As the podcast revolution gains steam, content creators and producers continue to innovate the space, coming up with new and different variations on the on-demand theme.
It wasn’t that long ago that a podcast was simply thought of as an ongoing show or series with no end date. Marc Maron’s WTF and Tom Barnard’s daily podcasts have that TFN feel. They’ll continue on as long as they’re popular.
But perhaps it was Serial that began to redefine the notion of what a podcast could be. Season 1 had 12 episodes that told a story, while the next year’s version was comprised of 11 episodes that told a completely different story. And that’s part of the beauty of the medium – there are no set standards on the number of episodes, their length, or what even constitutes a series. For content creators, this wide open quality is one of the factors that makes creating and producing podcasts so attractive and yet also challenging.
So it should come as no surprise that the producers of American Public Media’s Marketplace have launched a limited run podcast series – Politics Inside Out – based around the events and stories coming form the Republican and Democratic conventions this month – and then it’ll be gone. Maybe. Or perhaps like what happened with ABC and Ted Koppel during the Iran Hostage Crisis, Nightline turned out to be so popular and essential that it became a permanent late night fixture.
Holy Kai Ryssdal – this is a cool concept. Politics Inside Out is hosted by Andrea Seabrook and will be posted the morning after every day during both conventions. The concept is to create a podcast that is fresh, timely, and relevant to those caught up in the political circus.
In a story by Poynter’s Ben Mullin, Politics Inside Out is being called a “pop-up podcast,” this new spin on the on-demand format is clever and feels just right for these topsy-turvy times where reality is shifting on a daily basis. And it makes you wonder why content creators on the station side couldn’t be making some of the same moves.
So when Lollapalooza’s in town or a key personality goes to Coachella, a local station could create their own “pop-up podcast” after each day of the festival.
Or the hometown sports station could produce a podcast throughout the World Series, following the ups and down of the local team and its exciting run to become world champs.
Or a local public radio station could launch a limited series around a local election or a major political issue (like the Flint water crisis) to keep its audience engaged.
And there sponsored opportunities based around something as simple as “Restaurant Week” or the “Taste of _______” where a daily podcasts highlights a different eatery every day.
The beauty of the podcast format is that there is no format.
For those of us confined by so-called format rules and regulations all these years, that may take some getting used to.
And if we’re flexible, we just might make something amazing in the process.
You can listen to the first episode of Politics Inside Out here.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Fred…
WAMU is doing something similar with Metropocalypse https://wamu.org/metro while the DC Metro system is going through a year long emergency maintenance overhaul.
Can’t remember if you’ve mentioned that in one of your posts.
I always enjoy your comments…Jeff
I have not mentioned it, but Eric Nuzum told me about it the other day. Thanks, Jeff – a terrific example of responding to something that’s timely, local, and meaningful.
Now THIS is some creative thinking!
Concept easily flows in many interesting directions. Feels natural.
“For those of us confined by so-called format rules and regulations all these years, that may take some getting used to.”
So ENJOY the newfound FREEDOM.
Rick, many thanks for the comment.