2021 BEA On-Location

With podcasts' exponential growth in popularity and production, it's vital to incorporate podcasting into academic curriculum. But, what does that process entail? What are the successes and challenges bringing in this production for our students and/or student media? This panel will provide best practices for and a discussion about incorporating podcast assignments into media production classes and student media, as well as building podcast-specific classes.

The COVID-19 Pandemic brought many complications to the world of student media. University radio stations around the world relied on a skeleton crew of members broadcasting shows in the studio or from their homes, while others were forced to rely solely on automation and/or pre-recorded programs. One of the biggest problems these media outlets will face this academic year is the potential dip in student membership. The pandemic brought on a gap year of sorts with senior members graduating and little to no recruitment of new students due to campus restrictions. This panel seeks to provide recommendations and strategies for reigniting student media and boosting recruitment efforts for university radio stations post-pandemic.

At last year’s BEA On-Location, we heard from an international group of contributors about interesting topics in the century of radio. This year, we’d like to expand on this historical perspective by introducing reflections on radio pedagogy (how you may have changed your approach to teaching over the last year during pandemic conditions) and other opportunities that have opened up your understanding or your approach to teaching radio. We would encourage participants in last year’s panel to bring an update on their research or contribute new presentations about their research into radio history.

Podcasting is now one of the fastest growing areas of broadcasting and one that is actively looking for new hires. It is also one of the more challenging areas to teach, since it is so rapidly changing and there are virtually no rules governing it. Podcasting IS the New Broadcasting will present a variety of methodologies being used to teach podcasting and integrate it into related areas of study and into the overall campus environment as both a practical and a promotional tool. The panel will also look at the wide variety of online - and free - professional-level resources available to create interactive and hands-on learning experiences for students, both as part of in-person and remote learning environments.