Program Director’s Workshop: Request for Proposals

March 28, 2017

The Public Radio Program Directors Association is seeking an individual or team to lead a two-day workshop on the qualities, characteristics and practices that make an individual an effective program director.  The workshop should be designed to introduce new PDs and anyone aspiring to a management position in public media to the core responsibilities and skills for station-based content leadership.

Founded in 1987, The Public Radio Program Directors Association is a vital membership organization that advocates for high-quality programming and provides resources for public media program directors. Our nearly 150 members represent over 800 public media outlets, including national networks, local stations, and independent producers.

The Program Director’s Workshop (PDW) is one of public radio’s premiere training opportunities.  Many of today’s most accomplished and well-known programmers are graduates of this workshop. The leader(s) of the PDW will have an impact on public radio leadership for years to come. 

The responsibilities for the leader(s) of the PDW will be as follows:

  • Design a curriculum for two full-day sessions in coordination with PRPD President and members of the Board of Directors.  Topics should include station sound and formatics; program scheduling and research; air-checking and staff feedback; fundraising; and digital media.  The deadline for this updated curriculum is July 1, 2017.

  • Revise the existing PD Handbook as a curriculum guide for the workshop and a resource for the entire PRPD membership. The deadline for the updated handbook is October 1, 2017.

  • Lead the two-day PDW ahead of the PRPD conference. The conference is scheduled for August 14-17 in Washington, D.C. The PDW would begin on August 12.

  • Solicit feedback from PDW participants and write a summary report to the PRPD President and Board. The report will be due by September 15.

How to Submit a Proposal

Please submit the following, electronically, no later than April 17, 2017 at 5 p.m. ET to info@prpd.org .  Please note in the subject line the following: RFP for PDW 2017

  1. Your philosophy, which describes how you will carry out the tasks outlined above.

  2. A summary of your recent and relevant projects.

  3. A firm estimate of the fees to be charged and an estimate of expenses that would be incurred.

  4. Resumes of all consultants who would be involved in the project.

  5. Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of individuals at three organizations who have been your clients during the last eighteen months and whom we can contact as references.

We will hold interviews with finalists during the week of April 24, 2017. If you have questions, please email them to jevans@prpd.org.