We've learned a lot while crowd sourcing at recent events around town, like the Alternative Media Expo and Launch Fest. The biggest eye-opener has been that so many people aren't sure exactly what a podcast is, or don't realize the potential of how podcasts can improve their quality of life.
When I first started out, Podcast Alley provided a lot of helpful information. It's still an excellent resource, and this article gives a good overview. You can also read the full Wiki article on podcasting. If you are already a podcaster, these are good articles to refer your behind-the-times friends and relatives. (Though, let's be honest. Even among the tech-savvy, new media is not as well-promoted and organized as it could be.)
As a consumer of media, if you haven't already discovered the benefits of enjoying podcasts, there are many reasons that they are worth checking out. For starters, you don't need an I-pod or even a separate mp3 player to listen to podcasts. You can simply download the programs of your choice on your computer and listen to them while you are doing other things, much the way many people listen to talk radio programs while working or engaging in other activities. In many cases, podcasts are available on a website or blog on a media player you simply click to hear your music or broadcast, eliminating the need to download anything on your computer if it has limited memory. If there is a podcast you find you enjoy enough to listen to regularly, you can subscribe to it via an RSS feed, or services such as I-tunes.
Some people complain that they can't focus on what's being said while doing other things. I think that this is a side-effect of poor production on the end of the podcast creator. A well-produced podcast, much like a radio show, should be easy to follow and engaging. You may have to listen to a few before you find some that you like, but luckily there are many options to choose from, ranging from individual amateur podcasters to content from some of your favorite mainstream media, such as CNN, NPR, and MTV.
In surveys we had people fill out at the Alternative Media Expo, some people responded that they didn't listen to podcasts because they were too busy or didn't have time. I found this a little bit amusing, because one of the primary benefits of podcasting as a form of entertainment or source of news is that it allows for multitasking. You can listen while you commute, jog, do housework, work on the computer... you name it! And because the content is "on-demand", you don't have to revolve your schedule around a program. You can listen to it whenever you like.
Another complaint that people shared in their survey answers was that it was too hard to find new podcasts
or to find recommendations on podcasts that were relevant to them. Many said that they would listen to more podcasts if others recommended or referred them by word of mouth. On a local level, that's a problem we hope to alleviate and this is something I will cover more in depth in my next article.
Until next time...nerd out! And feel free to share your podcast-listening experiences here with us or post any questions you may have.
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