Podcasts are generally free and are available on a variety of platforms. An individual only needs a device and an internet connection to listen to podcasts. Podcasts are versatile, enlightening and overpowering. One single medium has so much potential which should not be ignored by any marketer out there. Around 3% of marketers make Podcasts. This discussion analyses podcasts in general.
Podcasts are becoming a useful form of storytelling as they are engaging. This is so because they only need one to play them as they are doing other chores such as cooking, washing or any other thing–they do not require full attention and hence one can multitask. This is contrary to communication platforms like Augmented Reality that do not support multitasking (Dolinsky 298). Podcasts require less input to start as you can make them from literally any environment, provided it is quiet. Notably, podcasts tend to be more effective as it is confirmed by various researchers that the majority of the audience is easily swayed or convinced to buy products being advertised during the show.
Podcasts are creative as they are done freestyle–they do not have to follow any set of guidelines as radio channels do. Moreover, podcasts have created some job opportunities as brands tend to be marketed and promoted (Jetnikoff 60). One can even add some more social media accounts that can help air or share the cast for the betterment of everyone. Podcasts can be posted at any social media account to try and attract customers. Podcasts help one to associate and meet new friends, which leads to the establishment of deep connections with the audience. Lastly, they can be converted to blogs and vice versa.
Podcasts are now a go-to tool for diving deeper into topical themes, whether they address environmental issues, indigenous, Black, and persons of color, or politics. In this sense, podcasts can be used as a form of activism which consists of the efforts to promote, impede, direct, or intervene in social, political, economic, or environmental reform with the desire to make.
Uneven mapping of responsibilities onto persons or activities onto locations can undermine and disrupt established traditions, which Conlon (475) suggested can be discussed in a podcast. Since podcasts are created for any topic and at any time, they can be used to convey the intended messages. Podcasts are mostly being used to create awareness and social impacts as people tend to share what they have heard with their friends and relatives. From the podcast on Dolly Parton’s America (WNYC) we get to know the history of Parton, a great American music idol.
Podcasting is no exception to the rule that new technology has a significant influence on education. Many educational institutions are reducing textbook purchases in favor of technology-enhanced instruction. As one of the most recent channels to enter the public, Podcasting is one of the technologies at the vanguard of this shift. Podcasting may improve accessibility and participation in education. Lecturers may effortlessly broadcast compelling audio information using podcasting, which students can listen to at any time and from any location. It is now possible to push instructional information to students rather than waiting for them to come to you if they subscribe to a podcast feed. Additionally, podcasts may readily be utilized to engage students and enhance teaching and learning practices in schools, universities, and institutions.
Many educational institutions that have introduced podcasts into their curriculum have reported extremely favorable outcomes. This might be linked to the simplicity with which podcasts can be created and consumed and the different ways in which education podcasts can help students learn more effectively. In terms of education, there are several benefits of podcasting. One of the most appealing features of educational podcasts is their mobility and ease. Podcasts may be downloaded to a mobile device, allowing students to access instructional resources at any time and from any location. However, the podcast format is very important as it determines the impacts it has on the audience.
The podcast on sleep is arranged in a very good manner and is straight to the point. It contains only the points relevant to the audience. It also has sound effects that help the podcast not be forgotten easily and grab attention, avoiding boredom. Other conventional ways of learning, such as reading books, get boring at some point and one loses interest, which begins failure in the particular unit or subject. Such aspects lead to developing hate towards a particular unit and eventually hating even the teacher. The use of podcasts can prevent this. Notably, all podcasts start with an abstract as it gives a general overview of the whole podcast and helps the listener have a brief summary of what to expect as they continue listening.
It takes some skills, practice, and a few crucial attributes to become a great podcast host. To make a podcast successful, you must learn to generate the type of discourse that your listeners want to hear, become an authority on the topic, and actively seek out the best guests to debate on the show.
Works Cited
Conlon, Deirdre. “Productive bodies, performative spaces: everyday life in Christopher Park.” Sexualities 7.4 (2004): 462-479.
Dolinsky, Margaret. “Shifting Perceptions–Shifting Realities.” Augmented Reality Art. Springer, Cham, 2014. 295-304.
Jetnikoff, A. “Digital Storytelling Podcasts, Blogs and Vlogs.” Exploring a Range of New Media Texts and Forms in English. English in Australia (2009): 55–62.
WNYC. Dolly Parton’s America. 2016. Web.
WNYC. Sleep. 2007. Web.