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Listening to a good audio story is unlike anything else: it transports you, creates unique connections and stirs your emotions. Podcasts and audio features combine investigation, engaging narratives and journalistic sensitivity. But how do you transform an idea into a story that truly captures the audience's attention?

The new free course in Portuguese, “Audio Storytelling with Rádio Novelo,” produced by the Knight Center and Rádio Novelo, guides you through the complete process of developing skills in scripted audio journalism. The course runs from May 4–31; it is entirely online and designed for anyone who wants to tell stories in audio—from students and journalists, to researchers and communicators.

The content is organized into five modules that guide you through the complete process of creating an audio story—from the initial idea to the final script—through videos, readings, practical exercises and discussion forums.

• Introduction Module: In this introductory module, available before the course starts, you will find introductory materials and readings to begin exploring the world of narrative audio and prepare for the weeks ahead.
• Module 1 – Finding the Story: You will explore what makes a story promising for audio and how to transform an initial curiosity into a structured story idea. This module covers where to look for stories, how to identify and refine a story idea, and includes a case study on the origins of a feature report.
• Module 2 – Reporting and Interviews: Learn how to organize your research, select sources and conduct interviews that yield compelling audio moments. This module presents techniques for preliminary research and approaching sources, along with a case study on the reporting process.
• Module 3 – The Script Roadmap: After researching and recording your material, you will learn how to structure the story. This module presents methods for organizing narration and recorded segments, planning the opening minutes of the narrative and exploring the creative use of audio.
• Module 4 – Writing Your Story for the Ear: In the final module, you will develop your scriptwriting skills, learning techniques for writing for the ear, constructing a narrative arc and fact-checking the story’s information. A case study traces the evolution of a script across different iterations.

The video lessons, readings, exercises and quizzes can be completed at your own pace, as the course is asynchronous. Each module includes discussion forums and weekly live sessions for Q&A and sharing experiences. These sessions are optional and are recorded for those unable to participate in real time. Participation in the forums and completion of the weekly quizzes qualify you for a free certificate of completion.

No prior experience in journalism or audio is required. The course is suitable for anyone interested in using audio as a communication tool, learning audio storytelling techniques and developing narratives that captivate the audience.

You will have access to instructors experienced in narrative podcasts and audio journalism—including the professional team from Rádio Novelo—with a special appearance by Thayssa Rios. By the end, you will be able to transform an idea into a solid podcast script, featuring a narrative and structure designed specifically for the ear.

Secure your spot and start telling stories that move and engage. Sign up for free today!