SpokenWeb Creator Guide - Summer 2020 SpokenWeb Podcast Creator Guide

out of the archives and into your ears

What is it? Introduction: Why Podcast? SpokenWeb is the monthly A podcast is like a radio show that has been digitally podcast produced by the recorded and distributed online. Typically, are SpokenWeb team as part of available for free and listeners subscribe to the podcast feed distributing the audio for new episodes. The medium is considered accessible to collected from (and created creators and listeners alike. using) Canadian literary archival recordings found at As a part of the SpokenWeb project, literary sound archives universities across Canada. and scholarly responses to them are being transformed into podcast episodes that can be shared beyond the academy. Episodes are snapshots of These podcasts will help share the research discoveries of Canadian literary history and SpokenWeb with the general public, rather than just topic- contemporary responses to it, area experts. including interviews, panel discussions, lectures, readings, The podcast targets a general audience interested in literary and audio essays. topics, history, culture, and analysis, but who might not have studied it since high school. The podcast intends to bring How does it work? Canadian literature into the lives of everyday citizens and engage new people in the literary conversation. SpokenWeb collaborators can create a new episode & send it How to Make an Episode: to the production team, who Each episode is a collaboration between SpokenWeb add an introduction & closing credits, provide additional contributor(s) and the production team. Contact editing support, and schedule [email protected] for support in pitching and the episode for public release. creating an episode. Steps When can I hear it? 1. Read this guide and listen to an episode of the podcast. New episodes are released on 2. Pitch an episode to the podcast team, who will provide the first Monday of every feedback, guidance, and access to relevant Google Drive month to Apple Podcasts, files to store your work. Pitches should include the topic, Spotify, Google Play, and format (interview, panel, reading, lecture, audio essay), and Stitcher. Episodes vary from 20-55 minutes in length. expected completion date (see p. 4 for the pitch form). Email your pitch to [email protected].

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Equipment & Note: It is the contributor’s responsibility to ensure they are on Software needed schedule and proactively notify the production team about any changes to the timeline to avoid causing delays in the podcast • Adequate recording space release schedule.

Where you record matters. 3. Secure adequate recording space, book equipment (if When possible, record in a dedicated sound studio (see p. necessary), and schedule any guests you want to feature. 5). Always limit background When planning a recording session, expect the process to noise and echo by recording in take twice as long as the finished episode length to allow for small, quiet spaces that absorb redos, technical hiccups, and getting comfortable with the sound. For example, your closet microphone. is better than your office. 4. Prepare a script, interview questions, or otherwise draft • Microphone & audio your episode. Plan well to maximize recording time and recorder minimize editing time. Sound studios often provide 5. Start audio recording! You’ll find handy resources and their own recording equipment. guides in the Podcast Resources Google Drive folder When purchasing or renting your own, consider choosing a 6. Document “Making-of” and archival photos and/or video dynamic microphone and a for episode promotion and social media and upload to the sound recorder (eg. Zoom). Episode Photos + Add. Media Google Drive folder. Focus on flexibility and 7. Install Hindenburg audio editor software on your reliability. computer. Talk to the SpokenWeb lead at your institution • Headphones about getting a Hindenburg license. For Hindenburg Headphones are particularly tutorials, visit https://hindenburg.com/support/tutorials critical when editing your 8. Import your audio into Hindenburg and save the new file episode, and should also be as spokenweb_episode_yourname_date.nhsx. Final working used to monitor when files should be saved as Hindenburg files and uploaded to recording. Keep an ear out for those plosives! the Hindenburg Files Google Drive folder. Ensure that you upload both the .nhsx file and its corresponding folder with • Hindenburg audio editor audio files that accompanies it. ** Recorded audio will need to be edited in Hindenburg software. 9. Edit the file until you are satisfied. Expect editing to take at The podcast production team least three times as long as the length of the finished can provide a template file to episode—longer if you’re still learning. use. Both a trial version and an 10. Export. Your finished episode audio draft should be educator software license are saved as spokenweb_origin_yourname_date.wav and stored available. Contact your as a .wav file in the Original Audio Google Drive folder. SpokenWeb lead for license information. 11. Create a description of the episode. Include regarding citations, credits, or acknowledgements, which will • Google Drive be posted alongside the episode (for an example, see p. 4). Files will be uploaded and Save the file as spokenweb_desc_yourname_date and upload stored to folders in Google it as a Word document (.doc, .docx) to the Episode Drive. Description Google Drive folder.

