Writer’s Week 2020: Tell Your Stories with Podcast
Over the past years, podcasts have seen a constant increase in popularity. Many individuals have started trying to make podcasts for the sole purpose of content or to develop a brand. Still, what is actually a podcast?
The Coronavirus pandemic that has hit the world this year does not seem to hinder Communication Program of BINUS International University from continuing to present insightful events for its students. Since the rise of podcasts in recent years, Communication Program of BINUS International University presented their annual events called Writer’s Week 2020: Digital Storytelling on December 14th and 17th 2020 via ZOOM. One of the speakers was Citra Dyah Prastuti, who is the Chief Editor KBR discussed the theme Tell Your Stories with Podcasts, the webinar allowed students to enhance their understandings on what actually is Podcasts.
This is the last session of Writer’s Week and we learn a lot of good insight about the platform. Podcasts are recordings of audio discussions on various topics, such as romance, horror. Or even food. Podcasts are packed in the form of audio broadcasts, usually found on iTunes and Spotify, but now many are uploading podcasts on YouTube. So, why do people turn to podcasts?
According to Citra, it is mostly because of digital lifestyle where people can’t live without their smartphones, whereas the technology itself creates an increasing popularity of audio storytelling. Audio itself creates a theatre of the mind, where it allows people to create their own version of the characters and scenes in the audio story. Different with video, podcasts create a lean back media experience where people actually can listen to it while doing other things, and people love stories.
In current situation, Indonesia has the biggest podcast listeners on Spotify in South East Asia. The Spotify Chart in Indonesia is dominated with local contents, such as Rintiksedu. and PODKESMAS. The most popular topics are entertainment, horror, comedy, and contemplative. While the most popular formats are obrolan anak tongkrongan and monologue.
Citra stated “I think in general the podcasts content in Indonesia is not very broad and variative, like I mentioned horror, comedy, or monologue like Rintiksedu. For example if you look in the US podcasts they have science podcasts, we don’t have that many in Indonesia.” Not only provides information about podcasts, Citra also gave tips on what to prepare before starting your own podcasts, like understanding what you want to tell, how you want to share your story, and who is your target audience. So, are you interested in creating your own podcast?
Contributor: Nazira Muqthadi, Communications B2021
Editor: Dian Ayuria Sarwono, M.A.