Podcasting the news
POYNTER -- In an indication that podcasting has moved mainstream, MSNBC.com and NBC News have entered the podcasting game. Beginning in June, NBC News will deliver hourly updates and "select portions of its network and cable news programming via podcast."
NBC News president Neal Shapiro says, "This is one more way that the power of NBC News is made accessible to our audience." This means you can get NBC news content via broadcast television, cable television, the Web, e-mail, mobile phones, digital television, satellite radio, and terrestrial radio. In Ireland, we pay for our news but it's delivered in fewer content channels
The MSNBC.com podcasts will include the news, business headlines, White House Beat, Techwatch and selected highlights from popular cable programmes.
NBC News also has been testing podcasting with segments from "Today" and the "NBC Nightly News." ABC News also has begun podcasting.
Ireland has fewer than 10 podcasters, most with Irishblogs. None is mainstream press. Perhaps that's smart. Doc Searls explains. "The podosphere is the new conferencesphere. Podcasts are the new keynotes. Volleys between podcasts are the new panels. And, of course, it's all free. Keep moving. No money to be made here."
Like weblogs, podcasts produce our own news media. Sometimes the comments are edgy and articulate but most of the time they're merely informative. Years ago, Brian Greene captivated me with his late night webcasts, combining music clips with commentary and stings. With aggregators like Planet Of The Blogs and Irishblogs.ie, we have a way to organise and compartmentalise information. The mega-aggregate is actually an Irish encyclopedia scripted by our own community members. That's a powerful form of citizen journalism.
This DIY syndication of information may be difficult for Irish media mavens to comprehend as they try to describe, assimilate and meld into the blogging and podcasting genres. Expect the major players to build hives of aggregation first, like the local papers do for townlands that buy their products. That's a simple model proven to attract more revenues through sales at newsagents and advertisements from merchants.
Podcasting, like blogging, is merely another way of achieving reach through higher frequency releases. It need not be tedious.
Steve Outing -- "Podcasting the News"
Wikipedia -- "podcasting"
Paul Gough -- "Podcasts catch on at NBC, ABC news divisions"
