KCRW’s March Volunteer of the Month!

Written by

–Avishay Artsy, KCRW’s All Things Considered News Producer

Where did you grow up and are you an only child?
I grew up in Los Angeles and I am the oldest of 5 kids.

What is your current occupation?
I am a part time student at SMC studying English and hoping to transfer this Fall. I am also a barista at Peet’s Coffee and Tea.

What is your fantasy occupation?
I would love to work as a producer on NPR working on segments about mental and physical health. I want a career that allows me to combine my interest for health and science with my passion for communication. I also want to work in a filed that helps me to continue learning everyday and to help others reach their goals.

When did you first discover KCRW?
I grew up listening to KCRW as a kid. My dad and grandmother are avid NPR listeners, so I would frequently hear KCRW or KPCC while being dropped off at school. It wasn’t until I had my own car that I found myself listening to KCRW to and from school on my own. When I was 16, I visited KCRW for the first time with a friend. At the time I hadn’t considered a career in radio or communications, but I developed a love for the work that was done there.

How did you find your way to our station for volunteering?
Last April, I saw KCRW at the SMC Internship fair and signed my name onto the contact list. In September, I received an email asking interested applicants to submit their application and resume for an internship in the Fall. After the interview, I got a chance to meet the Afternoon News Producer Avishay Artsy. I have been working at the news department ever since.

What’s your current volunteer position and how long have you been at it?
I am a news producer intern and have been with KCRW since October.

Favorite volunteer moment?
The moment I learned how to give a successful interview, edit the sound byte, and write a reader myself.  I’ve loved how much I have been able to learn so much in such a short period of time. Also, I had the chance to visit NPR in DC this past January because Avishay Artsy set up a meet-and-greet with a producer there. It was amazing! I would never have had that opportunity if it wasn’t for KCRW’s help. I am really grateful to KCRW for helping me to become a better writer, interviewer, and more focused on my goals. I think that the work being done at KCRW is important. For some listeners, it is their main source of news and we give all the facts without all the fluff.

If you could get on the mic and say one sentence on the air, what would it be?
Thank you for listening and supporting the work that is done at KCRW. The people that work here are dedicated, intelligent and driven people. They each work very hard to produce shows that are original and thoughtful.

What song have you hit repeat on lately?
Shake It Out by Florence and Machine and Pitseleh by Elliot Smith.

Favorite book, movie?
I love Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. She has a gift of crafting stories in an elegant and beautiful way. My favorite movie right now is Les Miserables. I cried about 5 or 6 times throughout the film. I wish that were an exaggeration.

Favorite thing to do outside the station (hobbies, recreation, etc.)?
Eating copious amounts of dark chocolate, watching Downton Abbey, hiking, reading health blogs and watching really bad reality shows on Netflix.

What does KCRW mean to you?
I am learning something new everyday at KCRW, which is why I have loved the opportunity that I have been given to intern there. As a news intern, I need to educate myself about what is happening in LA everyday and how it affects people. I am also learning how to ask the right questions and trying to understand different points of view. Not to mention all the technology that goes into running a radio station. In a nutshell, KCRW has really opened my eyes to the field of work that I want to continue to pursue.

To KCRW, Avishay and Amor exemplify the perfect symbiosis between producer and intern. When it comes to taking on interns, it requires trust, patience, and the ability to delegate on the part of a company’s staffers. Equally important, there must be a solid supply of interns with the smarts, curiosity, and follow-through to take on and complete new tasks – enter Amor Yates! Thanks for hanging with us!