As podcasting becomes more and more popular, it’s clear that this medium is here to stay. Podcasting represents a new era in digital media, an age where information is accessible to everyone and anyone can create content. With a microphone, some software, and a hosting service, you can create a podcast that reaches listeners all over the world. And with so many people tuning in to their favorite podcasts each day, this is the New Gutenberg Revolution.
The journalist of the future may not only be someone who works for a newspaper or magazine but rather someone who hosts podcasts and communicates with their listeners. By using this new form of media, the “journalist” has an opportunity to interact and create a two-way conversation with his/her audience.
In the past, mass media was only available to a select few and usually required a lot of money and resources. Even if you had the funds, starting up a newspaper or magazine was an arduous process that entailed great risk.
Today, anyone with access to the internet can create their own podcasting channel free of charge. You can start a podcast with a few simple clicks and you don’t need to shell out hundreds of dollars for equipment and software.
What is a Podcast?
A podcast is similar to a radio show, but you listen to it on your computer, smartphone or device instead of turning on the radio. Like radio shows, most podcasts tell stories, share information, and educate their listeners. Podcasts are usually free to download, and they cover all different types of topics, from news and politics to sports and entertainment.
Like newspapers or magazines, podcasts have different sections with their own focus. Some podcasts may be serious and discuss current issues and events, while others may be entertaining and discuss pop culture. Podcasts even cover niche topics like gambling and sports betting. As a matter of fact, there are countless podcasts on practically every topic you can imagine!
History of Podcast
Podcast goes way back to 2004. It was thought that Adam Curry, former MTV video jockey, and software developer Dave Winer who came up with the format. They are credited as one of the first people to introduce podcasting into mainstream culture. Then, in 2005, Apple added support for podcasts on its iTunes Store and that’s when podcasting really started to take off.
During that same year, George W. Bush was the first U.S. president to podcast and since then, many other politicians have followed suit. Ricky Gervais, famous comedian and actor, also got in on the action. His show called “The Ricky Gervais Show” features him talking to other celebrities about various events or hot topics in the news. With the success of his show, he was awarded the Guinness World Record’s Most Downloaded Podcast.
After the tech boom in 2009, podcasting continued to grow and now it has become a thriving community. There are billions of downloads per month and that number is continuing to rise each year.
Another worth mentioning is the Joe Rogan Show. The host Joe Rogan, a comedian and UFC color commentator, has one of the most popular podcasts out today. He started it in 2009 and since then he has interviewed some of the biggest names in entertainment including Elon Musk, Russell Brand, Kevin Hart and many more.
Businesses also jumped on the bandwagon and started their own podcasts as well. They saw how much their audience enjoyed consuming content this way and used it as a cost-effective way of marketing. Companies like Sony, Netflix, Google, PepsiCo, Microsoft and more have created engaging podcasts for their employees or customers.
Podcasts and the Journalism World
Podcasting is quickly becoming a shared experience, where listeners tune in to their favorite shows so they can feel part of a community. Like many other media outlets, podcasts provide an avenue for people to get information and discuss it with others who may have different views than theirs.
But there’s something even more important about podcasts – the experience is entirely in the hands of the listeners. This new digital media allows people to learn and be entertained in a way that’s interactive and social. It’s a dialogue, not just a lecture or monologue.
Podcasts have evolved from being simply audio files that you download on your device or computer into full-fledged web-based shows with high production value. Podcasters now use music, sound effects, slick intros and even live polling to create their own unique audio experience for listeners.
Many prominent journalists are realizing the potential of podcasting as a new media outlet with its own advantages over other existing forms of digital media. And more podcasters are emerging every day, with some becoming celebrities in their own right.
The future of journalism is not necessarily about writing articles or reporting on events – it’s about creating quality content that people will want to listen to and interact with. Podcasting has already made its mark, and the “journalist” of the future may have a podcast instead of a newspaper column!
Podcasting As The New Gutenberg Revolution
Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, which led to an explosion in communication throughout Europe. Likewise, podcasting is changing how people interact with information – and that’s just the beginning!
Podcasting is the New Gutenberg Revolution. It is changing digital media just as Johannes Gutenberg changed books and communication centuries ago. With one simple machine, everyone could now print books, just as anyone can create a podcast that reaches millions of listeners. People can now publish their own ideas and broadcast them to the world, with only a small investment of money and time.
Podcasts are becoming more prominent than ever and they’re only continuing to rise as time goes on. It has become a powerful way for people to learn and be entertained thanks to its interactive format. Podcasters are no longer just talking heads that sit behind a microphone – they’re journalists, artists, entertainers and entrepreneurs who create quality content without limitations.
Podcasts are available for every topic imaginable. Marketing, health, news, entertainment, sports – you name it, there’s probably a podcast about it. This new form of media is evolving very quickly.
Of course, podcasting has its differences and limitations, like any other medium. But it’s clear that this form of media is the future. With the rise in smartphones and faster internet connections, things will only get better from here.
The Bottom Line
The New Gutenberg Revolution comes in the form of podcasting. It is changing digital media as we know it. Podcasts are different from other mediums but the bottomline is that this format and its community has become a major cultural phenomenon and will only grow bigger and better with time.
The future is bright for podcasting. With more devices coming equipped with audio and video, and more people using internet-based services like YouTube and Netflix, it’s only a matter of time before the format becomes the dominant form of digital media.