“Public radio is bleeding talent,” says Jenna Weiss-Berman, co-founder of Pineapple Street Studios. “Ive talked to a lot of the people leaving (and left myself), and the reason is (almost) never because of the money offered by for-profit companies. It’s because they want creative freedom, respect, and to feel appreciated.”
Veteran podcast creator and strategist Eric Nuzum agrees. His latest newsletter focuses on the departure of acclaimed journalist Audie Cornish, who will be stepping down from All Things Considered and leaving NPR after 17 years. Tomorrow is her last day on the air. Two other high-profile hosts and people of color, Noel King and Lulu Garcia-Navarro, left the network in the last four months.
Public radio is a national treasure with enormous power in the podcasting space, Nuzum says. But the voices that have marked its “generational change” will continue to jump ship without a sea change in creative vision. Commercial audio may offer more cash, but the opportunity it presents is a stronger incentive.
Misleading podcast advice is everywhere, it’s upbeat, it’s sneaky — and sometimes worth a look. In a post called “How Much Money Do Podcasters Make?” a personal finance site implies that 1,000 listens per episode can net a hardworking podcaster $745 per month, with $495 coming from “course sales.”
The source of these claims is a heavily paraphrased Castos article about how much podcasters can make. The model assumes that “0.05% of your audience buys an online course per month for $99.” For 50 listeners a month to sign up based on your podcasting prowess, that course needs to involve literal magic.
More good news from the post: Sponsors “will start to contact you once you’ve gained some notoriety.” Unfortunately, newcomers will find this and other ‘fact checked’ material when they consider podcasting for money. Recognizing ridiculous claims means you’ve reached the other side of an obstacle.
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