Podcast Pitch and Data Visualizaton
Podcast Pitch
Write a five-graph pitch to explain your podcast concept. Then record a five-minute podcast interview as a short pilot. Think niche topic and think of it like other stories, where you introduce your topic, create a narrative, build character, add layers with nat sound or music, add color with descriptive details. Leave your audience wanting more by raising interesting questions. Q+A interview style works best for this assignment.
In post-production: create a radio edit, sequence sound bites, adjust levels, add fades, add music and ‘nat’ sound when needed, add space between sound bites where needed, and upload to Soundcloud. Copy embed code and paste into post with headline and pitch!
Things to Consider:
Seven Factors to Consider When Pitching a Podcast
(1) Cost to Entry
(2) Style – scripted, reporting, candid interview, conversational, consistent, eclectic, political, etc. How will your podcast be serialized?
(3) Interactivity – How much direct engagement do you want from fans? How will you engage/market to them?
(4) Personality – Who is the best host?
(5) Broad vs. Niche – What’s your topic? Are you focused on something specific or very general with mass appeal?
(6) Your audience – Who are they?
(7) Pre-Produce Your Episode – research for best panelist, research topic for best list of questions, think how best to organize questions to create a good narrative arc, understand what your narrative flow might be.
Some great podcasts for starting out are: Serial, RadioLab, On The Media, Reply All. I also would recommend subscribing to Hot Pod!
Eighteen More Podcasts to Consider:
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/jan/18/podcasts-trump-presidency-political-left-right-alt-right
Post update: current links
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/469516571/modern-love
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510200/storycorps
https://www.muellershewrote.com/
https://www.patreon.com/ allows you to monetize your podcast – there are other options.
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/russia-if-youre-listening/
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510308/hidden-brain
https://www.dancarlin.com/product-tag/podcast/
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/range/gaslit-nation
https://art19.com/shows/pod-save-america
Look through the podcast app and see what is new and interesting. Follow your interests.
Data Visualization
A second assignment choice is to create a data visualization to support your news story. Write a five graph story supported by data. Use reliable data to create visual that you will analyze and source. Make sure your lede and headline tightly focus on your numbers.
Create charts, graphs, and timelines to help your audience understand how numbers impact your story.
Here are some data journalism tools from MIT’s Knight.
data links:
Boston gov data
BU sustainability numbers