WFMU seeks to engage a firm or individual on a contract basis to act as Software Architect for its Audience Engine Project. Audience Engine is an open source platform and strategy which will provide digital distribution of audio, video and audience engagement tools fully integrated with social fundraising tools, to radio stations, journalists and digital libraries. The functional requirements for Audience Engine are based on WFMU’s existing platform which can be seen live at wfmu.org. None of WFMU's existing code base will be utilized in Audience Engine. Audience Engine will be developed on top of an existing open source CMS system which will function as an Application Framework that can be integrated with any web based Front End. Whenever possible, Audience Engine will utilize existing open source components, such as CRM, Chat/Comment and Crowdfunding software by creating open source enhancements to provide specific functionality. Several new applications will be developed as open source CMS modules. For some functions, best of breed commercial components will be implemented initially until open source versions become fully functional.

The software architect shall guide and analyze the work of two or more full-time coders who will be hired by WFMU on a permanent basis. Deliverables will include a software blueprint and timeline for the Minimum Viable Product and post-MVP functions of Audience Engine, as well as user interface design. The purpose of the Audience Engine is to help media institutions become self sustaining entities, by providing them with a platform and strategy for distributing their content online, building meaningful traffic and audience around that content, engaging that audience socially around that content and then effectively raising individual donations via crowdfunding. The elements of the Audience Engine are to be built in a modular way so that existing media entities can use its various elements in conjunction with their existing sites and platforms. Interested parties should contact General Manager Ken Freedman at ken at wfmu dot org