I wrote an article yesterday with step-by-step instructions on how to find and listen to podcasts. A podcast, in simple terms, is a pre-recorded "radio" show that anyone with an internet connection can download and listen to. There are professionally produced podcasts, but there are also thousands of podcasts created by everyday joes on thousands of topics, some very specialized (this is called "niche broadcasting").
I really enjoy listening to wide variety of podcasts but, to me, podcasting is a fascinating phenomenon from a broad cultural perspective as well. About 2 years ago, podcasting did not exist. Today, there are tens of thousands of podcasts covering an incredible range of topics. You can even find complete University courses presented in podcast format for no charge.
Podcasting has some pretty amazing implications for the future of global media. A podcast allows any individual with something to say and modest technological skills to create and broadcast a "radio" show to the world. Think about what it would have taken just two years ago to broadcast a radio show to all parts of the world.
The amazingly rapid growth of audio podcasting foreshadows a similar explosion in video podcasting. Creating and distributing a video podcast is identical in concept to an audio podcast, although video requires additional equipment and additional technical skills. The equipment and skills required remain in reach financially and from a "learnability" standpoint. If you have a video camera and you are willing to invest a few hours learning how to edit video on your computer, you can make a video podcast.
Once you make a video podcast, you can distribute it to the world free of charge via the internet. Depending on the talent, skills and commitment of the people involved, a video podcast could be anything from a 1 minute blurb of shaky fuzzy video to a full blown tv style show or feature film.
So . . . essentially anybody with a some basic equipment and skills can now create and broadcast a tv show to the planet for almost no money. Think about that.
Your first thought may be that video podcasts can't match the quality of a tv show or feature film. Today, most of them don't. But, digital video cameras get better and cheaper every day as does the software required to edit it nicely (Microsoft Movie Maker is free) and add suprisingly good special effects.
Your second thought may be, who watches this stuff? The answer is Millions already do but it is still a phenomenon in its infancy. That number will grow rapidly as broadband penetration (affordable access to high speed internet connections) increases, which it has been doing and will continue to do.
A video podcast is a recorded video show that can be viewed whenever and wherever you want on: a computer, a tv, a cell phone or various other types of portable digital gadgets. As the nation's (and the world's) tv sets get hooked up to the internet, easy access to citizen produced video podcasts grows along with it. People will be connecting their televisions to the internet. You may think you never will but, if you do think that, you probably also used to think you would never participate in an online community such as Gather.
The bottom line is that digital video, combined with ever increasing broadband internet access and ever decreasing costs of video creation and production tools, will change the way the world communicates and will challenge existing television and feature film creation and distribution models. It is already happening but at a level most people probably haven't really noticed yet.
Wanna check out some video podcasts?
NOTE: if you have issues getting any of these to play back, follow my step-by-step instructions for downloading iTunes, then try again.
Here's one I made called "Tommy's Sinister Valentine." This is proof that anyone can do it, not that anyone can do it well. but it's not bad considering I have no clue what I'm doing.
Here's a really funny one (I think) part of a series called "Drinking with Bob." This one's proof that average joe can have something to say and can say it in an interesting way. He's got lots of these, some funnier than others. Usually thought provoking.
Here's an artsy example from someone who knows what they're doing. It's called "Banjo."
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Comments: 11
I like the idea of video and audio podcasting. Maybe someday in the not-so-distant future video and audio on the Internet will be as creative as they were in the Golden days of television and radio.
The possibilities are endless - and you've presented them in a way to get even those most hesitant excited about what the future of podcasting might bring.
Great job!
But you are just as much of a trouble-maker at home as you are here Jake! And the folks at "In N Out" should hire you -- No, wait they should hire Tommy!
*And Tommy's right - great burgers, so nah nah nah nah to all the folks back East! You might have seen Beryl in Boston -- but we got In N Out Burgers, and YOU don't!
Seriously, here is some great information for podcasters and podcaster wannabes.
While there are 65,000+ podcasts available out there, there are tens of millions of people who have heard them. People are primarily interested in consuming content rather than creating it. How about a good primer on why podcasts are so cool from the listeners side?
To be transparent about this, I am a podcaster myself, both personally and professionally.
Your video with Tommy is quite good!
You should warn peole against using copyrighted material in their productions. I'm not saying I agree with all of the rules; I just don't want anyone to get sued!