SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Google Podcasts creator program opens to provide training, funding, & promote inclusivity
With the Android app's launch in June, the Google Podcasts creator program was also teased to promote inclusive storytelling and increase diversity in podcasting. Google is now opening sign-ups for a training program that will feature seed funding to create unique and sustainable shows.
The Google Podcasts creator program aims to address two imbalances as the industry is skyrocketing in popularity: "Women and people of color are still underrepresented as hosts, and many of the world's most popular podcasts hail from western, urban areas." It has three main pillars:
- Empowering and training underrepresented voices through an accelerator program
- Educating a global community with free tools
- Showcasing participants' work as a model for others
The first pillar begins now, with Google partnering with PRX to lead and manage the program, including the 20-weeks of training. Interested partners can submit pitches for unique shows that highlight diverse viewpoints.
Also at TechCrunch.
Previously: Google Podcasts App Launches, Years After It Canceled a Similar App
Related: Public Radio Companies Acquire a Podcast App
Changing Face of Radio Distribution
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Snotnose on Friday October 05 2018, @12:46AM (5 children)
Then again I'm a white male baby boomer with nothing to say. But why can't a minority/endangered class get a webcam? Mine was built into my laptop, the camera has tape over it. I could also buy an external cam but why would I spend money on something else I'd have to invest black tape on?
I'm confused, why is it Google's responsibility to ensure that podcasters are x% $group1, y% $group2, z% $group3, etc? It's not like it's hard to start a podcast. I could do a good 5 minutes now on how cute my cat is, sleeping in my new printer's box, one paw over the other, and those closed eyes and pink nose cute as buttons. Take me 30 minutes to figure out how to host it, and a lifetime to figure out why nobody listens to it. But I could make one with very little effort.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 05 2018, @12:58AM
It is just the new wave of PR bullshit. "Green" was the last big one which still works pretty well today. Just ignore the stupid shit, "diversity" is just the new catchphrase.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 05 2018, @03:33AM
That's more or less what I was wondering about. Microphones are cheap, they're built into every cellphone and even better quality ones aren't that expensive.
The issue tends to be having time to put the whole thing together as most of the pieces needed are rather cheap. Especially, if you're just looking to do basic voice work.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by crafoo on Friday October 05 2018, @12:23PM
The glorious thing about podcasts is that anyone can do it. We hear story after story of people that where ejected or discarded by broadcast radio, print journalism, etc start a podcast and build from there. There isn't any of the fabled "white straight male oppression" gatekeepers. So what is the excuse this time?
Personally, I find the regressive left's idea of diversity disgusting. As if skin color and gender indicates a diversity of thought and ideas. Podcasts were, and still kind of are, the wild west of expressing your thoughts in any form you feel like editing together. It's true diversity of thoughts and ideas. It's perfectly unsurprising that this doesn't fall on the arbitrary lines of "diversity" that the post-modernist neo-Marxist rabble decided to draw their arbitrary ingroup/outgroup battle lines.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Friday October 05 2018, @02:10PM
I don't see the crisis either. I've been watching #walkaway videos the last couple of days. Black men and women, Indians, Latinos, every kind of person, and almost all of them used their phone cameras. Smartphones are so ubiquitous that nobody can claim with a straight face that there are barriers to entry for any member of $OPPRESSED_GROUP to do this.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DeathMonkey on Friday October 05 2018, @05:40PM
I'm confused, why is it Google's responsibility to ensure that podcasters are x% $group1, y% $group2, z% $group3, etc? It's not like it's hard to start a podcast.
Because they want variety in the content on their platform.