Podcasting and Politics? Discuss
So, one of the proposed sessions on the PodCamp Atlanta sessions page is Podcasting and Politics. One of the proposed session presenter-type people is I, Shelby, guest-blogger, podcasting dilettante, and part-time political operative. Before I start whipping up some fresh Powerpoint, I’m curious as to the level — and direction — of interest in such a session, because I’m kind of in a presentation rut and am tired of talking to brick walls and empty seats. For many a month I’ve thought podcasting and its related internet adventures would be an obvious necessity for political nonprofits, but as they say, though you can lead an ass a horse to the digital water, you can’t make it drink. So, given that many of our listed registrants fall in the culture and entertainment genres of digital content, I’m not really sure how to craft a political workshop for podcast-types that would be any more useful and popular than a podcasting workshop for political types, which got a whopping 6-8 attendees at the Georgia Progressive Summit. Rather than clutter up the Wiki with questions, Amber suggested I ask for input here.
First and foremost, are that many of you interested in the political utility of podcasting and its ilk? And if so, what in particular are you curious about? After a year and a half of political communications, I still have no tried-and-true case studies to share; if anyone’s relying on me for content, it’s going to be much more of a discussion than a presentation. Personally, I’m not sure what a political person would get out of a session on straightforward podcasting for politics that wouldn’t be fairly well covered in Podcasting for Non-Profits: What’s your story?. Telling your supporters about the latest political news via MP3? This seems pretty obvious, so just do it. However, what interests me as a political hack these days that might make for more fruitful discussion are strategies for using nuggets of digital content as organizational and motivational tools for political activism. I’m leaning more heavily toward video than audio these days, and would love to rally a discussion around such topics as citizen journalism/activist media, mobile posting platforms and distribution, and social network media distribution for activism (i.e., the best ways to distribute a political message in a viral manner).
Does any of this resonate with you? If the title Podcasting and politics piques your interest at all, what might you want to get out of that session? I’d appreciate your input and look forward to seeing you in March, one way or the other.
- Shelby
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10 Responses to “Podcasting and Politics? Discuss”
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The best use of such a panel is going to be the most challenging to pull off.
In my experience, the remarkable utility of podcasting with politics is the power of observation and (for lack of a better word) encounter.
Observation would include the attendance of a podcaster at a political rally, a city council meeting, a protest or any other activity where the public is invited or involved. By attending such an event with recorder in hand, the podcaster has an opportunity to “be there now.” It is one thing to read the minutes of a meeting. It is quite another to document what actually took place. If the event is a protest, you have other participants to interview. If the event is a rally, you can capture clips of statements, then compile and comment on them later during editing. Of course, in some situations, you will have to get permission. To be safe, a wise move would be finding the person or persons in charge and just letting them know you’re there.
Encounter is very similar and can happen at these very events. For example, my wife and I managed to borrow about five minutes of Mike Bodker’s time just before the last organizational meeting to form the city of Johns Creek. We’d contacted him via email previously, and the portability of our recording means (a 3G iPod with a Griffin iTalk attached) allowed us to take advantage of whatever limited time we had. The end result was a quick but informative interview that provided a suitable foundation for a longer podcast. That podcast was the first of what would become “Politics Is Vocal” on Georgia Podcast Network.
So that could be the focus. And best of all, you could do this kind of panel without worrying about the specter of partisanship.
I would find it interesting, but then I’m weird.
If it helps you had about 90% of the under-40 contigent at GPS (i’m being quite sarcastic but somewhat true) at your workshop. They really should just make a technology/communication track for GPS next year, I think it would be easier for the non-profs to grasp if we could lower the curve a little for the non-pod types.
I too am curious, b/c I don’t find the chance encounter recordings as much fun as getting a group of young people together to talk politcs and record it.
I’d personally love to see a young persons round table with the bite/byte of Russert’s Sunday morning crew. Funny, sarcastic, but with meaninful observation at the same time.
Now how to make that entertaining…hmmmm….
This might be slightly off-topic but here’s something I’ve been thinking about…
In addition to a panel or session about politics and podcasting, I would love for there to be an on-site recording of the GA Politics Podcast. This will ultimately be up to Joseph to decide and organize, of course… but I think it would be great to have something where it’s like, “Hey, we’re not just talking about it here, we’re ACTUALLY DOING IT” - plus there could be people involved who don’t normally participate.
