Podchats:Podchats:Linking newsletters, Linking newsletters,

websites, and podcastswebsites, and podcasts

Dan Whiting and Mark Shonce

Office of U.S. Senator Larry Craighttp://craig.senate.gov/podchat

What is a podchat?What is a podchat?

Essentially a podchat is a marriage Essentially a podchat is a marriage between an online chat and a podcast.between an online chat and a podcast.

It is defined on Senator Craig’s It is defined on Senator Craig’s website: website:

pod·chatpod·chat /'päd·chat/ /'päd·chat/ n.n. 1.1. a podcast a podcast featuring a discussion with listenersfeaturing a discussion with listeners

Podchat StrategyPodchat Strategy Before the podchat was launched, we utilized a Before the podchat was launched, we utilized a

number of different channels for spreading the number of different channels for spreading the word with technology in addition to the website:word with technology in addition to the website:eNEWSeNEWS – Bi-weekly e-mail newsletter – Bi-weekly e-mail newsletterRSS feedsRSS feeds – Feeds for news releases and eNEWS – Feeds for news releases and eNEWSAudio and Video Podcasts – Programming includes a Audio and Video Podcasts – Programming includes a

bi-weekly video news program, in English and bi-weekly video news program, in English and Spanish, speeches, news conferences, and comments. Spanish, speeches, news conferences, and comments.

We still use those, of course, but the podchat is We still use those, of course, but the podchat is an attempt to link those so that readers of an attempt to link those so that readers of eNEWS are driven to the website and the eNEWS are driven to the website and the podcast and vice-versa.podcast and vice-versa.

Podchat ImplementationPodchat Implementation

The technical side of the The technical side of the implementation was relatively basic. implementation was relatively basic.

You need to record and edit audio You need to record and edit audio programming – we have access to a programming – we have access to a radio studio in addition to a radio studio in addition to a portable, professionl digital audio portable, professionl digital audio recorder (recorder (MarantzMarantz PMD670 PMD670). We ). We use Adobe Audition to edit audio.use Adobe Audition to edit audio.

You need to have a webform to You need to have a webform to submit questions and an XML file to submit questions and an XML file to distribute the audio program.distribute the audio program.

Question SubmissionQuestion Submission

Subscribers to Subscribers to eNEWS eNEWS are invited to are invited to submit questions through the website.submit questions through the website.

When they submit a question, they When they submit a question, they can voluntarily answer a short survey can voluntarily answer a short survey designed to garner some demographic designed to garner some demographic data so we can better understand who data so we can better understand who is utilizing the podchat.is utilizing the podchat.

A screenshot of the page is on the A screenshot of the page is on the next slide.next slide.

Podchat Question Podchat Question SubmissionSubmission

Recording the Podchat: Recording the Podchat: PrepPrep

1.1. Sort through the questions. We Sort through the questions. We encourage you to not filter questions too encourage you to not filter questions too heavily. Answer critical/tough questions heavily. Answer critical/tough questions or you will not have any credibility with or you will not have any credibility with listeners.listeners.

2.2. Develop a bit of a script if needed, but Develop a bit of a script if needed, but some folks are better without one.some folks are better without one.

3.3. A host and a “guest” answering the A host and a “guest” answering the questions adds needed variety to the questions adds needed variety to the programming, but it is not always the programming, but it is not always the best. best.

Recording the Podchat: Recording the Podchat: ProductionProduction

1.1. If possible, use a studio. It will deliver If possible, use a studio. It will deliver noticeably better quality. If not, ensure you noticeably better quality. If not, ensure you have a quality recorder, microphone, etc. have a quality recorder, microphone, etc. and record the program at 128 kbps/ 44 kHz. and record the program at 128 kbps/ 44 kHz. You can also downsize it later. However, You can also downsize it later. However, anything below 80 Kbps lacks in quality.anything below 80 Kbps lacks in quality.

2.2. Use an audio editing program to clean up Use an audio editing program to clean up the recording (remove excess stuff on either the recording (remove excess stuff on either end, eliminate clicks and pops, and save it as end, eliminate clicks and pops, and save it as an MP3 with the chosen sampling rate).an MP3 with the chosen sampling rate).

