WHAT IS A PODCAST?A podcast is a digital medium consisting of an episodic series of audio, video, PDF, or ePub files subscribed to and downloaded through web syndication or streamed online to a computer or mobile device

Or, more simply, an audio recording ofpeople speaking about something in an, hopefully, interesting way.

ELEMENTS OF A PODCAST• Welcome Message

• Greet the listener and identify the name and purpose of the podcast• Theme Music

• A short piece of music helps set the tone for the podcast• Preview

• Tells listeners what to expect from this specific episode• Features

• The main content of the show• Conclusion

• The closing of the podcast (outro music, sign-off, preview of next episode, etc.)

FOUR BASIC STEPS

1. Plan (pre-production)

2. Produce (record)

3. Edit (post production)

4. Publish/promote

PREPRODUCTION• Keep the audience in mind:

• Who will listen to the podcast?• Is it a teenage audience? Men? Women? Chimps?

• Create a name for the podcast:

• The more creative, the better!• Provide information about the genre of your podcast

• Decide the format for the podcast:

• Who will actually be heard in the recording?• Will there be a host?• What segments will be included?

SAMPLE PODCAST STRUCTUREIntro

• Introduction Theme Song• Welcome Message (same for each podcast)

Announcements

• Preview future shows• Introduce guests or new hosts

First Segmen

t

• Can be scripted• Can include audio enhancements (sound fx)

Interview

• Interview a guest on the theme of the show

Second Segmen

t

• Can be scripted• Can include audio enhancements (sound fx)

Final Commen

ts

• Summary of the show• Final comments by the host

Outro

• Outro music

PREPRODUCTION (WRITING)• Writing narration for a podcast is really about writing

words for the ear.

• A script should be invisible. When delivered, it shouldn’t sound like a script.

TIPS FOR WRITING A PODCAST• Map Your Script

• This makes the listeners feel comfortable.• Tell the listener:

• Who’s talking (host and guest, if it’s an interview)• What’s coming up

• Don’t forget the ending:• End with a call to action and/or resource information

TIPS FOR WRITING A PODCAST• Write Like a Speaker

• Write everything the way you would say it, not the way you would read it

• Write out symbols and numbers as they would be pronounced (one, one thousand, point twenty five, dollars)

• Establish abbreviations before you use them (Say National Hockey League, before NHL)

• Use the coffee bar test: How would you tell this information to a friend?• Use plain English• Don’t use jargon (Explain all technical terms)• Avoid using the word “that”

TIPS FOR WRITING A PODCAST• Use Short Sentences

• Keep sentences under 25 words• Sentences shouldn’t take more than one breath to say• If you need more than one dash in a sentence, you

probably need more than one sentence• General idea – convey one idea per sentence

TIPS FOR WRITING A PODCAST• Write from A to B

• Use a linear structure (from A to B)• Avoid starting a sentence with a subordinate clause:

Example:

Instead of: Even though it wasn’t clear exactly what the job entailed, Thompson though his new role would be a chance to escape the humdrum life of an attorney.

Use this: Thompson thought his new role would be a chance to escape the humdrum life of an attorney, even though it was clear exactly what the job entailed.

TIPS FOR WRITING A PODCAST• Use Contractions

• Contractions sound less formal and friendlier. Sounding conversational is important in reaching your audience.

• Examples: • There is = there’s• Do no = don’t• Is not = isn’t

TIPS FOR WRITING A PODCAST• Avoid the Passive Voice

• Instead of: The car was driven by the boy.• Use: The boy drove the car.• The active voice:

• Is more direct, so it gives your statements more authority• Makes sentences shorter• Helps you write from A to B

TIPS FOR WRITING A PODCAST• Put Punctuation to Work

• Punctuation in scripts is for the narrator only• Don’t worry about proper usage• Most useful:

• Commas• Dashes• Periods/Full Stops

TIPS FOR WRITING A PODCAST• Don’t Use Brackets or Quotes

• Why not brackets (parantheses)?• You can’t see them; this is audio• They’re almost impossible for the narrator to convey.• Instead, delete the phrase or set it apart

• Why not quotation marks?• It’s not clear when a quote ends• The listener may lose track• You may run into copyright issues• If you must use a quote, introduce it with a phrase such as “In these words”• Instead, paraphrase or use reported speech• For long quotations, consider using a different voice. For example, if you’re

male, use a female voice for the quote

TIPS FOR WRITING A PODCAST• Make the Script Slip-Proof

• If your script is hard to read, the narrator will stumble• This will waste time in recording and editing• Get the format right:

• Times New Roman, 14 point font• 1.5 spaced lines, or greater, if your narrator prefers• Break the pages at the ends of sentences• Number the lines (Word can do this automatically)• Spell out symbols and abbreviations (E.G. percent, kilogram, et cetera)• Write out URLs as they should be read (E.G. w-w-w-dot-mister-wouda-dot-

weebly-com)• Spell out long numbers and dates• Spell out unusual words phonetically, with stress (E.G. Lyon = LEE-on)

TIPS FOR WRITING A PODCAST• Read Your Script Out Loud and Have Someone Else Read

It Out Loud

• Do you/they stumble?• Does it flow well?• Does it make sense?• Are there any sound-a-likes?

• For Example: Thompson won a special achievement award from the Law Society, and his wife won two. Or was that too?

IN SUMMARY• A well written, well-presented script can:

• Help you organize your ideas better• Convey your content in an engaging way• Build you a reputation for quality• Cut down on production time

PRODUCE (RECORD)• Use Audacity (free for Windows) or Garageband (free for

Mac) to record a Podcast

• Record short portions of audio at a time

• Record the introduction last

• Recording last allows you to introduce exactly what will be in the podcast because it has already been recorded

EDIT (POST PRODUCTION)• Organize the sound clips in chronological order

• Add music and sound effects

• Cut dead air and unnecessary pauses

• Re-record weak sections of audio

PUBLISH/PROMOTE• Podcasts should be exported as an MP3 file for greatest

compatibility

• SoundCloud, Podbean and Podomatic are great podcasting sites