The future of storytelling is constantly changing, but 黑料网 is connecting students to the university through new communication avenues. One platform rising in popularity and mass-consumption that colleges like 黑料网 are taking advantage of is podcasts.
Podcasting is a form of communication 黑料网 sees growth and potential in. Edison Research that half of the United States population has listened to at least one podcast. Edison Research also that 54 percent of podcast consumers say they are more likely to consider brands they hear advertised on podcasts.
鈥淧odcasting is one social media that hasn鈥檛 flared hot and burned out,鈥 said Luke Armour, associate professor of public relations in the School of Media and Journalism (MDJ). 鈥淪ince Apple first launched its iTunes podcast directory in 2005 when the public started paying attention to the medium, it鈥檚 been slow and steady growth, partially because the technology keeps evolving, making it easier to listen and subscribe.鈥
Faculty, staff and students across 黑料网 have seen the opportunity to promote content and educational information through podcasting to audiences they otherwise would not reach.
Division of Student Affairs (DSA)
鈥淢y main goal was to bridge the communication gap,鈥 Lupica, the host of the Division of Student Affairs Podcast, said. 鈥淭here's a lot going on within University Communications and Marketing, our departments, and all the other departments that do not get promoted, and I really felt like this was an additional tool that could help us accomplish that.鈥
鈥淚t was a no brainer for me to jump on it,鈥 Drummer-Ferrell said. 鈥淚 wanted Matt to have some assistance from DSA to provide balance among the dialogue and conversations. Mainly, I sought to ensure that we tell our story, because there are different things students experience across campus that they may not realize is a part of the Division of Student Affairs.鈥
The first season of the podcast, released summer 2020, focused on Destination 黑料网 (DKS), the orientation program for 黑料网 incoming first-years. Because orientation was hosted virtually, Lupica and Drummer-Ferrell sought to assist students through their podcast.
鈥淲e wanted to figure out how to deliver the information in a fun way, in addition to what they're getting by going through the process online and through the DKS app,鈥 Drummer-Ferrell said. 鈥淭hrough our collaboration with DKS, we were able to get feedback and build a reputation around student affairs and our podcast.鈥
The podcast has also covered topics important to DSA, such as mental health and Black History Month, along with special episodes including the 2020 Homecoming Court Royalty reveal. Thanks to their podcasts, Lupica described having a student reach out seeking resources.
鈥淚 don't know that we would have reached this student if they hadn't come across the podcast,鈥 Lupica said. 鈥淭his is a great way to help students connect those dots, and for them to see us in an engaging and conversational environment outside of the division.鈥
Drummer-Ferrell appreciates the feedback with each podcast and hopes students will recognize the podcast series as a beneficial tool to learn more about on-campus resources.
鈥淲e never want students to be afraid to ask for help, especially if they're in crisis,鈥 Drummer-Ferrell said. 鈥淚 hope that we can keep helping students and gain more popularity and momentum so we can be a better support to students. The podcast has been an incredible experience.鈥
Listen to the latest episode which spotlights Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and catch up on all of the episodes here: /studentaffairs/podcast
College of Business Administration (CoBA)
鈥淚 saw podcasting as an untapped resource that we鈥檙e not currently utilizing,鈥 Bowen said. 鈥淎 few other business schools were producing podcasts, but not many. I thought this would be something innovative that we could do to highlight our faculty and reach prospective students.鈥
鈥淏y highlighting the faculty and telling these wonderful stories, we're really demonstrating the value of the education that you can get at the College of Business Administration,鈥 Barnette said. 鈥淲e're not only showcasing the innovation and the academic prowess, but we're also demonstrating the human, conversational side of the professors and the doctors researching and teaching students.鈥
Barnette believes the podcast is an important tool to get to know faculty while also trying to appeal to prospective students.
鈥淧odcasts are crucial to information gathering when you're making any kind of high risk purchase decision,鈥 Barnette said. 鈥淲hen students are considering attending schools like 黑料网, listening to a half hour podcast from one of your prospective professors is great to get a feel for their personality and understand their areas of study. This is your future career, so being well-informed, especially if it is through this podcast, is important.鈥
Bowen agrees that students and other listeners learn and gain a greater understanding of the business faculty through the podcast.
