can <uk> podcast

The concept

Pod casting is a relatively new phenomena which originated from an MP3 player manufactured by Apple Computers in 2001 called the iPod. The iPod defined a whole new generation of young people who listened to music on the move. The iPod itself is a MP3 music player which is used to store 1000s of songs on its hard drive. Recent versions of the iPod can now also store and play video. Aside from music the iPod can also be used to store audio books.

The technical principle behind the iPod is that you ‘rip’ music to your computer hard drive and then transfer it to your iPod. Apple have also developed an online music store – iTunes – where music can be legitimately bought and transferred to your hard drive. Previously’ peer to peer’ ( illegal music copying ) software had generated much momentum. As the music industry caught up with this pent up consumer demand companies such as Apple developed legitimate commercial stores. These days anybody with an MP3 player can replicate what the iPod does although it dominates with over 80% of market share.

As with the mobile phone and the interest in texting which was a peripheral reason for using a mobile phone – pod casting developed as an activity that extended the use of the iPod. The iTunes store has an section devoted to pod casts which can be downloaded in instalments to your iPod. Like the internet the quality varies greatly but it is all free. Much like the term ‘hoover’ or ‘biro’ the iPod has entered into our global lexicon as a word which encapsulates a whole new generational sub-culture.

A pod cast radio station

A pod casting radio station extends the concept and develops a means by which music and radio can be broadcast to wide audience. Aside from streaming live broadcasts ( where you tune in to the broadcast on your computer by searching for the correct internet address or url ); the material can also be stored on a web site for subsequent download. As iPods are multi media devices these broadcasts can consist of both audio and video segments.

The pod casting radio station obviates the need to have a broadcasting license ( so long as you play your own original music ) and can be listened to from any computer. Using the model of a radio station; shows can consist of radio interviews, outside broadcasts, songs, studio discussions and radio plays . An example of this can be found online at eco-radio.co.uk. A complementary web site is used to augment the pod cast and allow participants to seek further information or download other broadcasts.

Creating the pod cast

Creating a pod cast will involve a detailed programme of work with participants. In many ways a very similar process to producing a live radio show. The main difference is that the material can be produced and recorded in advance which results in greater quality control and involvement from a larger group of participants.

Some of the tasks for producing a pod cast include;

Recording radio interviews

Recording radio studio discussions

Recording link items

Composing jingles

Composing original music

Recording outside broadcasts

Scripting and recording radio plays

Designing the project ‘branding’

Designing a web site

Writing material for the website

The web site

The pod cast web site is used as the starting point for the project. It is the means by which people can access the pod cast and also contains all the background information and ‘extras’ that help to strengthen the ‘brand’ as well as provide more ‘in depth’ coverage of the issues.

The web site can be used as an interactive tool with elements that can provide two way interaction between the project and it’s visitors. This can include polls, message forums and boards. The server side programming to create this interaction is by it’s nature more complex and is not something participants would be involved in authoring however it is a means by which information obtained from web visitors can be logged and used subsequently as evidence of engagement.