GREs Podcast Series Unveiled
"Blogs are so 2004. This year, the cutting-edge candidate podcasts."
Washington Post, January 16, 2005
Have you heard the buzz about podcasting? If not, you can hear it literally hear it right now at
www.Grassroots.com.
"Podcasting" refers to the delivery of audio content that is downloaded and either played on a computer or a digital audio device, such as an iPod (hence, "podcasting"). Further, podcasts are designed to enable listeners to "subscribe" to them, meaning that they are automatically updated whenever new podcasts are available.
This audio content can of course be music, as millions of iPod owners already know. But over the last few months, a new trend has emerged the podcasting of what are essentially radio talk shows. In the same way that bloggers came to redefine journalism over the last few years, podcasters are on the verge of redefining "talk radio."
Why should you care? A few reasons:
-
More than 22 million Americans own an iPod or similar
device and the number is doubling every year;
-
The site traffic of www.iPodder.org, a leading
podcast directory, has grown an astonishing 859 % in the last three months
alone.
-
Millions of people are already listening to podcasts why pass up an easy opportunity to reach them?
Grassroots Enterprise was one of the first to venture into the world of podcasting, producing a series of podcasts beginning last fall for Donnie Fowler, Jr., a candidate for DNC Chair. Although the post ultimately went to Howard Dean, Fowler was able to gain significant traction and "buzz" from the podcasts, including a front page article in the New York Times.
"The creative ideas and technical assistance given by Grassroots Enterprise allowed me to take advantage of the growing podcasting trend," said Fowler. "The earlier we, as grassroots activists, get in on the new ways to communicate with each other, the sooner we'll be able to use them effectively for real change."
GRE continues to break new ground on the podcasting front. This week, the firm launched its own podcasting series, with a specific focus on grassroots innovation. Co-hosted by Michael Panetta, GRE Director of Public Affairs, and John Hlinko, VP of Marketing and Creative Engagement, the inaugural podcast features an interview with Kevin McCann, founder of "FairDealForNewfoundland.com," one of the most successful online efforts in Canadian history. Future shows will feature a range of other grassroots innovators.
"With legions of activists choosing to get their news updates via the Internet, and with the explosion of portable media devices, it make perfect sense to take advantage of these two trends to reach people via this rapidly expanding distribution network," said Panetta,. "Innovators such as Adam Curry, Dave Winer, and the hundreds of home-grown podcast creators have shown the impact this medium can have in general, and we look forward to showing its impact on the public affairs front specifically."
To listen to the GRE podcast, and to subscribe to the
GRE podcast feed, please visit: http://www.grassroots.com/what/podcasting/
To find out whether podcasting might make sense for your
organization, please contact Mike Panetta, at mike.panetta@grassroots.com, or
John Hlinko, at john.hlinko@grassroots.com.
Additional Resources:
4-Minute Movie About Podcasting (Real Audio File)
iPodder Software to Download Podcasts
(then add our feed)
Podcast Alley: Good source for interesting podcasts