3.3. Post it on your website and send it out on the Post it on your website and send it out on the feed.feed.

4.4. You are done – pretty simple stuff.You are done – pretty simple stuff.

The PodchatThe Podchat

To date we have recorded two To date we have recorded two podchats:podchats:

January 2006 (the first podchat)January 2006 (the first podchat)

State of the Union Special Edition (recState of the Union Special Edition (recorded in the U.S. Capitol following theorded in the U.S. Capitol following the speech) speech)

Promoting the PodchatPromoting the Podchat Once the program is recorded, we remind folks Once the program is recorded, we remind folks

in the next edition of eNEWS that it is available.in the next edition of eNEWS that it is available. Register your podcast on iTunes. It is a huge Register your podcast on iTunes. It is a huge

audience compared to other methods, and it is audience compared to other methods, and it is free.free.

We have plans to provide snippets of questions We have plans to provide snippets of questions and answers from the podchat throughout and answers from the podchat throughout Senator Craig’s website. So, for instance, if Senator Craig’s website. So, for instance, if Senator Craig talks about oil prices, we will Senator Craig talks about oil prices, we will provide just that part of the podchat within his provide just that part of the podchat within his issue briefing on energy. It is another way to get issue briefing on energy. It is another way to get the message out and to promote the podchat to the message out and to promote the podchat to those who may not be aware of it. those who may not be aware of it.

Podchat FeedbackPodchat Feedback Participants so far have covered a range Participants so far have covered a range

of demographics – we have had of demographics – we have had questions from everyone from twenty-questions from everyone from twenty-somethings to grandmothers to truckers.somethings to grandmothers to truckers.

Senator Craig has enjoyed recording Senator Craig has enjoyed recording them, and that buy-in from the top is them, and that buy-in from the top is very important.very important.

Feedback has been very positive from Feedback has been very positive from listeners. The next slide has actual listeners. The next slide has actual comments from Idahoans.comments from Idahoans.

Podchat FeedbackPodchat Feedback ““Just wanted to say that the podchat thing is brilliant, I Just wanted to say that the podchat thing is brilliant, I

appreciate your efforts to make knowledge of your work appreciate your efforts to make knowledge of your work accessible to constituents. As you can tell from my age accessible to constituents. As you can tell from my age range, I am one of the Gen X. Contrary to the public range, I am one of the Gen X. Contrary to the public perception, some of us read extensively. It is still good to perception, some of us read extensively. It is still good to mix up the media and to establish a source of communication mix up the media and to establish a source of communication that isn't flooded with advertising and unwanted content. that isn't flooded with advertising and unwanted content. Cheers to a good idea. I hope others appreciate it as well.”Cheers to a good idea. I hope others appreciate it as well.”

““I am excited to tune into your ‘Podchat’; I will download it I am excited to tune into your ‘Podchat’; I will download it regularly.”regularly.”

““Just congratulations on adopting podcast technology to Just congratulations on adopting podcast technology to reach your constituents. I'll be listening...”reach your constituents. I'll be listening...”

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Podcasting is not rocket science. It is Podcasting is not rocket science. It is easy to do, inexpensive, and effective easy to do, inexpensive, and effective at reaching people who are very at reaching people who are very interested in what you have to say.interested in what you have to say.

You are not going to have a million You are not going to have a million listeners, maybe not even one listeners, maybe not even one thousand, but those who do listen are thousand, but those who do listen are very interested and will tell their very interested and will tell their friends what they hear.friends what they hear.

QuestionsQuestions

If you have any questions or If you have any questions or comments, please let us know:comments, please let us know:

Dan WhitingDan Whiting

Communications Manager, Idaho Senator Larry Communications Manager, Idaho Senator Larry CraigCraig

dan_whiting@craig.senate.govdan_whiting@craig.senate.gov

Mark ShonceMark Shonce

IT Manager, Idaho Senator Larry CraigIT Manager, Idaho Senator Larry Craig

mark_shonce@craig.senate.gov mark_shonce@craig.senate.gov