Podcasting

“Podcasting”

Podcasting has evolved into a medium that is common in the technology world. It is an audio or video broadcast on a certain topic posted on the internet. Podcasting allows the creator to voice their specific opinion on a subject matter. Albert Marrugi explained, "the beauty of podcasting is that you target your messages specifically to the people you want to reach, and the people who want to hear what you have to say actively seek out information." (Maruggi, 2005, p. 21).

Whereas with radio, listeners cannot control the content they are listening to. Podcasting expands that by allowing the listener freedom to do as they please. The American School Board Journal explains, “unlike traditional radio broadcasts, however, podcasts offer on-demand listening where the user controls forwarding, rewinding, and pausing.” (New Digital Tools, 56).

This freedom allows anyone to listen to their podcast at home, in the office, in the car, or anywhere they choose. Podacasting also has no boundaries. Anyone anywhere in the world can access the podcast when it is posted on the web. Claburn expounded, "we don’t see podcasting as ‘revolution,’ but simply as an ‘evolution.’ Podcasting is a viable commercial medium because it has the same characteristics of more traditional mediums such as radio but with the added benefits of time–shifting, portability, user control, and global coverage" (Claburn, 2005).

Podcasting became popular as personal blogs began to appear more frequently. Stephen Baker explains, “the heart of the podcasting movement is in the world of blogs, those millions of personal Web pages that have become a global sensation. In a blogosphere that has grown largely on the written word, podcasts add a soundtrack” (Baker, 2005, p. 116).

People now could voice their opinion with their actual voice and not in writing. Podcasts are also easily accessible. iTunes has a directory where anyone can upload a podcast and when there is new content made available, it automatically downloads it and makes it available for you. They offer every topic you can think of from Arts to TV and Film.

With the evolution of podcasts, fewer people listen to the radio. Heather Green explained, "a trend is a foot that could transform the $21 billion radio industry. Consider the basics: With no licenses, no frequencies, and no towers, ordinary people are busy creating audio programming for thousands of others. They’re bypassing an entire industry" (Green, et al., 2005, p. 32).

With this availability people are changing the medium in which they obtain their audio entertainment. They can listen to their popular radio host’s show in its entirety when they choose. "If radio and music executives can successfully shift their thinking to embrace new audio–delivery methods, both industries will benefit from new revenue streams and increased customer loyalty over the next several years" (Internet Week, 2005).

Technology will continue to present new mediums of media, however mediums do not disappear. Newspapers were not destroyed by radio. Radio was not destroyed by television, and the internet did not destroy television. Each medium has stayed alive because of its uniqueness. There is still need for radio and television. Podcasting allows more people to voice and share their opinion, but it will not replace the mediums already in existence.

Podcasts have enhanced my life. I look forward to and listen to them daily. They are a source of education and entertainment.

Sources:

Stephen Baker, 2005. "The Lowdown on Podcasting," Business Week (24 May), p. 116.

Thomas Claburn, 2005. "New iPods Debut and a Marketing Medium, too," InformationWeek.

Heather Green, Tom Lowry and Catherine Yang, 2005. "The New Radio Revolution," Business WeekOnline (3 March), p. 32.

Internet Week, 2005. "Online and Satellite Radio, Podcasting Winning Over Consumers," (12 April), at http://www.internetweek.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=160701657.

Albert Maruggi, 2005. "Podcasting Offers a Sound Technique," Brandweek, volume 46, issue 18 (2 May), p. 21. http://www.informationweek.com/ story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=60403040)

“New digital tools ease idea sharing”. American School Board Journal. November 2006. Page 56.