The University of Vermont College of Arts and Sciences has partnered with Vermont Public to create a multi-level engagement program that allows UVM students to work alongside Vermont Public staff while earning academic credit.
Spring 2025 audio production courses and Vermont Public internships for UVM students
FTS 2605: Audio Storytelling
T/TH 1:15-2:30 PM
Cohen 209/211
Learn the basics of telling true stories through sound! Produce and publish creative nonfiction audio projects while developing skills in finding stories, journalistic interviewing, field recording, writing for radio, story editing, and audio mixing using Adobe Audition.
View syllabus (coming soon)
CAS 3922 C: Audio Storytelling with Vermont Public
T/TH 10:05-11:20 AM
Cohen 209/211
Produce and publish “NPR-style” news audio stories for Vermont Public while building your skills in finding stories, journalistic interviewing, field recording, writing for radio, story editing, and audio mixing using Adobe Audition.
View syllabus (coming soon)
CAS 2991 C: Paid Internship with Vermont Public
Flexible meeting times
Two students per semester will be hired to intern directly with Vermont Public (and get paid!) while earning internship credit through CAS.
Internship Description (coming soon)
Apply Now (coming soon)
Frequently asked questions
What is Vermont Public?
Vermont Public is home to Vermont’s public radio (NPR) and public television (PBS) stations. Vermont Public’s award-winning newsroom produces local news and educational programming, serving Vermont with trusted, relevant and essential information.
Vermont Public’s local and national programs are broadly available for free on statewide radio and television broadcast networks, digital platforms, social media and in communities throughout the region.
Vermont Public was created in 2021 when Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS merged into a unified public media organization.
Vermont Public is an independent, locally owned and operated community licensee, which means that their license is owned by the community, not a governmental agency. Vermont Public’s primary source of funding — more than half — comes from more than 40,000 members making donations in all amounts.
What are the differences between the two audio storytelling courses?
The two audio storytelling courses focus on similar skills: how to tell compelling, true stories using sound. You can take both courses, but if you do, we suggest taking them in different semesters. In both courses, you’ll learn how to:
- Record using professional audio recording equipment
- Mix stories using professional audio editing software
- Identify story ideas
- Conduct compelling interviews with multiple people
- Write, edit, and fact-check scripts
- Work effectively with an editor
- Follow (and question!) journalistic ethics
- Produce nonfiction audio stories from start to finish
> FTS 2605: Intro to Audio Storytelling
This course is a broad introduction to the basics of telling true stories in sound.
What makes this course great: You get to experiment with creative nonfiction audio storytelling. Your stories will be published on a class website, but because they’re not news stories for Vermont Public, you have more flexibility in what you can create.
Examples of the types of creative nonfiction audio stories you could produce in this course:
- Non-narrated profile: 30 Years and Still Stepping: Rolando Barry and the Missouri High Steppers (Kelsey Tolchin-Kupferer for KBIA)
- Audio postcard: What I learned at my first Comic Con (Alayna Ly for KUOW)
- Interview with creative sound design: Big Cookie (Meredith Turk for KBIA)
- Interview with poetry: A poem for my mother, a Vietnam boat refugee (Sah Pham for KUOW)
> CAS 3922 C: Audio Storytelling with Vermont Public
This course is an introduction to producing stories for Vermont Public, our local NPR news radio station.
What makes this course great: Your final project — an audio news feature story — will broadcast on the radio, reaching tens of thousands of Vermont Public listeners across the region. You’ll work with Vermont Public staff and editors, and your work in this class will directly influence our community and the news they receive.
Examples of news audio feature stories produced in this course:
- On the last day of Vt.’s hot air balloon season, late ballooning giant Brian Boland looms large (Samantha Watson for Vermont Public)
- How a multi-billion dollar federal investment in climate-smart ag might benefit Vt. farmers (Rachel Tobler for Vermont Public)
- Vermont allows people who are incarcerated to vote. Data shows they don’t (Mae Nagusky for Vermont Public)
Do I need any previous experience to take these courses?
No!
Both audio storytelling courses require no previous journalism or audio experience to be successful. In fact, we love students who are brand new to the audio game. We’ll teach you everything you need to know.
We’re looking for students who are curious, engaged in their communities, love to write, love to meet new people, and are excited about telling true stories using sound.
If you do have previous audio and journalism experience, these courses will support you as you continue to experiment and grow your skills.
There may be some department-level prerequisites for these courses — see the UVM course catalog for more information.
The paid internship does require previous experience.
Are these courses part of the Center for Community News?
Yes! These courses are a collaboration between The University of Vermont’s College of Arts and Science, the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program, Vermont Public, and the Center for Community News.
The Center for Community News is a University of Vermont program that supports partnerships between local newsrooms and college students across the country.
I can’t take these courses. Are there other ways I can get involved?
Probably! Email Kelsey at kkupfere@uvm.edu to set up a time to chat.
Instructor: Kelsey Tolchin-Kupferer
Lecturer in Public Media | kkupfere@uvm.edu
Kelsey is a teacher and audio producer from Columbia, Missouri with more than a decade of experience introducing young people to public radio journalism. She teaches nonfiction audio storytelling courses at the University of Vermont and leads an internship program for UVM students at Vermont Public. Before coming to UVM, Kelsey led youth media programs at KBIA, KUOW, and the True/False Film Fest. When she’s not working, you can find Kelsey riding her bike and listening to podcasts. [Name pronunciation: KELL-see TOAL-shin CUP-fur-er]
A UVM College of Arts & Sciences collaboration with:
Still have questions?
Email cas.internships@uvm.edu — our team would be happy to assist.
