Podcasting Workshop

Learning objectives

The lab involves designing a podcast series, students will have to create the trailer and a first episode of maximum 5 minutes, which can be distributed and which includes a production process that touches on all the elements shared in the lab.

Expected learning outcomes

– Basic knowledge of podcast design and production, from writing to production, including technical and editorial skills.
– Knowledge of the main techniques for promoting and disseminating the podcast format, within the main distribution and communication channels existing in the international digital ecosystem

Course content

Module 1 | Planning and Writing a Podcast

Types of podcasts: what and how many formats, what works, what is changing
Success stories: from Brand podcasts to personal podcasts to major investigations and crime.
Choose the topic: audience, focus, content
Writing the Series Brief and the Organic Project: From Vision to Message
Writing the trailer and the episode: writing for the “voice”
AI and Content: From Sources to Writing Support
Workshop | Trailer and Episode Structure and Script

Module 2 | Before registering

Editing equipment and tools
Editing and post production
Sound design: how to enhance your text
Hosting : registration platforms
Workshop | Choice of soundtrack and sounds for trailer and first episode, recording tests for trailer and first episode

Module 3 | Planning the launch

Set up the strategy: Landing page, Social Media, DEM and periodic newsletters
Media contact: partners, collabs, co-marketing etc.
Plan your launch, create a backtiming and manage an editorial calendar
Distribution platforms: from Spotify to Apple, through Amazon and iHeartRadio
Workshop | Building Your Podcast Launch Campaign

Module 4 | Branding, Review and Measurement

AI and graphic design for visual creation
Branding and coordinated image
Cover Image and Cover Art
The reviews and Chartable
KPIs, metrics and reporting
Workshop | Creating a logo and/or cover art for the trailer and podcast project

Module 5 | Registration phase, Online launch, Presentation

Final recording of the trailer and the first episode
Collective listening and feedback: what works and what doesn’t?
Plenary presentation and listening to the episodes
Discussion with feedback and comment

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are necessary.

Bibliography

R. Pivanti, #Branded podcast producer. Audio narrations for brands capable of being heard, Franco Angeli, 2021
G. Passamonti, Podcast Marketing, Hoepli, 2020
Questions of the ear: https://www.questionidorecchio.it/ (in particular with bibliography on AI: https://www.questionidorecchio.it/numero-del-17-luglio-2/)
Branded podcast Italia: https://open.spotify.com/show/3JSr88vbKDh9UDvkY1vxyR?si=4dd6701a143048ad

Teaching methods and tools

Frontal Lecture, Teach Back, Group Work,
Practical workshops for audio and cover art graphics,
comparison in plenary.

Assessment methods and criteria

The evaluation will be carried out on a paper produced during the 30 hours with the Project Work model, which will contain:
– designing the trailer, the first episode and the podcast series
– The cover art and/or logo created for the project
– The texts produced
– The proposed communication and dissemination campaign
– The link to the Spreaker channel created with the recording of the trailer and the first episode inside.

Additional info

Necessary equipment

DAW Audio Recording Software:
REAPER https://www.reaper.fm/
https://www.reaper.fm/download.php

Graphic Creation Cover Art:
Canva https://www.canva.com/it_it/

Spreaker Account – Free Speech
https://www.spreaker.com/plans?sp_source=www%2Fheader%2Fplans