Being Bays Consulting’s Media and Communications manager, I am sure it is unsurprising to hear that I have a love for all-things media; consuming and creating. From watching TV series and listening to radio, to creating graphic designs and producing animations. But there is one type of creative media that really excites me, the one that I can be doing and completely lose track of time because I am so absorbed in it, and that is: podcasting.
Podcasting is a relatively new concept in the grand scheme of creative media. Although audio ‘blogging’ as such may have been around for longer, the term ‘podcast’ was first created in 2004 by Adam Hammersley. (the word being a portmanteau of ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast’)
One thing I love about podcasting is how flexible it is. Anyone can do it. About anything. Anywhere. Historically, radio and other forms of broadcast media must go through a number of different checks by commissioning editors before being given approval for release. Podcasts, on the other hand, can be released immediately, at your own will.
I’ve enjoyed listening to podcasts for a few years now, however I first discovered my love for making podcasts through my university studies. I am currently heading into my third year of study and have been given the task of producing a thirty-minute podcast, or podcast series, for my final creative assessment. I couldn’t be more excited.
I’ve just begun reading a book (co-written by my one of my awesome sound design teachers) called: Podcasting: The Audio Media Revolution. One line really stuck out to me when reading the introduction:
‘A podcast is more than a mere audio text; it is a relationship invited through an audio text between people involved in making and listening to that text and beyond’ (Spinelli and Dann, 2019)
This got me thinking about how podcasts can be beneficial to businesses. Business is all about creating good relationships with customers, and podcasts have the potential to do this. So…keep your eyes (and ears) peeled, a Bays Consulting podcast could be on the way.
Abbie Jenkins