Are you an aspiring radio reporter or programme maker – or is creating great audio content something you feel passionate about?

Do you take an interest in faith (any faith) whether that’s its cultural or social side, its ethical dimensions, or any aspect of religious belief and practice?

Or are you just intrigued by the more broadly spiritual dimension to life?

If the answer to these questions is yes, our first ever podcast competition is for you!

We are looking for entries to fit the Things Unseen remit – “for people of faith, and those who just think there may be more to life than meets the eye” – from anyone who is aged between 17 and 45 and not in paid work in radio. Full details are in our Terms and Conditions below.

The three winning entries will be showcased on the Things Unseen website, and will share the prize money as follows:

Overall winner: £500

Runner-up: £300

Third prize: £150

In addition, the overall winner(s) will be invited to guest edit a regular edition of Things Unseen, and will receive a trip to London to meet the team and participate in the production.  Details are in our Terms and Conditions below.

Entries must be submitted by midnight on Friday 16th January 2015. Winners will be announced on Friday 13th March 2015 on the Things Unseen website. They will also be contacted direct.

What to enter:

1.   A podcast (as a wav) of between 5 and 12 minutes’ duration.

The podcast can be in any format (interview, discussion, feature, montage, walkabout, straight talk etc).

It needs to fit in with the Things Unseen brief, meaning that it should be of interest to people of faith, and those who just feel that there may be more to life than the material world. This means that subjects exploring the margins of belief and spirituality in the widest sense are as eligible as podcasts focusing on established faiths or communities.

Entries should not proselytise, or state or imply in any way that one faith is superior to another, or that holding a faith position is superior to any other world view – or vice versa.

Entries should be of interest to audiences aged between 18 and 49.

For reasons of music copyright, entries should not include any commercially recorded music, or any music that would require any fees to be paid to any composers, arrangers, performers etc if broadcast.

Each entry needs to have a clear purpose (for example, to examine a particular question or issue) which needs to become clear near the beginning.

Entries should be self-contained, meaning that any reporters/presenters need to introduce themselves and any guests.

Entries should contain at least one programme ID, i.e. mention of “Things Unseen”.

Entries should be recorded and edited to a high technical standard.

2.   A  Things Unseen podcast competition personal details form including a synopsis of up to 250 words which outlines what the entry is about and why it should interest the audience.

How to enter:

Podcast audio:

Please use www.wetransfer.com to send your wav to Dougal@ctvc.co.uk .  Format: wav 44.1 khz 16 bit.

Notice that the title of your wav needs to be in the following format: podcast title – name of entrant (e.g. Malala Speaks – Joe Bloggs).

Things Unseen podcast competition personal details form with synopsis:

Email to Dougal@ctvc.co.uk

Terms and Conditions:

1. The competition is run by Thingsunseen.co.uk of 9-10 Copper Row, London SE1 2LH.
2. The competition will be open for submissions from the time of this information being published on the Things Unseen website. It will close at midnight on 16th January 2015. Submissions received after midnight on the closing date will not be considered.
3. Entries must not have been published on any other outlet (website, radio network etc) and must not be offered to any other outlet until the competition results have been announced.
4. The competition is open to entrants based in the UK who are aged between 17 and 45 and are not in paid work in radio, whether as a regular casual/freelance or staff, and who have not in the past been on the staff of any radio station or network for longer than three months.
5. No more than two entries per person (individually or as part of a team) are permitted.
6. Entries may be submitted by small groups or teams of up to three people, on the understanding that if they win, they will share the prize money equally among them. If a team are the overall winners, the total amount available for travel to London and overnight per person shall be limited to £250.
7. No financial reward can be offered as an alternative to the travel and accommodation allowance for the overall winner(s).
8. Judges’ decisions are final and no negotiation will be entered into.
9. By entering the competition, entrants give Things Unseen a non-exclusive license to publish and publicise their entries on the Things Unseen website and in associated media, for example – but not limited to – press articles, websites, books, CDs, and social media. We will notify entrants if their work is to be used and ensure that they are credited appropriately.
10. We are unable to enter into any correspondence (except with shortlisted entries) or to acknowledge receipt of entries.
11. Things Unseen will reserve the right to make minor cuts, changes and edits to winners’ entries. All editorial control rests with Things Unseen.