What’s In Store for Podcasting and Online Media in 2008?
Wednesday night I had the pleasure of participating in a panel for Paul Colligan’s New Media Matters show. Paul, Lee Gibbons (Podango), Tim Bourquin (New Media Expo), Dave Jackson (School of Podcasting) and I had a great discussion about 2007 and what is in store for 2008. I encourage you to listen in when the audio is posted. In the meantime, I’d love to have the take of other online content creators who are in the trenches—you.
Here are the three questions Paul posed to us.
- What were the highlights in podcasting for 2007?
- What challenges do podcasters and online content creators face in 2008?
- What opportunities are there in 2008? What are you looking forward to in 2008?
Let’s see your inner pundit. Post your answers in the comments. Give us the good, the bad and the ugly as you see it!
December 14th, 2007 13:42
1. The single highlight for podcasting in 2007 is that it became mainstrem enough for people to ask “what were the highlights in podcasting for 2007?”
2. The biggest challenge facing any podcaster or blogger will remain the same in 2008 and 2009 and…How do you create meaningful content in this noise based new media?
3. I think 2008 will bring an opportunity for creators of quality meaningful content to rise above the volume and enlighten the ever growing new-media audience. I am looking forward to the demise of the ego-maniacal trash talkers who seem to feel the only way to get an audience is to shout down opponents and up the voltage on their shocking monologues.
I believe we have had enough of this and 2008 will bring solutions not rhetoric to the Web.
But, I’ve been wrong before.
December 17th, 2007 12:56
Great question, Jason (and Paul).
1. In 2007 the highlight for me was the formation of the Association for Downloadable Media (downloadablemedia.org). This group is open to any person or orgaization that produces, consumes, or would advertise on new media. ADM is just what new media needs to advance into the mainstream as we enter 2008.
2. The biggest challenge I see facing podcasters in the new year is continuing to grow awareness about new media content and to find easier ways to deliver that content to those who would like it (if they only knew where to look).
3. The biggest opportunity right now for new media producers is the ongoing writer’s strike and the upcoming actor’s and director’s strikes later in the spring. People are already hungry for new content to consume and this will continue as long as the traditional media outlets and producers fight over their contracts. Any way you slice it this is good news for the rest of us.
I’m looking forward to continuing to develop new ways for my listeners to get my content and to grow my brand within my niche market.
December 18th, 2007 05:02
1. I think audience growth across the board was a huge win for 2007. I’ve never heard so many people refer to podcasts or “online content” as much as I have this year.
2. The main challenge going forward is connecting the listener/viewer to the content that they’ll follow. What I’m saying is (in my opinion) online content distribution is a convoluted mess. The internet is in fact one giant series of channels but far too vast for you to aimlessly surf through. Shows that are always feauted on i-tunes and the like will continue to grow while smaller show will fly under the radar.
3. I think that in 08 the organization of online content will get better. I hope the community as a whole will get better organized and more supportive of each other.
December 20th, 2007 11:31
Thanks for the input.
@Hank,
Your absolutely right that the process of finding and consuming online content is still too convoluted and needs to get easier. We need better tools.
@Jamie,
I’ve also very hopeful about what the ADM can do to bring much-needed advances when it comes to standards and practices.
@BL,
Breaking through the noise will definitely become more of an issue as more and more new content floods the Internet. The key will be to carefully define your niche/market and offer tremendous value to them that they can’t get elsewhere in the way that you provide it.