Podcasting

Were in a generation now that has seen some pretty phenomenal technological advances. So its no wonder that along with other areas of the employment sector that the journalism field has had a substanial number of changes with these new medias that have become available. The effect and impact of these are changing the role and working practices of professional journalists day by day. It is long since the days where technology changed and advanced print and broadcast joournalism for the better. Now there is slowly becoming a change and advancement to traditional radio broadcasting. This coming about by the new media of podcasting.

Podacsting is a multimedia file transmitted via the internet to a personal computer and is then downloaded to a personal portable device such as an ipod, Mp3 player or even to some of the new smart mobiles that are available for viewing and listening.
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This new media has many advantages over traditional radio braodcasting. Possibly the main and most vital advantage is that you can download whatever you want, whenever you want and better still listen to it whenenver, wherever and as many times as you desire. Thus overcoming the disadvantage of traditional radio which is that all the shows are timed and scheduled. So theres no need to panic now if you miss your favourite radio programme because you have a hot date. Better still once you have subscribed to a specific programme it automatically checks for regular new episodes of that particular programme.

Not only does podcasting have an advantage over traditional radio braodcasting but it has and advantage over a wider area of life too, such as business purposes and educational purposes. For example the bussinessman can download his work files and meetings that he may have missed. And the educational advantages are that subjects like learning a new language can be made easier also class work and notes can be recorded and made available, student reports are made easier for teachers and subjects like drama will benefit as dramatic performances may be recorded for students portfolio etc.

So with all the many advantages of podcasting how does it affect the role and working practices of professional journalists? Well becoming a radio braodcaster is alot easier now. With this new technology anyone can become a DJ and produce and record their own shows and music compilations. Also with news and radio programmes accessible now practically wherever and whenever this bound to have an effect on print journalists and their newspaper sales, after all why read the news when you can listen to it when your on the go.