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Our Approach 12. Notify [email protected] that you have completed steps 1-10. Include links to the uploaded files. SpokenWeb is an episodic 13. The production team will review and provide feedback podcast, where each instalment on your episode within 5-10 business days and work with can stand alone, but episodes you to complete any final revisions. should share a similar 14. The production team will add the introduction and sensibility and purpose. Each closing, as well as conduct a final edit for both the episode content and description. episode should be: 15. Finalized episodes will be uploaded as .mp3 files to the Thoughtful Final Episodes Google Drive folder. You will have 7 days to Episodes are each carefully review the finalized podcast episode and description. considered and planned out 16. The production team will upload the finalized podcast (and scripted when practical) to episode to the podcast feed and you will be notified of the scheduled release date. The final episode audio file will also ensure listeners can follow be submitted to Summit, SFU’s institutional repository. along. Episodes will make listeners think, but creators Structure & Timing prioritize being accessible, not A template Hindenburg just academic. Avoid jargon, audio file can be Format Type Recommended pretension, and rants. provided to help guide Content Length the structuring of your Interview, panel, 15-50 minutes Friendly episode. reading, lecture Treat the listener like a friend Each episode will open you’re explaining something to; and close with the Audio essay 15-23 minutes don’t condescend or talk down podcast host, who will to them. Respect and kindness provide an intro and then finish with production credits. This are important, even when intro/outro will be added by our producer upon submission of your episode. A small library of interstitial can be explaining basic concepts. The provided for use to transition between parts or segments of ideal tone is professional but your episode. A sample structure for an episode might be: warm. � theme Dynamic Host opening, introduction (2 minutes) To create a sense of energy and � theme Contributor content life, voices should be � interstitial music expressive, interested, and Contributor content varied. Treat the podcast as � theme storytelling. This helps listeners Host closing, credits (2 minutes) follow along. Introduce � theme additional voices or sound As a guideline, episodes with 1 speaker should be 15-23 elements where beneficial. minutes and 2+ speakers might be 15-50 minutes. Longer projects can be a series.

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Submit a Pitch Complete the sections below and email the completed document to [email protected] with the subject line “Pitch for SpokenWeb podcast.” You should receive a response within 7 days.

Episode

Format: (interview, panel, reading, lecture, audio essay, other)

Topic: (e.g. poetry readings in 1960s Montreal, a literary movement in the 1980s, interviewing Yann Martel about Life of Pi)

Suggested Title [subject to change]:

Episode production start date: Expected completion date:

Resources

Episode Team Lead: Team Members: (name and email address) (names)

Audio production experience: (none, beginner, intermediate, expert)

Access to Hindenburg: (software installed, need Hindenburg software license)

Access to Recording Equipment: (yes/no, recommendations or help with access required)

Email accounts that need to access to SpokenWeb Podcast Google Drive folders: (up to three) Sample Episode Description Each episode requires a description to accompany it. Please provide an episode description in the style of the example below: Episode # is a FORMAT (e.g. interview, panel, reading, lecture, audio essay) with/about TOPIC (e.g. poetry readings in 1960s Montreal, a literary movement in the 1980s, interviewing Yann Martel about Life of Pi). This episode was created by SpokenWeb contributors NAME(S) with additional audio courtesy of ARCHIVE/ ORGANIZATION and support from NAME(S). Special thanks to NAME(S). Citations: (e.g. Berry, Richard. “Part of the Establishment: Reflecting on 10 Years of Podcasting as an Audio Medium.” Convergence 22, no. 6 (December 1, 2016): 661–71. https://doi.org/ 10.1177/1354856516632105.) — Note: Please use Chicago style citations. Further Resources: [optional]

