Podcast Local: Tell the stories of your community

Listen to local podcasters--just like you--tell the stories of their own adventures in local podcasting. And discover tips and techniques that will make your local podcast even better.

Ethical editing is a key factor in Ethical Podcasting – Part 2

May 18, 2017 by Jason E. Norris

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:34 — 15.2MB)

Digital editing is powerful

Editing can make you sound amazing.

Editing can enhance your message.

Editing can change the meaning of your message.

Editing can distort the truth.

Editing really is powerful.

So edit responsibly.

How do you do that? Start by listening to this episode, which takes a closer look at ethical issues in audio and video editing and how easy it is to cross the line into telling stories in untruthful ways.

Editors, listen to these two stories to understand the impact of audio editing.

99% Invisible. Episode 256. Sounds Natural. *Spoiler alert* I talk about this near the end of the episode. Listen first and then come back for my perspective.

Pulling Back the Curtain from On the Media. This is how conversational radio is made.

Editing for a living

If you need someone else to edit your podcasts, consider Steve Stewart. (This is not an affiliate link. He’s just a good editor who knows how to make you sound professional.)

If you love editing, join the Podcast Editors’ Hangout on Facebook. You’re welcome to join whether you edit podcasts for a living or just your own. If you like talking about editing, we want to talk with you!

Previously on Podcast Local from OnTheGo.FM

Tell the news of your community (Podcast Local episode 12) featuring journalist and professor Butler Cain talking about principles of journalism for local podcasts. By the way, this is good advice whether your podcast is journalistic or not.

Telling true stories in truthful ways. Should podcasters adhere to a code of ethics? Ethical Podcasting – Part 1 (Podcast Local episode 14).

An example of a code of ethics many broadcasters follow. This is the RTDNA guidelines for ethical editing for both video and audio.

What do you think?

Continue the conversation in the Podcast Local Community Center on Facebook.

Support for Podcast Local comes from the Satchel Podcast Player for Android and iPhone. Satchel makes it easy to discover podcasts produced in your hometown. Learn more at SatchelPlayer.com.

Should we create a code of ethics to ensure Ethical Podcasting – Part 1

April 28, 2017 by Jason E. Norris

Ethical Podcasting - Part 1 - Telling true stories in truthful ways. Podcast Local episode 16 from OnTheGo.FM

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:29 — 10.0MB)

Should podcasters adhere to ethical standards?

Let’s explore this idea.

Even if we’re not doing local journalism, we are dealing with information and telling real stories of our community.

If we’re not careful, the way we tell those stories could cross into unethical territory.

This is the first part of a mini-series on ethical podcasting. After listening to this, there are a few things I’d like you to do before the next episode in this series.

Homework for the next episode on ethical podcasting

Listen to episode 256 of 99% Invisible. Sounds Natural explores the making of nature documentaries.

Read the RTDNA guidelines for ethical video and audio editing.

Share your perspective on the story I shared in this episode.

Share an ethical dilemma you faced and the choice you made (optional, but appreciated).

Support for Podcast Local…

…comes from the Satchel Podcast Player for Android and iPhone. Satchel makes it easy to discover podcasts produced in your hometown. Learn more at SatchelPlayer.com.

Band together to make a local podcast network

April 12, 2017 by Jason E. Norris

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:33 — 20.3MB)

Are there other local podcasters in your area?

You could consider them competition.

Or you could make a network, ask them to join you, and cover many more stories in your community.

That’s what Jason Burton did with his local podcast for Evansville, Indiana.

Principles of journalism for local podcasters

March 31, 2017 by Jason E. Norris

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:28 — 20.3MB)

Not every local podcaster wants to be a reporter, but all local podcasters are storytellers. Journalism can help you tell local stories better.

When I met Butler Cain, he was running the newsroom at Alabama Public Radio. Today he is an associate professor at the University of North Alabama and is chair of the Department of Communications.

Listen and learn principles of journalism for your local podcast.

Mentioned in this episode

“If it bleeds, it leads” is easy and formulaic.

Find a better way: Cover things not covered by local media

Don’t be a one-and-done reporter. Explore stories from multiple angles over multiple episodes.

Find out how issues and policies affect people

Audio requires good writing

The “red ball” exercise

Journalism is never 100% truth (wait, what??)

Journalism needs to get better at explanation and analysis

Even legacy radio and television could use podcasts to share the journalistic process with their audience to rebuild credibility

People cannot be totally objective, but the journalism process should be.

