kat arney - perk up your podcasts

The world in your earsKat Arney, Cancer Research UK

Podcasting - Ur doin it rite

Mummy, what’s a podcast?

• Audio on the web• RSS-fed• Standalone?

Advantages• Cheap (ish)• Fast• Easy to do• Accessible (more or less)• Relatively small files• The pictures are better• Humanising• Portable format

Disadvantages

• It’s not video

Me and my podcasts

• Naked Scientists

• Cancer Research UK (podcast and press, mobile, fundraising, audio leaflets, talking news…)

• Bespoke audio - Epigenome.eu, Pond Conservation…

“What do I need - and is it expensive?”

• Recording device• Headphones• Computer• Software• Time

£ to £££££££££££s

Content is king

• Why are you doing this?

• Narrative - personal stories

• “Simple pictures are best”

Interview tips• Preparation! The seven Ps• Check your levels• Let them introduce themselves• Open questions• Background noise and ambient noise• Beware music• Stand alongside• Smile and nod - SILENTLY• It’s OK to start again• You are not Paxman!• Think length - listen for soundbites• Consent form?

My top tips• Listen back - now and later• You WILL hate the sound of your own voice• Log your footage• Seek inspiration• Get creative and experiment• Practice!• Get your organisation behind you• Be consistent• Transcript• Get a Flash player

About RSS

• Small charity: Feedburner

• Big charity: Ask the techies to do it

• Submit to iTunes• Don’t ask me!

My pet hates

• Crappy recording quality• Monotonous voices• Just one voice• Dull content• Too long

Can YOU listen to it? Can your friends?

Links• Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ • Feedburner www.feedburner.com • iTunes information

http://www.apple.com/itunes/whatson/podcasts/specs.html • Google for “flash player widget” eg

http://personallifemedia.com/widget • http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/podcast/• www.thenakedscientists.com• Kat.arney@cancer.org.uk