The rules that aren’t meant to be broken

Rules are actually a big part of the Student Podcast Challenge.

View this email online The saying goes that rules are meant to be broken — well, not these rules...   Actually, following the official rules of the Student Podcast Challenge is the only way to win.  We know, rules can be boring and can sometimes feel constricting. But these rules are to ensure a fair contest -- they also help your podcast sound as great as possible. Like this rule from our website: “Submissions must be between three (3) and eight (8) minutes in length.” Sure, we could change that rule and accept any length podcast but that would go against how we tell stories at NPR. We’re always looking to tell impactful stories with everything you need to know — and nothing more. If you were to sit in during an edit here at NPR, you would hear questions like, “does this section add anything to the story?” It’s a good question to ask yourself as you are writing, producing and editing. Sometimes you’ll find that your initial reaction to add something was spot on, sometimes you’ll realize that — as a listener —it takes away from the story’s overall purpose. Or, worst of all, could cause your listener to get bored and tune out.  We know, the rules can be complicated. Here’s one rule from our contest homepage: “Submissions must not include any music created by anyone other than Entrant and/or Entrant's students...” Basically? Any music used must be original and performed and recorded by students and teachers. But what about reciting song lyrics on your podcast that explores music? That gets tricky because song lyrics are copyrighted. (The answer is that you should stay away from copyrighted material.) Thanks for helping us avoid lawsuits! Click here to read all the rules for the SPC and here for the College Podcast Challenge. Newsletter continues after sponsor message If you’re new to the Student Podcast Challenge... Check out our website for the most up-to-date training materials and deadlines. You can also listen to The Students’ Podcast on npr.org or your favorite streaming service.  See you next week. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: studentpodcastchallenge@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Education, Health, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Student Podcast Challenge emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy