Writer Ellie Clayton recently extolled the storytelling virtues of Serial, a podcast devoted to the re-investigation of a murder carried out in 1999. The facts of both Serial‘s success and the longevity of the medium of podcasting are reminders that audiences are keen to engage in well-crafted, quality content, rather than simply engaging via the newest forms of media.
And with a licence fee netting it £3.7bn, few organisations can rival the BBC in terms of the quality, originality and breadth of its podcast portfolio. Auntie’s catalogue of audio delights could make a near infinite number of points about best podcasting practice, but not to worry – here are just three.
1. Give it a twist – History of the World in 100 Objects
First broadcast in 2010, this long-running serial presented by Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, could easily have turned into the History of the World in 100 Dry Episodes. The hook of explaining complex social, economic and cultural histories going as far back as agent Egypt through physical artefacts means that each episode is far from dry, and probably a welcome escape for those used to being taught history via lists of dates. For example, one episode on the Wedgwood pottery tea set explores aspects of empire, the slave trade and the taming of Britain’s working classes. Quite some hook.
2. Don’t forget explainers – The Why Factor
Explainer content is often a central part of a content strategy – it can usually be planned months in advance and, again usually, remains relevant to readers years after it is first created. As its name suggests, The Why Factor explores that most intriguing type of question – whether the theme is gardening, the moon, suicide or skyscrapers – and is a celebration of the explainer form. It mixes humour, pathos, insight, drama and emotion to create truly gripping explainer content.
3. The power of the round table – In Our Time
Writing up a round table event often presents obstacles – editorially, they are difficult to shorten and present, plus the language may resemble speech to such an extent it just feels awkward on the page. This is where podcasts come into their own, and In Our Time is a masterclass of how to construct and govern a round table. The show’s producers are keen to use guests with complementary knowledge about each show’s theme, so they don’t simply repeat the same thing and often disagree. And presenter Melvyn Bragg isn’t afraid to cross examine, verbally pin down and generally badger any learned guests who meander off track. But sometimes you just have to ignore his sighing at particularly evasive academics.
