New Media Expo 08 scrubs ‘podcast’ term
Published by on October 9th, 2007
Podcast communities have been a buzz leading up to Podcast and New Media Expo for the past couple of years. I wonder if podcasters will feel the same way about it in 2008 now that the word ‘podcast’ has been dropped from its name.
Those of you paying attention to this podcasting lark will most likely have seen it coming, even if you refused to admit it. Podcasting needs to come of age, develop hair in places it didn’t know it had places, squeeze its zits, and get ready to face the big bad world and it’s first legal drink. Unfortunately, to do so it must shed the cute little term with which it was bestowed at birth or risk living a life tarnished by the bedroom hobbyist image.
This subject has been thrashed around pretty much since day one of podcasting’s arrival, and there will always be a range of opinions. But the field is a different place now. Who is next to drop the term? Will iTunes rename its podcast directory? Will PodShow rebrand as something much more new media specific? Will Podtech… erm… will they simply survive? I wouldn’t be surprised at any of those happening in the next twelve months and with the noises coming out of the advertising industry regarding their hesitant and somewhat negative attitude to “podcasts”, there is a distinct commercial pressure to walk away and put the term in the dusty closet of the good old days. Personally I have never liked it being referred to as an industry in itself, and am still fearful it will never truly break from an association as just a ‘geek thing’. If you have commercial intent, the term “podcast” could be a very low glass ceiling.
What might this mean for your average podcaster? Not much, just keep making great stuff - that’s all that really matters to their audience. And perhaps that is the key - I doubt the majority of podcasting’s audience give a gnat’s fart about what it’s called, they just want great stuff. Though right now, I would seriously reconsider if you have “Podcaster” as a valid job title on your resumé.
Thanks to Chris Hambley for tweeting the subject and bringing it to my attention.
2 Responses to “New Media Expo 08 scrubs ‘podcast’ term”
October 9th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Dumb question… with what would the word ‘podcast’ be replaced? Perhaps we could take a leaf out of UKTV’s book and call it ‘Bob’?
October 9th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Neil good post, I agree with you too.
I made the decision to screw the “pod” back in June and posted this: http://www.chrishambly.com/node/138
I’m using Radio as the term mostly, people outside of the insestuous fish-bowl, tight-knit podfreak “community”? get that, along with “anything” cast, such as carcast, beercast etc… corporate cast, ya know..
It’s going to be very interesting to see what shakes out..
Chris