Podcasting Workshop

Learning outcomes

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 contents

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.

Reading/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

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

Assessment methods

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