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Jonathan Davis

Photo of Jonathan Davis
Radio Reporter, Audio Journalist, Podcast Producer, Sonic Storyteller, Synonym Extraordinaire.
Member since 2019

Locations

  • Oakland, CA
  • Berkeley, CA
  • San Francisco, CA

Contact Jonathan

  • Business
  • Fact Checking
  • Editing
  • Engineering
  • Producing
  • Recording
  • Reporting
  • Scripting
  • Voice
  • Writing
  • Teaching

About Jonathan

(TAPE SYNCS: For fast turnaround about scheduling a 'tape sync' and related inquiries, please check out the info at the BOTTOM of this bio -- if you're interested, shoot me text, and we can try to schedule as soon as you're ready! 305.282.0522)

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ABOUT JONATHAN

My name is Jonathan A. Davis, and I’m an audio journalist, podcast producer, and radio storyteller here in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve worked in various newsrooms, on audio series for two public radio stations, and on a variety of independent podcast series.

As a audio journalist and podcast producer, I’ve run the gamut on all aspects of production: reporting; story-boarding; scripting; editorial; ideation; project management; mixing; engineering; interviewing; recording; marketing. This includes serving as associate producer on The Intersection, the Edward R Murrow Award Winning audio series coming out of San Francisco’s NPR affiliate station KALW. During my time as producer, the series also won San Francisco Press Club’s first place prize for best radio documentary. 

In 2022 I was awarded the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism. This fellowship includes the Benjamin von Sternenfels Rosenthal Grant for Investigative Mental Health Reporting, a special grant and partnership between The Carter Center Center and Reveal (from the Center for Investigative Reporting). The Reveal story aired across the country on NPR, and you can listen here.

Beyond my public radio work, I’ve helped develop four independent podcasts from scratch including serving as producer and editor on those series. I’ve also reported and recorded for Audacy, CBC, Freakonomics, Kerning Cultures, PBS, Pineapple Street Studios, Reveal, Saveur, Slate, Sonic Union, The New Yorker Radio Hour, Ultraviolet, and WYNC.

Getting to tell the world’s stories through the magical medium of audio is an honor. Previous to working as a radio maker with KALW, I was a part of their Summer Journalism Fellowship and training program. I have also reported and produced news stories for KPFA, the legendary Pacifica Network outpost in Berkeley, Ca.

Prior to audio journalism, I worked in a variety of sectors including management consulting, sustainability, financial services, workforce development, training & facilitation, philanthropy, and the non-profit world. I have a B.S. in Accounting & Business/Management and a B.A. in Sustainability Studies from the University of Florida (c/o 2012). I work to bring those unique perspectives to the audio I make.

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TAPE SYNCS

Previously, I was a reporter and producer with KALW (an NPR affiliate station in San Francisco), and I currently do freelance podcast production and audio engineering work throughout the Bay Area. I’ve conducted dozens of tape syncs and hundreds of interviews in all sorts of sonic environments. Tape sync and recording clients have included Audacy, CBC, Freakonomics, Kerning Cultures, PBS, Pineapple Street Studios, Saveur, Slate, Sonic Union, The New Yorker Radio Hour, Ultraviolet, WaitWhat, WYNC.

I take pride in being able to help interviewers and interviewees figure out unforeseen issues — and technology — on the fly, and make needed adjustments for the best interview and recording quality possible. This includes carefully listening to the surrounding environment to ensure no planes, trains, sirens, buzzes, fuzzes, flubs, or blips interfere with the interview. And I always make sure to come into a guest’s home or personal space with warm professionalism.

Additionally, if needed, I can put on my ‘reporter hat’ and capture any ambi or scene tape if you’re working on something more sound-rich and need those ‘live action’ sounds and scenes for your production.

Regarding covid: I am equipped to do a socially distant tape sync with table top and floor mic stands if it’s anyone’s preference; and I am fully vax’d.

Here are MP3s of raw tape from syncs I recorded using 1) both a Sennheiser MKE600 Shotgun Mic and a RE50B mic (for options) for a Freakonomics story 2) a SM58 mic for a Pineapple Street Studios story, and 3) a RE50B mic for a CBC story. I prefer the sound and cardioid integrity of the shotgun mic for tape syncs these days, but whatever you’d like to use works for me!

I have my own car to get on-site, and I work with the following equipment:

  • Zoom H5 Recorder
  • Zoom H1n Recorder
  • Sennheiser MKE600 Shotgun Mic
  • Shure SM58 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
  • Electro-Voice EV-RE50b Omnidirectional Dynamic Microphone
  • Sennheiser Headphones
  • Various floor and tabletop mic stands
  • Macbook Pro (2021 OSX Ventura)
  • Pro Tools

I like to arrive at least 30 minutes early to get set up and deal with unforeseen issues. 1 - 2 minutes of room tone will always be collected at the end of the interview. Turnaround of raw .Wav files is within 24 hours. You can let me know your preferred recording specifications (e.g. 16-bit/44.1kHz).

A couple additional / bonus things. I can patch my ZoomH5 directly into a guest’s computer (as an audio interface) if you want the microphone to feed directly into Riverside, Squadcast, or another remote/local podcast recording service; a backup .wav or .aifc file recorded directly to the computer will be included, as well. I am also equipped to record a 4K iPhone video of the guest (on a tripod positioned in front of them) if that is helpful to your production.

Regarding fees: I follow the Tape Syncers United Fair Rates Guide for fees. Instant upload of interview recordings / files can be provided for an additional $40. 4K video can be provided for an additional $100 fee. 48 hours notice requested for cancellations.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Happy to schedule this time as soon as you are.

Cheers!

Jonathan Davis [email protected] 305.282.0522

Jonathan's Portfolio

Experience

Skills

  • Mixing
  • Voice Coaching
  • Tape Syncs
  • Story Editing
  • Sound Design
  • Show Development
  • Scrubbing and Audio Editing
  • Scoring
  • Research
  • Reporting
  • Producing
  • Mentoring
  • Audience Development
  • Marketing
  • Logistics and Coordination
  • Interviewing
  • Hosting
  • Field Recording
  • Field Producing
  • Fact Checking
  • Budgeting
  • Booking
  • Audio Engineering
  • Voiceover

Equipment

  • ZoomH5
  • Full set of mics & stands
  • ProTools