What do to if you’re not sure you fully understand a story

What IS journalism?

Consider these questions:

Why is this important?
Why does this need to be heard?
Why invest your time and effort on this story?

Come up with ideas you want to explore

Write questions related to that
Find experts with informed opinions, not just people on the street.
Realize there are more than just two sides, so cover multiple perspectives.

Support for Podcast Local comes from the Satchel Podcast Player for Android and iPhone. Satchel makes it easy to discover podcasts produced in your hometown. Learn more at SatchelPlayer.com.

Follow Butler Cain on Twitter @ButlerCain

Read Butler’s blog at ButlerCain.com

Links to Resources

The World News Prism: Digital, Social and Interactive Kindle Edition (Amazon affiliate link)

Jonathan Kern’s Sound Reporting: The NPR Guide to Audio Journalism and Production (Amazon affiliate link)

NPR’s Editorial Training site: Hone your craft, on air and online.

Society of Professional Journalists

SPJ Code of Ethics

Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA)

RTDNA Code of Ethics

NPR Ethics Handbook

Lessons learned about local podcasting

March 9, 2017 by Jason E. Norris

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:05 — 10.9MB)

Local podcasting is an interesting way to tell the stories of your community.

Your community is filled with fascinating people, interesting places, and curious things.

All of those things are stories.

And all of those stories are waiting for someone to tell them.

Is there a local podcast for your hometown?

Would you like to start one?

Discover ways you can tell the stories of your community by listening to Podcast Local.

This episode offers insights from 5 conversations with local podcasters.

Support for Podcast Local comes from the Satchel Podcast Player for Android and iPhone. Satchel makes it easy to discover podcasts produced in your hometown. Learn more at SatchelPlayer.com.

Mentioned in this episode

Podcast Local conversations:

Mark Bologna from Beyond Bourbon Street

Beau York from Let’s Talk Jackson

Kevin Barron from Beyond the Riverwalk

Lee Ball from This is Rammy

Chris Holifield from I Am Salt Lake

Local Podcasts

Mahoning Valley Podcast (northeast Ohio)

Beyond Bourbon Street (New Orleans, Lousiana)

Beyond the Riverwalk (San Antonio, Texas)

Let’s Talk Jackson (southern Mississippi)

This is Rammy (Ramsbottom, UK)

I Am Salt Lake (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Listener question

Dwight Stickler @MValleyPodcast on Twitter

Ask your question or share insights by voice or email

Other mentions

Podcast Movement

99% Invisible with Roman Mars

Ira Glass on the Creative Process

Geography-based Podcasts Group on Facebook

Even a small town needs a local podcast

February 28, 2017 by Jason E. Norris

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:38 — 33.0MB)

Do you have to live in a large city if you want to make a successful local podcast?

If that question is on your mind, listen to this episode.

Lee Ball has an important perspective on local podcasting. His community is a small town in the UK called Ramsbottom, and he’s been telling the stories of his community for two years.

In the first half of the conversation, Lee Ball explains:

Why his name sometimes appears to be Lee Nukes?

Why Ramsbottom is named Ramsbottom

Why Ramsbottom is called “Rammy”

Where in the world is Ramsbottom? (A geography lesson)

Why Lee Ball decided to start a local podcast for Ramsbottom?

What it is like podcasting for a very small town

What those “smart motorways” are

Lee’s perspective on talking about controversial topics in his local podcast

Support for Podcast Local comes from the Satchel Podcast Player for Android and iPhone. Satchel makes it easy to discover podcasts produced in your hometown. Learn more at SatchelPlayer.com.

In the second half of the conversation, Lee Ball answers these questions:

Who is the target audience for This is Rammy?

What was Lee Ball’s experience using Facebook ads to promote his local podcast?

Which podcast media host does he use: Libsyn or Blubrry?

What are Lee’s plans for the future of This is Rammy

What has been his experience with podcast sponsorships?

What is better than making money with a local podcast?

What tech does Lee use to record, edit, and publish his podcast?

To script or not to script? Lee answers that question for himself

What did Lee Ball learned from Daniel J. Lewis?

What is Lee’s typical, weekly process for preparing This is Rammy?

What insights and advice does he have for YOU when you’re ready to start your own local podcast?

Connect with Lee Ball online at:

ThisIsRammy.co.uk