One of the questions most asked about Podcasting is 'How to Start a New Show'. Jennifer Keeney Sendrow, Executive Producer for Multiplatform Content, WNYC, USA is the 'Master' who today led the Radiodays Europe Podcast Masterclass.
"Podcasters are looking for something different, they don't want to hear a radio show made directly into on demand content", Jennifer Keeney Sendrow, Executive Producer for Multiplatform Content, WNYC, USA
Jennifer set the scene for how to start a show from creating a new show, deciding on the content, how often the show will go out, the length of podcasts and the growing importance of partnerships to create podcasts. Also thinking about your listeners, who they are and where they listen and what age they are. And most importantly why are you creating a podcast - this might be obvious but knowing why, not just having a good idea, is a key part of creating a podcast.
"Listeners are listening on the commute in New York, outside of New York listners are listening in their homes....Podcast audiences are younger than radio listeners" Jennifer Keeney Sendrow, Executive Producer for Multiplatform Content, WNYC, USA
Could you create a pitch for a podcast in 10 minutes - the 26 participants of the Podcast Day Masterclass did and some of them were impressive! The pitches were made, discussed and watch this space as this may be the start of some special new podcasts...
The topics & titles were varied, inspirational and in many cases were topics which are relevant across different countries, from families to sport, wildlife and drama - sorry we can't give away any of the specific podcasts discovered as the ideas really were that good!
Feedback from Jennifer was priceless on the pitches with all of the participants taking away a wealth of ideas back to their companies and radio stations.
"Coming up with titles is really hard, ideally 3 to 4 words and then you need to find out if it's legally available" Jennifer Keeney Sendrow, Executive Producer for Multiplatform Content, WNYC, USA
And once you've got your pitch through the first stage, then you have to make a pilot. Test the resources you have is the mantra for a pilot - team, budget, talent, to make sure the show you are making can be made weekly, daily, monthly or however often the actual show will go out.
"Failing is inevitable!...Build, stop, tweak" Jennifer Keeney Sendrow, Executive Producer for Multiplatform Content, WNYC, USA
Once you've made the changes to a pilot it's important to test again on friends, family, interns or anyone who is a new ear to the show.
Jennifer also spoke about the development of talent for podcasts and then finally budgets and money. This is one area that all of the participants were very intersted in and forms a large part of the main conference programme for Radiodays Europe Podcast Day.
The back drop for the Masterclass were the amazing building of Danish Radio.