News-Record.com

I have to say that the "Podcast" sounds great. Good job to everyone involved!

OK, it sounds great. It's a good effort. I don't want to take away from anyone's effort.

But, can we stop for a second and think through what the application of this actually is?

Why exactly am I going to sit and listen to a 21 minute show (is 21 minutes, right?) when I can much easier scan through content (with attached audio links to *specific* contextual content) much easier and faster?

Not only that, I could more easily copy and paste specific items out of such a list and easily share it with friends. I can't really do that with audio: "Hey, buddy, go listen to the podcast and when you get to around 15:45 that is what I want to do. Go back and forth a few times to make sure you get the time and venue right, too. Cya there."

I simply can't imagine it.

I know that creating this took a lot of time. I *wish* that time and effort would go into creating a more robust, useful weekly "best bets" text-driven product, that comes out a day sooner -- Thursday -- so people can plan better. This much more effective planner could be split into more categories (top 10 music, top 10 kids, top 10 outdoor, top 10 food, etc) and edited to parse out useless events (those could still exist in the searchable calendar). It would have tons of *contextual* links to audio or video or menus of restaurants.

My other point goes back to the practicality of this: I found myself completely bored during some of the musical interludes but couldn't exactly figure out how to "fast forward" to the next parts that would give me the next "best bet." (I moved the line around on my player, but just guessed at where the next item might "start."

This podcasting effort is actually very OLD media presented on the internet (and given a new, slick name) -- it forces someone to sit and endure content presented to them at a pace controlled by the media maker. It's called a linear pace. The web itself is a non-linear environment, which means you can click around and easily scan things at YOUR OWN PACE.

I wish you well with this, but I question the resources and the presentation. Why do you think that because you can do audio like a radio show that this is the most effective way to give me information?

I just don't get it.

Just because you *can* do it, doesn't mean it's a good idea.

I hope these comments are taken in the spirit they are intended. I know the News & Record doesn't have all the resources in the world, so I hate to see you guys spin your wheels with something that seems so devoid of practical use, which is what people demand on the web.

Of course, podcasts force no one to sit and endure anything. It may not be right for you. But we had Jesse Jackson in a couple weeks ago. We had John Edwards in a month or so ago. We have newsmakers in all the time. What a nice complement to allow listeners to hear the actual back-and-forth to go along with the printed words.

The other thing is that we're learning. It may be nothing to you now, but we need to learn what works and what does and adapt.

Look at it this way: C-Span ain't for everyone but it has an audience.

Obviously, you don't understand my point.

Audio is not the actual problem.

Getting a list of weekend events to go and do via a 21-minute presentation is the problem.

Hearing Jesse Jackson in context with an editorial or article about him is great. Good job. Good *contextual* audio. Ditto for John Edwards.

Those are great!

But, for the N&R to produce a "radio show" each week when the actual online product could use improving -- by adding contextual audio, for example or beefing up the listings for go and do -- just makes me scratch my head...

And yes, not everyone watches C-Span, but C-Span doesn't also try to publish a daily newspaper and run a website with breaking news. You have to choose your shots wisely when you have limited resources.

A weekly "podcast" to tell me what to go and do doesn't seem to be one of those wise resource choices.

Also, C-Span has MOST -- if not all -- of its content handed to it via meetings, hearings and seminars. Other content comes from viewers via the call in shows.

And yes, lastly, obviously, (you state the obvious so well John) no one puts a gun to my head to listen to it. BUT, I must endure THE ACTUAL PACE of the show to get the info out of it I want. Again, either you don't understand or you are mocking me.

Jim, I don't mock readers. It's silly and bad form and insulting. I leave it for readers to mock me. :)

This is the first time we've done this. We'll make improvements; your suggestions are helpful. It may turn out that doing a music show like this isn't right, but we'll learn by doing it and find the right application. One thing we're doing is learning in public -- as opposed to doing focus groups and surveys -- and with that comes failure. Our only hope is that people will understand that, give us feedback and keep coming back.

Jim, it might help you understand our perspective to know that Jeri already does a 25-minute show each week on local radio station (as well as shorter ones on two other stations). For better or worse, this experiment -- and I emphasize that word -- started out as a plan to podcast that show. But that approach raised legal questions of copyright and sponsorship that we didn't have time to deal with at the moment, so we just recorded our own show in-house instead.

Hang in there guys. Order extra Pepto-Bismol for the N&R supply closet. This is going to be a long, bumpy ride. But you are on the right road.
That's my allotment of Chewie cheer for the day.

I haven't heard the podcast yet so can't make specific comments on it. Jim makes a good point about a linear venture in what has become a nonlinear world. Thanks to the web and our gadgets, we are impatient people. Remember when you had to rewind a cassette tape to get to your favorite song, and guess by looking at the takeup reel where it might be? People just want to push one button and get what they want.

I'd offer that an expanded GoTriad webpage, with links to the contextual audio (interviews and music clips being the most obvious, best applications) might be a more useful implementation of the technology. Hundreds of little mini-casts available on the site.

What a great way to let people hear samples of bands that are coming to play in the Triad, for example. Or speeches that they couldn't attend.

I know you guys know all this and are thinking through the ways and means. Just wanted to put it up here under my name in the spirit of support for your endeavors.

Just a couple of points:

I'm pretty sure the Best Bets column actually goes online on Wednesday. This week's went up about 3 on Wednesday, even though the date says Feb. 9. I checked the links and they're events for this weekend.

We've got music if you're interested in that.

The Go Triad calendar is searchable by date, subject and event and if you click on dining, there's a list of restaurants with links to the restaurant Web sites, including maps and directions and menus.

It might be a little clunky to use, but there's quite a bit there.

As John mentioned, we're "boldy yet softly" venturing into this arena of podcasting. I've seen a couple of great suggestions for content in the comments, so stay tuned.

As John and Lex have mentioned, we're still awaiting the arrival of our new Web publishing system. Our online folks are eager to get their hands on the software and put it through its paces. We should have the capacity to do a lot more on the Web than what we're doing now, and more easily. But we've got to learn how to use it once it's installed. We're also making some changes in how the site looks. It will take some time to complete the makeover, but our online team is committed to the project.

Lex also mentioned that Jeri was already doing a 25-minute show outside the building. He doesn't have to make that commute any more.

The thing that's intriguing about podcasting is that it puts the control of listening in the hands of the person doing the downloading. With an MP3 player, you choose when and where you want to listen. (I'm a couple days behind listening to some of Adam Curry's podcasts. But I've got 'em when I want 'em.) If you're at your computer, you can choose when you want to listen. And how long. In radio, the listener's at the mercy of the program director and staff who dictate when your program aires. A podcast is there whenever you want it.

The potential for this is immense and we're just scratching the surface. Ideas for new content are always welcome.

Very nice first effort, good production values. Think how great it's going to be when you start adding original content, not just discussing the articles but posting audio interviews with the musicians, artists, and barkeeps themselves...linear format, well, if I'm driving to Asheville to see the show, maybe, but discrete files for each feature seem like a good idea, too.

hey, i just heard about podcasting today, in fact i only heard about blogs in the last couple of weeks! what can i say, im slow! but, for all its faults, podcasting seems a quick and easy way for someone to download the latest where to go and what do do information, and send it to their blind granny to listen to. individual links next to articles online are not so useful in that respect. although they would be more beneficial to me, like Jim said, podcasting is not for everyone, but that doesn't mean we can forget those for whom it would be more beneficial than simple links. Lets not hammer something in its initial stages just because all the costs and benefits have yet to be worked out!