End of the Journey

Hey everyone,

I can’t believe this semester is already over. After finally submitting my podcast, I feel relieved. As fun as it was to make, finalizing it was really stressful. To get every single portion perfect was challenging for me, especially since I’m a perfectionist.

Overall, I must say that I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out. I think that after fixing the volume for the speaker’s parts, the podcast flows well. I did however, change the program I used. Although I was planning on using audacity, I changed my mind last minute and decided to work with Garageband. I’m glad I chose to use Garageband because it was really simple to use and perfect.

If I had the chance to go back and do things differently, I would have chosen my podcast speakers earlier. Although I chose my speakers in advance, I realized later that I did not have enough speakers and scrambled to find my last two. Because of this, my podcast sounded a little off balance when I played it all together. For the last two speakers, I had to record their stuff at a different location using a different recording device. Because of this, the podcast sounded a little off when their parts came up. Despite my editing, it was clear that the parts were recorded somewhere else.

One piece of advice I would offer a student just starting out the course is to start the podcast uploading sooner than later. I was a little time crunched towards the really end because even though I finished my podcast on time, the uploading and creating an account on Soundcloud took a bit of time. When I created my account on Soundcloud, my primary email never received the confirmation email, making it impossible for me to upload my podcast on time. I waited 15 minutes, but in the end, I still never received it. I had to change my email and confirm it there.
Thanks so much for reading my blog. I’ve had a blast writing these . Good luck with exams and the rest of your assignments everybody! Happy studying!

Is Snapchat Really Safe?

This podcast is about Snapchat, which is an application that essentially allows one to exchange pictures and videos to the recipient of their choice for the duration that they choose. Once the picture has been opened, the snap is permanently removed from the recipient’s phone and Snapchat’s database. However, recently, Snapchat got hacked, making many people worried about trusting it. This podcast focuses on what Snapchat is, the safety of Smartphone applications itself, and the ways in which this application might not be safe.

 

Software Update

Hey everyone,
I see that the progress on the podcasts have definitely increased in the past few weeks. Reading about the different ideas that people have as their topics has been both inspirational and fun, so keep it up  :).

This week I looked into different editing softwares that I wanted to test out for the final assignment. After looking into a few reviews, I decided upon the software "Audacity".
One review I looked at was a website that reviewed the top ten podcast programs. It rated audacity as 7.3 out of 10 overall. From this review, there was an important section that struck out to me.

Editing Features 10/10
Audacity offers an outstanding array of editing tools including. The tools you use most for podcasts include mixing, cropping, cross fading, noise reduction and much more. It also has effects like echo, fade, modulation, normalization, reverse and tempo.
Editing sound files is Audacity’s primary function. Therefore, it offers every tool and function you need to create the perfect sounding podcast. The software provides you a waveform of the sound file you are working on. This gives you the ability to do whatever you want to your sound file. You just have to know how to use it.
("Audacity." Tech Media Network, 2014. Web. 2014.)

For me, the fact that audacity primarily focuses on the editing features is a huge plus, as I believe that the editing process is the most important aspect of creating a podcast. Audacity essentially as the ability to manipulate the podcast in almost any way possible from all the editing features.
The other source I looked at to find out more about audacity was the manual.
This site provides information and tutorials for all sorts of topics including “vocal removal and isolation” and “mixing voice with background music.”
("Audacity Manual Contents." Audacity Manual. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.)

When I first tried out the program, it seemed a little confusing, though that may be because of my lack of technology skills. However, with the help of this manual, I was able to understand the software and navigate the program pretty quickly. Now when I have questions on how to do things, I refer straight to the manual.
Over the weekend, I tried recording a part of my podcast to play around with the software. As soon as I played it back, I cringed. It feels odd hearing the sound of your own voice played back to you. I’m sure I will get used to it, but for my podcast, I’m personally going to try and get other people to speak instead. Listening to myself go on about a topic makes me feel weird! I’m sure there are others who can relate! However, I do also believe that the more I hear myself speak, the more used to it I will feel!
Anyways, until next time... Good luck everybody!

Structure: Mari Satoh

My podcast titled "Snapchat Sensation" follows the "tree branch method".

It primarily starts off as a straight line, as shown in the diagram below, with an interaction of the radio host and the other person on the line going back and forth question and answer style. After that, they introduce the issue at hand and the main point of what the podcast will prove.

