HOW THEY WORK : “Podcasting”

Have you ever wanted to be heard worldwide? Thanks to the Internet and its instantaneous connection to millions of people, you can now broadcast anything instantly to millions of people worldwide. Just as blogging has enabled almost anyone with a computer to become a bona fide reporter, podcasting allows virtually anyone with a computer to become a talk show host or recording artist. Although podcasting first found popularity within the techie set, it has since caught on with the general public. Log on to one of several podcast sites on the Web, and you can download content ranging from music to philosophy to sports. Podcasting combines the freedom of blogging with digital audio technology to create an almost endless supply of content. Some say this new technology is democratizing the once state-run world of radio. Podcasting is a free service that allows Internet users to pull audio files (typically MP3s) from a podcasting Web site to listen to them on their computers or personal digital audio players. The term comes from a combination of the words iPod (a personal digital audio player made by Apple) and broadcasting. Even though the term is derived from the iPod, you don’t need an iPod to listen to a podcast. You can use virtually any portable media player or your computer. Unlike Internet radio, users don’t have to ‘tune in’ to a particular broadcast. Instead, they download the podcast on demand or subscribe via an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, which automatically downloads the podcast to their computers. Podcasting was developed in 2004 by former MTV video jockey Adam Curry and software developer Dave Winner. Curry wrote a program, called iPodder, that enabled him to automatically download Internet radio broadcasts to his iPod. Several developers improved upon his idea, and podcasting was officially born. Curry now hosts a show called The Daily Source Code, one of the most popular podcasts on the Internet; if you want it, why don’t you try it out now! Right now, podcasting is free from government regulation. Podcasters don’t need to buy a license to broadcast their programming, as radio stations do. That means anything goes from four-letter words to sexually explicit content. Copyright law does apply to podcasting, though. Podcasters can copyright or license their work Creative Commons is just one online resource for copyrights and licenses. Although several corporations and big broadcast companies have ventured into the medium, many podcasters are amateurs broadcasting from home studios. Because podcasters don’t rely on ratings as radio broadcasters do, the subject matter of podcasts can range from the refined to the silly to the excruciatingly mundane. Podcasters typically cater for a niche group of listeners. By podcasting consistently on one subject, podcasters not only assert their expertise on the subject matter but also draw a loyal and devoted group of listeners. Podcasts are also used for informational and educational purposes; self-guided walking tours, talk shows and training are all available through podcasting, according to Podcasting Tools. Several companies are trying to turn podcasting into a profitable business. Podcasting aggregators such as PodcastAlley.com and Podcast.net now feature advertisements. The Podcast Network, based in Australia, runs commercials and sponsorships during its audio broadcasts. Television networks have gotten into the action, too. National Public Radio, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the BBC have begun podcasting some of their shows. Corporations such as Heineken and General Motors have created their own podcasts to attract consumers. eddie@afrowebs.com