An historical event happened yesterday and passed nearly unnoticed--the first ever "participatory podcast." That's right, a live podcast with multiple participants from around the globe (Ireland, UK, China, US) talking together and helping to shape and recreate a podcast in the process of being produced. This particular global conversation was with Naked Conversations authors Robert Scoble and Shel Israel. If you're wondering what could possibly make that historical, then perhaps you don't understand the nature of podcasting--at least up until now.
Podcasting so far has been a one-way event. You recorded your podcast. You posted your podcast. People listened to your podcast. Even though people could comment on your podcast, this was always after the fact. They weren't actually part of the podcast itself. That's all changed now.
...direct and open access to otherwise very busy and inaccessible people...
This inaugural event was made possible by a new company called Waxxi. To quote them, "Waxxi is a presenter and producer of live and archived interactive podcasts." (The cost of this service remains to be seen.) Well, they certainly delivered on the live part. It was a great conversation and gave me the feeling of actually being at a live conference complete with audience comments and questions. I found myself wishing that the current PBS Showcase Conference going on in Orlando, Florida had this kind of access. As if that weren't enough, there were also side conversations called "hallway chats" going on between audience members and even keynote speakers. This kind of direct and open access to otherwise very busy and inaccessible people was just incredible.
...the future of public broadcasting...
In case you're wondering what all of this has to do with public broadcasting, well there are a few things. First, I got to actually ask these two men (and, by extension, the audience) for their thoughts on the future of public broadcasting in relation to this new technology (not to mention plugging public radio, PBS, and even Mediashift in the process.) Now, to be fair, Robert and Shel were there specifically to discuss business blogging which is the subject of their book, but they did both gamely attempted to answer my question along with a little "hallway chatting" going on as well as some after-event commenting.
To summarize, they talked about how Waxxi is changing podcasting into global conversation and how it's two-way and the conversation and content is different and evolves from that interaction. Jeremiah Owyang later wondered if Waxxi was moving a little into NPR's space with "...global, free, infinite channels."
...very nature of podcasting is now totally changed and perhaps must be redefined...
To be sure, this wasn't without its own share of problems. Some people were unaware of how to access the chat part (the "hallway conversations.") I only stumbled upon it accidentally myself the day before the event. Some had problems on the phone lines with getting noticed. However, all in all, it was very impressive for an inaugural technology.
The very nature of podcasting is now totally changed and perhaps must now be redefined. If you think this is just the web equivalent of talk radio, then you're missing the point of what happened here, the level of interactivity and direct access, of being one on one with the speaker(s) as well as the audience. It's like you're there.
...promote an upcoming show or open up a previously aired show to public commentary...
How would, say, NPR's Science Friday be different if the audience, instead of just calling in, waiting in the queue, asking their question, and leaving, could instead call in, talk amongst themselves while they waited, comment on current conversation as it's happening, have those comments reacted to and even commented on by not only fellow audience members but even Ira and his guests in such a way as to become part of the main show, take their turn with their previously intended question (possibly now changed by the conversation at hand,) then go back into the audience and continue to participate as before till the end of the show? Can you see how this just changes everything?
Could we apply this to public television as well? Certainly. PBS already posts podcasts of various shows on their website, but I could easily imagine a participatory event like this being used to promote an upcoming show or even to open up a previously aired show to public commentary and discussion. Think of how much could be accomplished through an event like this tied to Frontline's show about the Meth epidemic and Southern Oregon Public Television's TargetMeth initiative. Can you see how the shear scope of this erases the geographic and economic limits of small stations and gives them an equal global voice with the larger market stations and even the national organization?
...lead the rest of the industry in innovation and remain a valid public forum...
So, yes, an historic event happened yesterday. A whole new level of interactivity has been created and geographic barriers eliminated. The implications for broadcasting in general are broad and far reaching. If public broadcasting specifically can just see how this meshes perfectly with their stated mission and reason for being and actually embrace this new form of communication, then, as they have many times in the past, they will continue to lead the rest of the industry in innovation, and they will remain a valid public forum for entertainment, dissemination of knowledge and understanding, and even for public debate and discussion. I really hope that this new technology doesn't get ignored.
Addendum: You can now here the edited podcast itself on the Waxxi site or download part one and part two separately.
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[...] Our first interactive podcast with Robert Scoble and Shel Israel was not only fun and insightful, but historical. People were able to communicate, comment, share and ask questions to Robert and Shel directly, whether via chat/IM or via phone. The content is smart, interesting and the energy level is high. [...]