Podcasting Questions Answered

Here are my answers to interview questions related to podcasting from a U.P. student.

1. Why the need to communicate online?

I need to communicate online for a variety of reasons. Aside from the personal need to experiment and reach out to others via this medium, I'm also interested in testing different types of internet strategies and ideas.

2. What kind of information do you usually send? What are the topics, and where does your choice of topic come from?

The Viloria.com Pinoy Podcast offers Tagalog lessons. I choose the topics per episode based on news stories, or as a result of talks with my friends. Sometimes, listeners request for a particular topic via email or voicemail.

3. Who do you intend to reach? (target audience)

I'm podcasting for those interested in learning Tagalog (i.e., foreigners who plan to visit the Philippines), and Filipinos who are homesick and who want to hear Tagalog over the internet.

4. When did you start podcasting? What basically is it about podcasting that got your interest? What have you learned?

I started podcasting in April 18, 2005 (please see PinoyPodcasters.com for a list of podcasts arranged by first episode date). I got interested because people were trying it out, and it gave me the chance to reach out to people even if they were not sitting in front of their computers.

What have I learned? The best way to get your podcast publicized is via the iTunes directory. Also, it's quite challenging to come out with a podcast weekly. It's so much easier to just write.

I've also learned:
how to record audio
how to mix intro and outro music
how to structure a podcast
how to set-up the needed files
how to promote a podcast

5. Which do you prefer in terms of features, ease of usage, and convenience: a text blog, or an audio-blog (podcasts) and why? What for you are podcasting's advantages / disadvantages?

It's so much easier and convenient to maintain a text blog, because you can update it in any internet cafe. With a podcast, you'll need a microphone, sound editing software, and other things not readily found in internet cafes.

If you're a mobile person, however, it may be easier to record your voice than type (i.e., you're trekking, hiking, biking, driving)

Podcasting Advantage: Some things are better heard than read, or said than typed.
Disadvantage: Time-consuming (It may take 45 minutes to produce an 8-minute show.)

6. How much do you need to get started with podcasting? Is it expensive to maintain?

If your computer already has a soundcard, get a microphone (around P600). If you don't have a soundcard but have a USB port, you can try getting a Sopu Headset (headphones and mic, with USB cable) at P2,000.

You'll need hard disk space on a web server for your MP3 files. If you're just starting out, try the free service at Podomatic.com

7. Do you think the audience can adapt to the podcasting phenomenon, in terms of costs, accessibility and ease of use?

The audience can easily adapt... most computers already have the soundcard and speakers needed to listen to podcasts. People can also load those mp3 files into their cellphones, iPods, or other mp3 players.

Parents may even be interested in child-friendly podcasts.

8. How often do you podcast?

I try to podcast once a week. Sometimes, if I'm too busy, my episodes come out twice a month.

9. In your opinion, what is the future of podcasting in the Philippines? Can it survive?

It will take a while. If a lot of people don't enjoy writing/blogging, a whole lot more find recording their voice terrifying.

(The exception would be podcasting couple Jason Ruby and Anna Johns.)

Will it survive? Yes.

In the short-term, however, you'll see a lot of podcasts which will die early, similar to the many cob-websites and blogs of experimenters. Perhaps if a group offered the boring techie behind-the-scenes service ( i.e., recording, post-production), then more people will try podcasting.

[Hmmm... GabCast.com?]

Given the Filipino's propensity to voice an opinion over AM radio, podcasting will definitely survive. It may just take a while before it truly catches on.

As for podcast listening (or podcatching), expect it to grow faster than podcasting as DSL and internet broadband subscriptions become more affordable in the Philippines.

Related: Podcasting: Who's Tuning In?
Podcasting audience will hit 50 million by 2010?

(In early January, around 60% of my visitors had broadband connections. In February, that went up to 75% of visitors.)

NOTE: This is weird. Why am I participating in an interview on podcasting via text? I should put up a sound file. Perhaps in the future. Stay tuned!

SURVEY: Do you want screen tutorials on how to create podcasts? Please let me know. Thanks!

[ First posted on 03/17/2006 by Manuel Viloria ]