PodMov Daily: Wednesday, October 21

Episode 311: Your Midweek Update

A Network of Daily Local Podcasts Aims to Revive City Voices

David Plotz, former editor-in-chief of Slate and co-host of Slate’s Political Gabfest, believes that the future is local. Plotz is now the CEO of City Cast, a national network of daily local podcasts. His new company aims to launch shows in cities around the country this winter, accompanied by a daily, community-focused email.

“This feels like the moment to explore what local journalism sounds like in podcast form,” Plotz says in a Medium post. “It’s also the moment to explore what kind of business model can sustain it.” City Cast is a for-profit owned by the Graham Holdings Company, the parent organization of Megaphone and Slate.

“Local journalism is collapsing,” Plotz reminds us. His goal is to “combine essential local news with smart, delightful perspective about your community.” It’s an ambitious experiment. (Can a single 15-minute podcast really be a city’s “connecting voice”?) Hot Pod spoke with Plotz about the company’s plans and ethos.

PM Virtual: Expert Sessions on Deck for Tomorrow

The first full conference day of PM Virtual is a wrap. Yesterday’s sessions were simply incredible, and community engagement has been above and beyond. The education continues today with interactive workshops and the New Media Show Live. Tomorrow’s a big day — be sure to build that schedule.

For the first keynote of the morning, Erica Mandy of The NewsWorthy will have a live conversation with media mogul Mark Cuban. Next up is “The Rise of Daily News Podcasts (In An Election Year!),” a panel with producers of top dailies, including Martine Powers of Post Reports and Paige Cowett of The Daily.

Nearly 30 sessions will cover every topic under the podcast sun, from accessibility to pricing ads. We’re looking forward to “Podcast neighborhoods: how to find niches you didn’t even know existed” by Dan Misener of Pacific Content, as well as the Podcasters of Color Networking Event from ABC News.

Scarlett: Unmatched Quality for Superior Podcast Sound

Your audio interface defines your podcast’s sound for listeners everywhere. With over 4 million units sold, Scarlett by Focusrite is the world’s best-selling USB interface range. Why? Content creators trust Scarlett’s 3rd generation to deliver unmatched quality and features.

All 6 interfaces in the Scarlett range work with just a computer, any XLR microphone, and your favorite recording software, from Hindenburg to Audacity. Units offer a choice of 1, 2, 4, or 8 inputs to fit your specific needs. Even better, Scarlett Solo and Scarlett 2i2 now support USB-C iPad Pro. 

Superior sound, meet superior user experience. Loopback on select units now allows Skype or Zoom calls to be recorded directly into your software — no workarounds needed. A bonus benefit, the new Air feature adds brightness and presence to your voice. Ready to transform your podcast?

Here’s what else is going on:

• Sound bites: According to a new report from Bookwire, e-books, audiobooks and podcasts aren’t cannibalizing each other. For the most part, they “interact in a mutually reinforcing manner.” Listen & Read: The Battle for Attention is available in English and German. 

• Outta here: Spotify has taken down several QAnon podcasts, writes Stuart Dredge. Material pushing the violent, baseless conspiracy theory was removed per a policy that “prohibits content on the platform that promotes, advocates or incites violence against others.”

• Law school: Which business structure is better for podcasts, a DBA or LLC? In Blk Pod Collective, Janae Strickland-Nunn explains the differences between the two, from liability protection to annual fees. The right choice “depends on your vision for your podcast/business.” 

• Record label: Hot Pod spoke with Gastropod creators Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley about their groundbreaking report released last month. The two journalists spent years developing “a public and transparent accounting of the diversity of voices represented on the show.”