What to Consider When Launching a Podcast
Occasionally, University Relations is asked about the benefits of launching a podcast and what is generally required to get one started.
We recently came across some ideas and suggestions from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Science Public Outreach Community Best Practices newsletter that might be helpful to keep in mind should you consider a podcast.
Benefits
- Bring non-news stories to audiences
- Certain stories are more compelling when told in an audio format
- Allows audiences to hear directly from researchers in their own voices
Format
- 10-minute Q&A
- Hour-long in-depth interviews
- Narrative incorporating narration, interviews and other types of sounds
- Variations of all three
Equipment
- Microphones (USB microphones are suggested)
- Digital recorder
- Headphones
- Flash drives for recording
Interviewing and Recording
- Eliminate background noise
- Keep microphone close to interviewee’s mouth, but not directly in front of it
- Ask open-ended questions that lead to fuller responses
Script and Story
- Open with an introduction
- Switch to interview or story
- Host closing
Editing
- Choose editing software (PCMag summary of several programs)
We hope this information is helpful if you are exploring a podcast. If you do start a podcast, please let us know at urtc@umn.edu.