Timeline: October - November 2023

The work of a journalist is unlike any other career. Their contributions are important to their communities because of their ability to inform and share stories. I created a podcast all about the importance of journalism and why it’s so necessary for people to know what is going on in the world. 

Research

To get a better idea of how to make my own podcast, I listened to a few episodes of popular shows.

Stuff You Should Know – Short Stuff: Candy Corns

This episode of the “Stuff You Should Know” podcast focuses on candy corns. The history, how the Halloween candy phenomenon started, and of course, the controversy. With two hosts, this show is extremely conversational. There is clearly no script they are reading, but they organized their ideas to make sure they hit every point. You pick up on the relationships the hosts have too. They are clearly friends who can joke around while still touching on all the important topics. This makes it interesting for a listener, as they get to learn more about candy corns while hearing the host’s perspectives. The quality is extremely high, typical for a well known podcast.

Crime Junkie – CAPTURED: Gilgo Beach Killer

This podcast is drastically different. It is a crime show that gives history and updates of the Gilgo Beach serial killer case after the suspect was caught. There is clearly a script written that lays out most, if not all, of the words being said, but it doesn’t sound like the host is reading. This is the “invisible script” used in real life. She uses very conversational words that everyone understands, while speaking in a casual tone. A dynamic way of speaking peaks the audience’s interest, as she changes her voice based on what she is saying. Even though there is just one person in this episode (there are two hosts in others), it feels like you are listening to a friend in a conversation. There is a clear beginning, middle, and end of the story being shared too. It keeps the listener hooked and wanting to know what happens next. Another element of the podcast that makes it successful is the background music. It plays under the words throughout most of the episode, but it is not distracting. The audio levels are clearly very low and it’s there to give a highly produced feel to the podcast.

Myths and Legends – The Oracle

Myths and Legends is a podcast where the host acts out stories, but only using sound. It is clear he writes a script, and even admits that in this episode telling the story of the Oracle. He says planning for Greek mythology episodes takes a lot of time and writing. This script is more like a theatrical production. The host is acting out parts, which makes the story that much more exciting to hear. Different characters have unique voices and his tone changes based on what is happening in the story. He also uses modern references and pop culture language to make the story relevant to listeners. At one point, he mentions a character using TikTok, which was obviously not around when Greek mythology was created. This podcast also uses music, specifically as a transition. Music plays as a cue the show is taking an ad break or when the story needs a pause.

With all that research done, it was time for me to produce my own podcast. I chose a topic I’m very familiar with, the importance of journalism. As a working journalist, I see how necessary it is every day. We share news, all to keep the average person informed and safe. We tell compelling stories that make people feel a certain way. We share opinions and make sure people know what’s happening in the world. To map out some ideas, I made a mind map.

Because this is a topic I’m passionate about and have knowledge of, I thought creating a podcast would allow me to share my ideas, and also the feelings of other journalists. It includes interviews from a professor, a working journalist, and a student who hopes to work in the field. More specifics are included in this planning document. 

Using only my iPhone and a pair of headphones, I recorded my script. Then I found upbeat, urgent music to fit the tone of the podcast on Free Music Archive. The sound effects I used are all from Free Sound. Using Adobe Audition, I cut my voice over and interviews, and was able to adjust the volume to avoid peaking.