Plan a Podcast PDF

# Plan a podcast ## In this lesson * how to plan a podcast * how to write a podcast outline and script ## Making and sharing a podcast Podcasters use an application (app) called an audio editor or digital audio workstation (DAW) to make recordings. Like a broadcast radio programme, a podcast can ha...

# Plan a podcast ## In this lesson * how to plan a podcast * how to write a podcast outline and script ## Making and sharing a podcast Podcasters use an application (app) called an audio editor or digital audio workstation (DAW) to make recordings. Like a broadcast radio programme, a podcast can have speech and music. Using audio editing software allows you to record the speech and music separately and then edit and combine them to create your podcast. Podcasts are shared using a hosting service that specialises in streaming audio. ## How to plan your podcast You have already thought of some ideas for a podcast. Now you need to turn your ideas into a plan. There are three things you can think about to help you plan: 1. **Your aim:** This is the purpose of your podcast. Ask yourself: what do you want the listeners to know or understand after listening to your podcast? How do you want them to feel after they have heard your podcast? 2. **Your objectives:** What things do you need to tell your listeners in your podcast so that you achieve your aim? 3. **Your constraints:** How long do you want your podcast to be? (How many minutes?) Setting a time limit will help you focus on the content that is most important. When you make a plan, constraints are very important because they are things that cannot be changed. Your aims and objectives often need to change so that you can achieve them despite your constraints. Start by writing down your aim in creating your podcast. It should look similar to this: **Aim: I'm going to create a ___ minute podcast to tell my audience about ___** Now that you have set an aim and a time limit, you can begin to think about your objectives for the content of your podcast. ## Choose the content Think about the best way to present content in your podcast. Here are some of the options for presenting content. ### Presentation style * **Solo presentation** - You present your content alone. * **Co-hosting** -  You present your content together with one or more others. * **Interview** - You ask a guest questions to get their opinions or expert knowledge about a subject. ### Location * **In the studio** - You and your co-host or interviewees are indoors in a recording studio. You could even be in different studios if you are using Skype or a similar audio chat service to carry out your interview. * **On location** - You record your content outside of the studio, using a portable device. ### Mood * **Formal and informative** - You use formal language and share detailed information with your audience. This style suits serious subjects. * **Informal and entertaining** - You use less formal language and aim to make your audience feel good, smile or laugh. ## Make an outline plan Your podcast should have a structure. You need to carefully plan the order of the different parts of the podcast. In media production, the parts of a show are sometimes called segments. You can use an outline to help you structure your podcast. An outline gives the order of the segments and briefly says what the different segments will include. Some common segments are: * **Intro** - Explain who you are and what the podcast is about. * **Jingle (or 'sting')** - A short piece of music will help people recognise and remember your podcast. * **Topic segment **- Use one or more segments to cover the topic (subject) of your podcast. Each segment can have a different type of content, such as an interview or solo presentation. * **Outro** - Give a short summary of the topic segments and a conclusion. * **Closing remarks** - Thank the audience for listening. Encourage them to listen to the next episode. ## Plan a podcast Here is an example of a podcast outline. | Podcast title | Content | Length | Timing | |---|---|---|---| | The School Sports Podcast | Greet the listeners. Say my name. Say that this podcast is about sports at school. Say that this episode will be an interview with the captain of the school football soccer team. | 5 minutes | 30-60 seconds | | Jingle | Play the School Sports jingle. Fade jingle out after 7 seconds. | | 10 seconds | | Topic 1: Interview | Introduce and welcome the soccer captain. Ask how successful the school team is. | | 3 minutes | The outline stage is a good time to think about the audience. For example, are they more likely to understand the word 'soccer' or 'football'? ## Write a script Most podcasts sound informal and natural. It takes a lot of practice to sound natural and relaxed while you are trying to remember everything in your outline plan. Most podcasters use a script for at least a part of their podcast. Your script includes some or all of the exact words you want to say in a segment. When you write a script, remember to: * **Write like you speak** - Use everyday words so you sound natural and relaxed. * **Use short sentences **- This will make your content easier to understand. * **Avoid jargon (specialist words and abbreviations)** - Your listeners might not know very much about your subject. ### Script Hi, my name is Melissa and I'm your host for this week's School Sports Podcast - where you can find out everything about the sports clubs in our school. This week we’ll be talking about the school soccer team. I’ll be asking the team captain, Saida, how you can join the team. ## Music In your outline plan, write down ideas about the type of music you want to include. Where do you want to use music in your podcast? What kind of mood are you trying to create? This will help you search for music clips later. ## Activity You can use the file 'My podcast outline' for this activity. * Review your podcast ideas from the Unplugged activity. Choose one idea for the pilot episode of your new podcast. * Use the outline template to complete your podcast outline: * Write down the aim of your podcast and the length of the pilot episode - no more than 5 minutes. * Complete the 'Content' column for each segment of your podcast, including the music. * Add a 'Script' column to your outline. Write the script for each segment that you think needs some scripted content. * Save your work. ## Extra challenge Podcasts often have a web page with notes for listeners, called 'show notes'. The show notes are often mentioned in the podcast so listeners know where to find them. Show notes can include text, images, graphics and links to other websites. What material do you think will be useful in show notes for your podcast's audience? ## Test 1. What do the letters 'DAW' stand for? 2. Put these stages of planning into the correct order: script, aim, outline. 3. Explain the difference between an outline and a script for a podcast. 4. Give an example of a constraint on your plans for a podcast.