from hosts and guest speakers. HistoryLink.Stories will be slightly different. This new podcast is an accessibility initiative, to make our articles more engaging for the visually impaired and all those who might prefer listening to reading. The first two episodes will focus on Washington’s forest history. The remaining episodes will be determined in collaboration with the guest hosts.

More than just a reading of HistoryLink articles, we want each episode to be dynamic and entertaining. Through this Request for Proposal (RFP), HistoryLink seeks a podcast producer for season one of HistoryLink.Stories. The term of the contract is from February 2025 to August 2025.

Scope

The scope of work includes the production of six podcast episodes, released biweekly, each approximately 30 minutes in length. The term for this work will run from February 2025 and August 2025 and entail:

• Scripting episodes in collaboration with guest curator and HistoryLink staff.
• Recording all audio from guest curators and host, including handling logistics.
• Audio editing and sound design for all episodes.
• Participation in content development and review meetings with HistoryLink.
• Guest curator outreach and coordination in collaboration with HistoryLink staff.

Contract Details

• The Producer is an independent contractor and is liable for all taxes due as a result of the compensation received under this Agreement.
• Period of Performance – February 2025-August 2025.
• Payment can be made monthly or quarterly, upon delivery of each episode or upon the completion of the project.
• Compensation is Dependent upon Qualifications. Please submit your request for compensation in your proposal.
• The Producer shall pay all of his/her own license fees, certification fees, and/or membership dues, if any.
• The Producer shall pay all of his/her own automobile and transportation expenses without receiving any reimbursement from HistoryLink

Content

About HistoryLink:

Founded in 1999, HistoryLink.org is an online resource that provides a comprehensive database of historical information related to the state of Washington. It is a free online encyclopedia of Washington state history and includes thousands of entries on various topics, such as notable people, events, places, and cultural movements that have shaped the region. HistoryLink.org aims to preserve and share Washington's history, making it accessible to the public through articles, essays, and multimedia content. The platform is often used by educators, researchers, and history enthusiasts to explore the rich history of the state.

About the Future of History Fund and HistoryLink.Stories

HistoryLink.org’s Future of History Fund initiatives are designed to support the continued growth and sustainability of the online encyclopedia and its mission to preserve and share Washington state history. The fund projects focus on expanding access to historical content, improving digital resources, and ensuring the long-term preservation of Washington’s history.

About Season One of HistoryLink.Stories

HistoryLink.Stories is one project under the Future of History Fund accessibility initiatives. It will bring curated sets of articles to life in podcast form.

In Season One of HistoryLink.Stories, we will invite six guests to choose sets of three articles on a theme/topic of their choosing. These guest curators determine the content for each episode and share their commentary in conversation with HistoryLink staff and the producer.

HistoryLink staff and the producer will then work with the guest to produce a short introduction (why they chose the articles) and commentary between each article (how they connect, what they became curious about after each article). We hope each episode will spark curiosity and illustrate how HistoryLink is a journey for the curious.

Copyright/Museum Ownership

HistoryLink shall own and control in perpetuity all rights, in and to, all content produced for the podcast, including the copyrights and other intellectual property rights. Producer must provide content in final edited audio files via ftp and CD or DVD in both uncompressed WAV and MP3 file formats. If delivered via ftp, a final CD or DVD backup is required. The producer must provide full, unedited transcripts and audio recordings of actualities. Producer must provide both standard and large-print digital copies of finalized scripts. In addition, producer must provide signed release copies for all talent not employed by HistoryLink, using release form provided by HistoryLink.

How to Submit a Proposal

Please submit the following no later than January 15, 2025 by email to kiku@historylink.org

• A technical approach, which describes how you will carry out the tasks outlined above.
• A summary of your recent and relevant projects.
• A firm estimate of the fees to be charged and an estimate of reimbursable expenses that would be incurred.
• Resumes of all consultants who would be involved in the project.
• Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of clients during the last eighteen months and whom we can contact as references.

Proposals will be reviewed by January 23rd and interviews scheduled by February 3rd.