We appreciate your participation in this brief survey funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. As the media landscape evolves, there is keen interest in understanding public interest media's journalistic capacity. Your responses will clarify the scope and nature of contributions of independent journalists and help AIR, ITVS, producers and leading acquirers throughout the system plot strategies for the opportunities ahead.

If you elect to provide your name and contact info, we will communicate directly with you about the survey findings. We anticipate releasing a report early in 2011. Your personal information will not be published and will remain proprietary.

This survey specifically targets paid/working independent journalists either filing on an assignment basis or otherwise producing content for distribution via outlets in the United States. For more information on the survey criteria, click here to go to the FAQ page.

We look forward to answering questions or troubleshooting problems as you make your way through the survey; please contact erin@airmedia.org

Thanks in advance for your participation.

In the past 24 months, have you received compensation for the public media journalism that you produced either through acquisition and production licensing fees, fee for services, or via outside funding from a corporation, foundation, or other source?

Which radio or television public media journalism formats have you received payment for in the past 12 months? (check all that apply )

How many years have you worked as a journalist? (please include ALL journalistic experience, including independent, on-staff, public and commercial media)

How many years have you worked as an independent journalist in public media?

In which state is your primary production facility located?

How would you characterize the strength of your professional relationship with your local public radio outlet(s)?

How would you characterize the strength of your professional relationship with your local public television outlet(s)?

How often are you paid to produce for the following broadcast outlets?

National syndication via a radio network production (All Things Considered, Splendid Table, etc...)

National syndication via a radio station-based production outlet (i.e. Studio 360, Hear and Now, etc...)

How often are you paid to produce in the following formats?

Hard or soft news reports for a local newscast, news magazine or informational program

Hard or soft news reports for a nationally syndicated newscast, news magazine or informational program

Essays, reviews, commentaries or opinion pieces aired within a larger news program

One-time special programs or documentaries (30-120 minutes) or a limited series of such programs

News modules-short, stand-alone features (i.e Earth and Sky, Writers' Almanac, etc...) five minutes or less, designed to be dropped into a station's format

Regular weekly news or current affairs programs or documentaries of 30-120 minutes designed to air 52 weeks a year

Regular daily (5-7 days a week) news or current affairs programs or documentaries of 30-120 minutes designed to air 52 weeks a year

Original modules or features for the web (including podcasts or video)

Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements:

The use of online tools, and digital distribution channels has allowed me to cultivate more income generating streams for my work.

Self-distribution allows me to bypass traditional program acquirers and bring my work to more listeners or viewers.

Self-distribution allows me to generate additional income for my work.

Compared to three years ago, it is getting more difficult financially to work as an independent producer.

It is more difficult to find outlets for my work in public media.

There are many new opportunities for independent producers in public media.

My average rate of payment for work that I produce has decreased in the past three years.

In general, public media supports the work of independent journalists.

A grant or contract received directly from CPB

A subcontract for work on a larger project or program that was funded by CPB

A grant or contract from NEA

A grant or contract from NEH

A grant or contract from NSF

A grant or contract from some other government agency

A grant or contract from a foundation

Funding from Minority Consortia (NBPC, LPB, CAAM, NAPT, PIC)

A partnership deal to produce your programming with a larger, private production company

Corporate or business underwriting that you developed yourself

Self-funding, putting your own money into your programming

Direct funding from commercial broadcaster

Sale of merchandise related to your programming including DVD's, CDs or books

Funding/pre-sales from international broadcasters

Secondary markets apart from public radio in the USA, like foreign broadcast, educational use, or other non-broadcast use

Direct sales of your programming over the Internet, streaming or downloads

Direct funding from PBS

A partnership deal to produce your programming with PBS

Direct funding from local public TV station

A partnership deal to produce your programming with a public television station

Funding from ITVS

Direct funding from a public radio station

A partnership deal to produce your programming with a public radio station

A partnership deal to produce your programming with a public radio network

Please indicate the range of gross income you have generated on average annually from the following radio programs or distributors in the past three years.

Based on your current situation, and the media landscape as you see it, please tell us how you would best characterize your work:

The amount of work I've generated for public media over the last three years has:

The amount of work I've produced for other, non-public media outlets over the last three years has:

The amount of work I've generated via public media over the last three years has:

Other (fill in the blank)

What was your total income (from ALL sources, including any non-media work) before taxes, in 2009?

What was your total net income (income after expenses) (from public media journalism ONLY) before taxes, in 2009?

What was your average net income (income after expenses) derived from public media journalism over last three years?

Please check the one category that best represents your ethnicity:

Which category contains your age?

Are you:

We would appreciate you providing us with your contact information below. It is not mandatory, but will allow us to send you a report on our findings when they're available early in 2011.

Your personal information will not be shared or published and will remain proprietary.

The next page is the final page of the survey where you will be asked to submit your survey responses. Do not leave the survey until you have clicked the "Send Information" button or your responses will not be tabulated.

Thanks for taking the time to be counted.

For more information on this initiative, read our FAQ.