If there is some way to weave this together with or alongside a session or panel, then I’m all for that, too… it’s up to y’all! This is an unconference after all!
Well he can weave it into the session if he finally invites someone from YDAtl, nyah!
If not, I’ll of course have my recording gear in my manpurse, and we can settle for an affiliate podcast.
Okay, so we’ve established a couple major genres of polipodcast content: the panel type and the man-on-the-street type. And there’s clearly diff’rent strokes for diff’rent folks. Hopefully we can use a session to draw out a little more of the “why.”
Does anyone want more of a retrospective focus? Like, “Here were some podcasts that Mattered, go forth and mimic?”
Video, anyone?
Do we have to stick with “traditional” podcasting, a la “Hi, I’m/we’re your host[s] and today I’m/we’re going to talk to you, the listener, about _____ in a very straightforward and lecturey manner,” or should we delve into one-off scripted things like a video PSAs with a little humor for virality?
I don’t think there needs to be a narrow focus on any type of podcast. And I see no reason not to talk about video either, though I do wonder if there should be a distinction made between a podcast/vidcast and sites like YouTube (i.e. - podcast/vidcast is a little more structured/recurring, YouTube is generally one-off videos or short series). There are different reasons to want to do one versus the other.
I think the most interesting political use of podcasting is the person-on-the-street type reporting. Being able to record and post city council meetings that most people wouldn’t otherwise be able to see. Reporting on stories that folks in very small localities are interested in, but that it doesn’t make sense for a metro newspaper or news station to report on. Talking to politicians and recording rallies that don’t get MSM coverage.
In some ways, I think the very act of podcasting (or blogging for that matter) is a political statement. Ordinary people become content producers, and the balance of power shifts a bit.
If you want to be on an episode of GA Politics Podcast, sometime Shelby, you’re more than welcome. Shoot me an e-mail or ask Rusty & Amber to get in contact with me.
It seems to me that there are two workshops here:
1. The technical “how to record, edit, and post” a podcast.
2. How to promote an issue, organization, or campaign thru podcasting.
And, for what it’s worth, I’ve been to two of your sessions. Both were terrific and nearly compelled me to get all the stuff and start recording. Maybe threes the charm?
Podcasting is a great contribution to the political “tool kit” and I think we’ll begin seeing it more and more. You’re just ahead of your time for Atlanta, Shelby.
Not ahead of Atlanta, Catherine, just ahead of too many Georgia Democrats.
Workshop #1 you cite is a non-issue for this proposed session. We’ve got mostly podcasters and the pod-savvy coming to this thing, and for the neophytes, there is already at least one beginner’s how-to session on the schedule. This is strictly about #2. I’m just still not sure what to say about #2 or whether enough people will care to listen.
Certainly we should all be over the “do people care enough to listen” thing by now, right? Kind of like newbie bloggers who wring their hands and are all like, “But does anybody CARE enough to READ what I write?? Who am I? Just a nobody!”
I think we all know at this point, that if it’s on the internet - SOMEBODY cares. And Shelby, I know from talking to people that there IS interest in a political SOMETHING at PodCamp. It’s up to all you political peeps to figure out exactly WHAT that “something” should be; but also remember, PodCamp is casual and informal. You want to just do an roundtable type thing with no set agenda? Rock on! Don’t think there’s enough interest to fill the Governor’s Hall? Hey, that’s why we’ve got the smaller rooms available.
Bottom line: if you schedule it, they will come. At least some of them, anyway. And personally, I think #2 sounds like an AWESOME idea. Run with it, y’all!
(And I’ve already got a recording of the GA Politics Podcast on the schedule. Joseph you can move it around, post details, whatever you want.)
Certainly we should all be over the “do people care enough to listen” thing by now, right? Kind of like newbie bloggers who wring their hands and are all like, “But does anybody CARE enough to READ what I write?? Who am I? Just a nobody!”
Aw, c’mon, give me a little more credit than that! I know I’m like a sell-out show, better than Cats!
I just didn’t want to end up stuck in a conference room with one other person who really wanted to hear about politics and expected me to come up with something when I’d suddenly rather be attending someone else’s more entertaining session. Like I said, still gun-shy from GPS. But it’s on, P&P thundercats are go.