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Resources Sound Studio Locations

Location Organization Resource Name Contact Address

Calgary, AB

University of Digital Media Book online Taylor Family Digital Calgary Commons https:// Library A/V Suites workrooms.ucalgary 410 University Court NW .ca/spaces?lid=1393 Calgary, AB Edmonton, AB

University of Digital Scholarship UAlberta Libraries (coming 2019) Alberta Centre

University of Faculty of Arts Electroacoustic Department of Music Alberta recording booth Studios, 3-82 Fine Arts Building [email protected] University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta Kelowna, BC

University of The AMP Lab amplab.ubco@gmail Faculty of Creative and British .com Critical Studies Columbia - Okanagan Campus Okanagan http:// 1148 Research Road amplab.ok.ubc.ca/ Kelowna, BC Canada index.php/about-us/

University of UBC Okanagan Mathew.Vis- Okanagan Library British Library [email protected] 3333 University Way Columbia - Kelowna, BC Okanagan http:// library.ok.ubc.ca/ about-us/contact/ librarians/mathew- vis-dunbar/ Montreal, QC

Concordia Centre for Oral cohds.chorn@conco Library Building, 10th University History and rdia.ca Floor, Room LB-1042 Storytelling 1400 de Maisonneuve Blvd W. Montreal, QC

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Location Organization Resource Name Contact Address

Concordia TAG Centre tag.coordinator@co TAG Lab University ncordia.ca Concordia University 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West, EV11.435 Montreal, QC Vancouver, BC

Simon Fraser Digital Humanities [email protected] Room 724, W.A.C. University Innovation Lab - Bennett Library (Media and Maker Simon Fraser University Commons coming 8888 University Drive soon) Burnaby, BC

Simon Fraser SFU Woodward SFU Woodward University recording studios 149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Inspiration Lab http://www.vpl.ca/ Second floor Public Library facilities/inspiration- 350 West Georgia Street lab/record Vancouver, BC

Reference Library These podcasts can help you brainstorm how different kinds of podcasts might be composed. * Note: To clarify the categories below, an "audio essay” (also referred to as an audio documentary) uses audio to make an argument and use of sound beyond narration is key to understanding the work, while an “oral essay” is more simply a spoken essay, although the borders between can break down when audio clips are used substantially.

Episode Podcast Episode Title/Number Podcast Example Relevant Notes Type Name Link Timestamp

Audio Kitchen Archiving the http:// Full Episode Analysis of Essay Sisters Underground: The www.kitchensisters.o archive Present HipHop Archive At rg/present/ including Harvard archiving-the- audio clips, underground-the- interviews, hiphop-archive-at- ‘live’ harvard/ recordings.

Audio Song Episode 150: http:// Full episode Music analysis Essay* Exploder Fleetwood Mac "Go songexploder.net/ Your Own Way" fleetwood-mac

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Audio Bullseye Ludwig Göransson https:// Full episode Music Essay with Jesse www.maximumfun.o retrospective Thorn rg/bullseye/ bullseye-jesse-thorn- ludwig- g%C3%B6ransson

Audio Radiolab 60 Words https:// Full episode Analysis with Essay www.wnycstudios.or integrated g/story/60-words audio clips

Oral Essay* Reasonably Hold Please http:// Full episode Argument Sound reasonablysound.co m/2018/09/24/hold- please/

Oral Essay Secret Episode 3.15: Doing https:// 1:30-22:20 Short essay Feminist Feminism in the secretfeministagend Agenda Classroom a.com/2019/01/25/ episode-3-15-doing- feminism-in-the- classroom/

Oral Essay Bullseye Hasin Minhaj and https://www.npr.org/ 1:07:00-end Short with Jesse Sharon Horgan player/embed/ argument Thorn 681255245/681255 298

