Homespun ‘Podcasts’ Explore a Universe of Topics

Homespun ‘Podcasts’ Explore a Universe of Topics
Andy Sullivan, Reuters, April 10, 2005:

Like the World Wide Web 10 years ago, many podcasts rely on homespun charm rather than slick presentation. Anybody with a computer and a microphone can set up their own show. Several radio stations have developed podcasts of their own, typically condensed versions of their morning shows. Businesses from Newsweek to General Motors have set up podcasts, as has Democratic politician John Edwards, who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. vice president last year.

Survey: Millions tuning in to ‘podcasts’

Survey: Millions tuning in to ‘podcasts’

The home-brewed audio programs known as “podcasts” are catching on with people who own iPods or other digital-music players, according to a survey released Sunday.Twenty-nine percent of U.S. adults who own MP3 players like Apple Computer Inc.’s iPod say they have downloaded podcast programs from the Internet, the Pew Internet and American Life Project found.That means more than 6 million people are listening to a form of communication that emerged only last year, according to the non-profit group.

Community Site for “Masses Media” Launched

Local podcaster and obsessive online community builder Ryan Ozawa today launched Voxmedia.org, which aims to explore podcasting, blogging, and vlogging (or videoblogging) as powerful forms of individual expression and interaction. The three forms of “masses media” (in contrast to mass media) — text, audio, and video — are covered in three ways: a message board, a wiki (a collectively edited resource), and a news blog.

Podcasters and podcast enthusiasts are encouraged to start conversations in the podcasting forum, or to add their own brand of expertise to the podcasting wiki.

Read the press release here.

Town Square, Upcoming Events

Hawaii Public Radio has uploaded the MP3 audio file of the March 24 “Town Square” talk show focusing on podcasting. You can grab it here — but be forewarned, it’s a 55MB MP3. Remember, you can subscribe to catch all “Town Square” shows as they’re posted online via Larry Geller’s fan blog.

Don’t forget! Monday, March 28 brings “Podcasting: Applications for Business,” a free lunch-hour seminar at the UH Downtown Campus (900 Fort Street, Lower Level). Learn about podcasting, and hear five ways that podcasting can be useful to business and government organizations. An actual podcast will be created during the seminar!

Then, on Thursday, April 7, HAP cofounder Bob Lew will present “Podcasting: Talking to the World or Anyone Who Will Listen.” It will also be a lunchtime brown-bag presentation, also at the UH Downtown Campus.

Clear Channel To Embrace Podcasting

Clear Channel To Embrace Podcasting
Paul Heine, Billboard Radio Monitor, March 25, 2005:

Clear Channel plans to take first steps toward extending its radio brands through podcasting, as part of a new coherent Internet strategy set to unfold over the next several months at radio’s largest operator… Clear Channel plans to make five-minute, ad-supported segments available for download from station sites. Morning show vignettes, content from air talent and bits like top 40 WHTZ New York’s “Z100 Phonetap” are among the offerings the company plans to make available as downloads.

Podcasting puts you in charge of the show

Podcasting puts you in charge of the show
D. Parvaz, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 25, 2005:

What kind of stuff is out there and what can you create? An oral blog — it’s your life, in sound files, baby… Podcasting ain’t for everyone. You may find yourself drowning in the sea of voices out there. You can’t hear everything that’s popped online, no more than you can read every newspaper. Like anything else online, Beslanwitch said the “ego factor” is at play. In other words, even people with nothing to say probably will try their hands at podcasting.

Local stations are tuning into podcasting

Radio Beat: Local stations are tuning into podcasting
Bill Virgin, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Thursday, March 24, 2005:

Much of the ink on podcasting has been devoted to the technology as a challenge to traditional radio, as independent programmers put together their own shows that anyone can download. But traditional broadcasters are also seizing on podcasts as one more way to reach audiences, including those not currently tuned in.

John Edwards Posts First ‘Podcast’

John Edwards Posts First ‘Podcast’
Kim Rubey, One America Committee/U.S. Newswire, March 23, 2005:

In the podcast, Sen. Edwards was joined by his wife, Elizabeth, and they talked about their work in the fight against poverty and also answered questions that had been submitted to his blog and via email. The topics they discussed ranged from possible FEC proposals to regulate blogging to drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge to how to increase the youth vote… “Podcasting is an amazing new medium that has given a voice — literally — to people all across America. That is why I am inviting people everywhere to visit my website, listen to this podcast, and subscribe to future podcasts.”

Bloggers, Meet the Pod People

Bloggers, Meet the Pod People,
Leslie Walker, The Washington Post, March 9, 2005:

Topics range as widely as human conversation — political rants, religious sermons dubbed Godcasts, musical mixes, kitchen gossip and barroom chatter called beercasts. A few big corporations have experimented with podcasts, including one General Motors recorded at a Chicago auto show. While home recordings are attracting the most publicity, commercial broadcasters are making over-the-air shows available, too, adding fuel to the larger trend of time-shifting radio.