Write me a cover letter for this position: Maximum Fun Production Fellow, Winter 2024-2025
Maximum Fun is an employee-owned, independent podcast and radio production organization, based in Los Angeles. The network distributes over three dozen audio programs in the areas of comedy and culture, including the NPR radio show Bullseye with Jesse Thorn.

Audio shows produced in our Los Angeles office include Bullseye, Maximum Film!, Feeling Seen, Jordan, Jesse, Go!, Judge John Hodgman, Queery and Depresh Mode.

We’re seeking candidates who are starting out in (or transitioning to) a career in audio production.

If that’s you, apply today! Our application deadline is Sunday, December 3 at 11:59pm. Our target start date will be in early 2024.

Production Fellows work full-time, and gain experience with all aspects of production of our in-house programming, including assisting with writing scripts, research, booking, engineering recordings, editing audio, getting material broadcast- and podcast-ready, writing content for our blog, and managing and curating social media for our shows. The Fellow will also assist with occasional live shows and events.

The ideal candidate is a podcast enthusiast who is deeply immersed in culture (pop or otherwise) and/or comedy. You should have a strong interest in audio and a curiosity about the world. Our job will be to train you in the skills needed for audio production.

The Fellow will split responsibilities across Bullseye with Jesse Thorn (distributed nationally by NPR) and other MaxFun projects. We take training and skill-building seriously, and expect the Fellow to advance existing skills and build many new skills over the course of the year. Our goal is that those completing the Fellowship are capable of comfortably handling all steps of the audio production process, from pre-production to publishing.

MaximumFun.org is an equal opportunity employer, and actively seeks applicants from a broad variety of backgrounds. Diversity of experience and perspective is essential to our business. We want interesting and distinctive candidates, not cultural homogeneity.

The Maximum Fun Production Fellowship is a one-year, full-time position. The Fellow will receive $20 per hour and will work at least 35 hours a week. Fellows also receive 12 paid company holidays and a benefits package that includes health insurance, sick time, personal time, YMCA membership, and more.

Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
Availability to work in a full-time capacity for the duration of the program — i.e., not enrolled in a full-time academic program
Demonstrated ability to work quickly and efficiently under pressure
Ability to multitask
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team
Love of comedy and culture
Experiences that could be helpful (even if you’ve never cut tape):
Radio or podcast production (independent / college radio production is a-okay)
Journalism
Social media marketing / brand management
Event coordination
This is a hybrid (remote / in-office) position based in Los Angeles, California.

Application
To apply for the Production Fellowship, please click here. You’ll fill out a form where you’ll be asked to submit:

A resume
A link to something you made that you’re proud of. It can be a podcast, a radio project, a written work, or even a playlist you made.
In lieu of a cover letter, brief responses (no more than a paragraph or two each) to the following prompts:
Tell us why you want to start a career in audio production. If you have a specific reason for wanting to start at Maximum Fun, you can let us know that here.
Give us a recommendation: A book, an article, a TV show, film, podcast, album, or any other cultural thing that you consumed recently. What is it? Why do you recommend it?
Pick a MaxFun show (maybe you already have a favorite) and review a recent episode. Let us know the show, episode title, what you liked and what you didn’t (seriously – we want your notes!).
Please note that cover letters are neither requested nor required for this position.