Podcasting: Converging into the future

Every time new technology comes around, it seems the American public stands in awe of it. From the first personal computer to wireless Internet access, digital technology has become increasingly more complex and essential in people’s daily lives. I thought it was crazy when the J-school began to require laptops for its students – but now I hear they might be including iPods to the list. Podcasting is beginning to be the next big thing: An interesting new way for news and information on specific topics to be streamed at the listener’s convenience.
When I first saw the podcast icon appear in my iTunes, I had heard of it, but really had no idea what they were. It was when I logged onto one of my favorite Web sites, visualeditors.org, that I really began listening to them. As a visual editor myself, I was keenly interested in the topics that some of the greats were talking about on their podcasts at the Web site. And so of course, I realized the potential for podcasting once I found some that peaked my particular interest.
One of the more frustrating aspects of being a journalist are limitations. Whether it be size, space or amount of news we are able to produce, there is always more we could and would like to include. Podcasts provide such incredible flexibility in how we communicate news to the public. This new kind of media also allows people to choose what they specifically want to listen to, so that they customize their own news. One of the criticisms I often hear, albeit jokingly, from friends and family is that journalists are in the business of telling people what to think. While we do have to make choices about what we do and do not cover, podcasts could perhaps begin to bridge that gap.
One of the interesting problems podcasting presents is a whole new job for newspapers to fill. It begins to lean more toward a converged newsroom, and the need for a whole new department that requires coordination, training and staff. While I think the podcast model has great promise, it does present some immediate technical concerns for news publications. Making sure that things that are podcastable are indeed prepared for that process seems like it also could be logistically difficult and expensive for newspapers to undertake.
Podcasts could also potentially alienate readers if this is the only method of learning about a specific topic. Some people are firm newspaper readers, while others don’t have the ncessary technology to enjoy the fun and possibilities of podcasting. If podcasts began to be the primary form for some of the news, it would be necessary to ensure that the consumers of that news were aware of the functions and how to access the information. It could be really frustrating to people who aren’t “plugged in” or computer savvy and do want to hear or read about a certain topic.
Podcasts are also entering other facets of our lives, as a way to help children how to learn in classrooms and for people to get their voices heard. This could a great way to get citizen journalism to function successfully and in a accesible and affordable medium. The possibilities are seemingly endless. While this new way to communicate and share information is without a doubt in its infancy, the idea of being able to share press conferences, interviews and educational programs in their entireity is an exciting possibility.