Oral Essay Memory Episode 48: Picture a http:// Full episode Narrative Palace Box thememorypalace.u s/player/? playlist_id=1

Oral Essay Secret Life S2: Bay Blanket https://www.cbc.ca/ Full episode Two hosts of Canada radio/podcasts/ deliver content documentaries/the- in a secret-life-of- conversational canada/ style

Interview Sixth & I Roxane Gay, Cultural https:// Full episode An interview Critic and Author, with .apple.com/ recorded at a Linda Holmes ca/podcast/roxane- live event gay-cultural-critic- and-author-with- linda-holmes/ id1305094066? i=1000414404975& mt=2

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Interview Fresh Air Madeleine Albright https://www.npr.org/ Full episode Radio with Terry Warns: Don't Let 2018/04/03/599120 interview Gross Fascism Go 'Unnoticed 190/madeleine- Until It's Too Late' albright-warns-dont- let-fascism-go- unnoticed-until-its- too-late

Interview LeVar LIVE! in Brooklyn: https://art19.com/ 44:10-end Live episode Burton "Playing Nice with shows/levar-burton- combines a Reads God's Bowling Ball" by reads/episodes/ reading, an N.K. Jemisin f4e32067-63d2-442 interview, & it’s 2- an example of b997-77afc8cd2726 a recorded /embed? event

Interview Bullseye Hasin Minhaj and https://www.npr.org/ 1-1:07:00 2 recorded with Jesse Sharon Horgan player/embed/ interviews Thorn 681255245/681255 298

Interview On Being John Lewis: Love in https://onbeing.org/ Full episode Recorded with Krista Action programs/john- interview Tippett lewis-love-in-action- jan2017/

Interview Witness Maastricht: The birth of https:// Full episode Mixed History the European Union www.bbc.co.uk/ interview, sounds/play/ narration, and w3cswsgr clips

Panel Pop Culture In the Long Run https://www.npr.org/ 6:35-38:15 Pop culture Happy Hour player/embed/ panel show 176340429/381273 751

Panel Ideas The Art of Leadership https://podcast- Full episode Live recorded a.akamaihd.net/ event & panel mp3/podcasts/ ideas- Cj2QZRcG-2018120 7.mp3

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Panel Slate Treacle Box Edition https://slate.com/ 3:09 - end Recorded Culture culture/2018/12/ panel Gabfest slate-culture- gabfest-on-love- actually-spider-man- into-the-spider- verse-and-slate-tv- club.html

Panel Werk It: The Don't Point https:// Full episode Live recorded Podcast www.wnycstudios.or event & panel g/story/dont-point

Reading Bedtime Episode 1: Leaving the https:// Full episode Short story Stories for Island endoftheworldpodc anthology the End of ast.com/ the World 2018/06/18/409/

Reading Indiefeed Episode 1350: Cristin http:// Full episode Single poem Performance O'Keefe Aptowicz - 33 indiefeedpp.libsyn.c Poetry 1/3 om/cristin-okeefe- aptowicz-33-13

Reading The Paris Episode 1: “Times of https:// Full episode Contains Review Cloud” www.theparisreview. several kinds org/podcast of material: interviews, live events, & readings

Reading LeVar LIVE! in Brooklyn: https://art19.com/ 1-44:10 Episode Burton "Playing Nice with shows/levar-burton- combines a Reads God's Bowling Ball" by reads/episodes/ reading and an N.K. Jemisin f4e32067-63d2-442 interview, & it’s 2- an example of b997-77afc8cd2726 a live event /embed?

Recorded Ideas Lecture 2: "In Search of https://www.cbc.ca/ 1-25:00 Massey Lecture Event a Better World" by radio/ideas/ recorded as a Payam Akhavan (2017 bringing-bad-guys- series of CBC Massey Lectures) to-global-justice- podcasts payam-akhavan-on- prosecuting-war- criminals-1.4389205

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