A few thoughts as a follow up to my earlier quick response. Your questions perfectly illustrate the need for a central knowledge base on global podcasting, which is exactly what we are planning with the
WPF Intel section. As of now it just covers a few basic areas. In a couple of weeks though, a wiki structured around topics and geography will be integrated to collaboratively fill in the blanks. I'll send out a mailing with more specifics soon.
Convincing an audience, who is not at all or only remotely familiar with podcasting, to get seriously involved is in my experience a delicate sell. You absolutely have to go back to non-tech basics and just focus on the essentials of podcast publishing and the inherent benefits and advantages over conventional publishing/broadcasting. With a more experienced crowd, specifics on an array of foreign (advertising) markets, concepts and business models are important but in this instance, and again in my experience, the basic focus should be on the potential impact on the national and/or local media markets, most easily exemplified by the American experience (as there is quite some US data available that covers all important areas). The mobile aspect of podcasting stands out in any case, be it the 'traditional' anywhere/anytime aspect of the iPod or, looking forward, the prospect of podcasting as an integral part of the mobile phone. Audiences, whatever their background and especially those involved with publishing, tend to plug in quickly the moment you connect the dots between the concept of podcast publishing and the ubiquitous mobile, with its
5 unique elements: 1. the first truly personal mass media 2. the first always-on mass media 3. the first always-carried mass media 4. the first mass media with a built-in payment mechanism and 5. offering the media audience the input tool, at the point of creative impulse.
Again, quite a delicate sell as even early adopter facts may seem crystal ball musings to a more traditional audience.
Yet, mixing both the bare essentials of podcasting with its obvious opportunities and the crystal ball-like vision of, for example, the up and coming mobile podcasting experience worked for me on several occasions with the kind of audience you describe. Hope you let us know how things went and please keep an eye on the
Intel section!