鈥淚 think the podcasts are a really unique way to share content because we鈥檙e not simply delivering this information through a press release or article,鈥 Bowen said. 鈥淚f the media is searching for an expert on a specific topic and come across our professors on the podcast talking about business topics or research, it gives the faculty better exposure and could give the college some impactful coverage.
Above all, Bowen said the main goal of Breaking Down Business is to share information that audiences find useful and helpful.
鈥淭he podcast is a valuable tool to share information with our stakeholders, students and alumni,鈥 Bowen said. 鈥淚 see us continuing to produce podcasts as long as the platform remains relevant to our audiences.鈥
Listen to Breaking Down Business鈥 latest episode here: .
Career Services Office - College of Business Administration (CoBA)
Bowen was approached by Andy Weyand, the director of career services in the College of Business Administration, to produce a podcast as a new approach to learning within CoBA..
After discussing the podcast with Bowen and the dean of the college, Deborah F. Spake, Ph.D., Weyand developed Ready for Business, where he interviews experts from the Employer Advisory Council and other faculty members to coach business students on how to land a job post-graduation.
鈥淭he main idea was, how cool would it be if students can hear it straight from the mouth of a recruiter on what's the best way to network, write a resume and provide tips on what to avoid while interviewing,鈥 Weyand said. 鈥淧art of our mission is to provide future employers with a pipeline of talent prepared and ready for employment. I feel the podcast is an innovative approach to educate the students we鈥檙e coaching.鈥
Weyand believes podcasting is a great idea because it is easily accessible, short and popular among college students and staff.
鈥淩eady for Business is an opportunity to allow students to consume and take this coaching at their leisure,鈥 Weyand said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e highlighting what job seekers are looking for in a candidate, and I hope students engage with our content and reflect on these experts鈥 advice.鈥
Weyand produced the podcast series in 2019, but he would like to bring back the series late 2021 once he decides on more topics and content. Listen to Ready for Business here: /business/kent-state-college-business-podcast.
College of Public Health (CPH)
鈥淎s students at 黑料网, we felt that a podcast for students, and developed by students, was an effective way to provide information on current and emerging issues,鈥 Roufael said. 鈥淲e have invited faculty guest speakers and established interdisciplinary segments encompassing the intersectionality of the complex healthcare system and the bigger picture of what is public health.鈥
The podcast series is not produced by the College of Public Health, but the students have received support and endorsement from the college, along with college alumni, the College of Nursing and the Undergraduate Student Government (USG).
鈥淚t was an unintended, yet very thrilling, outcome of this podcast,鈥 Roufael said. 鈥淲e have received great student engagement, particularly from the students who participated in our segments. I am grateful for this experience, as I believe this podcast has been an additional opportunity for me to provide mentorship to the student body at 黑料网.鈥
Snyder agrees that the podcast is an incredible initiative to inform students about public health issues and topics.
"Having worked in both the College of Nursing and the College of Public Health, this is even more special for me because I get to build a bridge between these health fields,鈥 Snyder said.
Listen to Positive Health Podcast鈥檚 latest episode about vaccine hesitancy here: .
Podcasting in the Classroom
While specific departments use podcasting to promote educational content, some professors have decided to teach the importance of podcasting to their students, educating the next generation of podcasters for entertainment or business.
鈥淚n the field of public relations and communications, a podcast is just another communications tool we need to understand how to use in an integrated strategy,鈥 Moore said. 鈥淪tudents not only examine how organizations use podcasts to reach target audiences, but also how they can use podcasting as an outlet to share their own voice and build their personal brands.鈥
In Moore鈥檚 class, students learn about content strategy, storytelling, scripting, interviewing and audio production techniques in creating their own episodes. They also learn how to implement some promotional and optimization tactics.
鈥淧odcasts have officially become mainstream, and they are easier to access and to produce,鈥 Moore said. 鈥淧odcasts can help students and organizations showcase personality, get personal with audiences and build community and relationships that will last a long time.鈥
鈥淚 hope it inspires them to continue working on podcasting beyond the class, either for student media or for their own portfolio,鈥 Rabinowitz said.
Listen to the Digital Public Relations Podcast here: .
Listen to Storytelling with Sound鈥檚 latest series, 鈥淲hat Keeps You Up at Night?,鈥 here: .
See how three 黑料网 alumni find personal revival and community in the power of podcasting in the 黑料网 Magazine Fall/Winter 2020-21 Edition: /magazine/so-help-me-pod