A few lines later, the tree branches out into the background information of the Snapchat hack. After the information was presented, the podcast went back to going on about the main point, which was whether or not the application is safe. A few minutes later, the podcast will then branch off again into explanations of why the hacking occurred. This includes several quotes from different sources. After that, the podcast goes back to the main idea of how safe Snapchat is. It branches off later one last time to focus on the macro. The macro of this podcast is the grand scheme of things. In this case, it focuses on the safety of smartphone applications itself, as opposed to just focusing on one singular application.

The conclusion brings the podcast together as there is about a minute of conversation concluding the final point and bringing the tree branch to an end.

This structure is similar to that of Freakonomics to an extent. On this station, there are many podcasts that explain how things work or why things work the way they do. In this case, they usually begin the podcast presenting "tree branches" of information, including background knowledge, the explanation, and the macro (the grand scheme of things). The reason why Freakonomics differs at times from the tree branch method is because sometimes, some of their episodes takes a turn and goes down an unexpected route. For example, I have heard podcasts that end up bringing up the real question of the podcast at the end of the episode as opposed to the start.

In the "Icon For Access", I counted 22 citations overall.

Topic Refinement

Hey everyone. It’s Mari again.

This week, we were given a pitch exercise to help us refine and finalize our podcast topics.

Personally, I can say that it helped me tremendously on deciding upon a specific topic to focus on. Before I wrote my pitch, I knew the overall topic that I wanted to discuss was the safety of Snapchat.
However, after this exercise, I was able to fine tune the topic into a more specific category. I started looking into the Snapchat hacking on December 31st, 2013. I decided to focus on how this event has affected the trust in users of the application. I was also able to come up with different examples of security hazards for the application that affected the safety of the information or photos provided on Snapchat. For example, there are several methods in which individuals can use to hack Snapchat. By focusing on my specific topic, I realized this and started researching.

This exercise would definitely be an excellent idea for other writing assignments. I believe that by presenting a pitch to an audience, the writer works harder to impress the crowd with their ideas. As a result, more students work harder to come up with a creative topic to excite the audience.
In addition, engaging an audience in a topic influences the student to become more interested in their own topic. Rather than just writing an essay or a paper on a topic that they do not have much interest in, the student seeks out a subject that will make them happy and excited to present.

Well, that’s all for this week. I enjoyed this pitch exercise very much and I hope you all did too. Thanks everyone for reading my blog, and see you next week.

Time For Pitching

Hello everyone.

I’m back again... this week writing about different sources on the web that have helped me gather advice about pitching ideas for podcast and radio shows. Here they are.

CBC Radio Program Development Group Pitch Guide

This source provides the readers with questions that one should ask themselves as preliminary work before developing a radio show or podcast.

After reading this, I understood the importance of choosing the right topic, knowing how well it fits in with the channel, understanding what mood the episode will bring, and identifying the format of the episode.

At the end, there were ten tips for writing a good pitch. The tip that stood out most to me was “ask for unbiased feedback and be open to it.” This is an important piece of advice because if someone is not willing to listen to the advice they are given with an open mind, they will never improve.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, otherwise known as CBC is a reliable source as it is Canada’s national television and radio broadcaster. They provide different services such as CBC sports, CBC television and CBC radio (which provides their own podcast shows). Essentially, this source exposed the secrets to what they are looking for in their radio shows and podcasts.

5 Ways To Successfully Pitch Ideas to Clients & Investors

This source provides the reader with five pieces of advice that can help one create an effective pitch. They include explaining the concept, addressing weaknesses, answering the “why” questions, investigating competition, and rehearsing. By reading through these five methods, I have become aware of what to do for my own podcast. Now I know that when I write my pitch, I should make sure to rehearse multiple times before presenting. In addition, I have realized it is crucial to investigate my competition by listening in on the pitches of my peers before planning out my own.

I found this source to be valid because I looked into the “about me” page, which provided the information on when it was founded as well as information about the editor. Essentially, they are an online magazine that influences writers to send in creative ideas for articles. The author of the article was an editorial staff who had experience with writing pitches, namely in the journalism industry, making this webpage a valid source of information.

The Killer Pitch – Pitching Tips

This webpage provided points for creating a successful pitch that were simple and easy to understand. The important tips included being passionate about the topic, researching, planning ahead, and being comfortable. The tip that stood out most for me was the following:

It’s not a lecture
Have a conversation with the commissioners, you’re not giving a lecture! Make them curious, make them laugh.

After reading this, I realized that this is not just a regular presentation. It is a pitch. Thus, it is more important to keep it entertaining than to deliver information in a serious manner.

I knew this source was valid because the British Broadcasting Corporation, otherwise known as the BBC, is a well-known public station that is responsible for broadcasting across the United Kingdom. It has built its credibility and reputation over the past ninety years, and continues to do so today.

Works Cited

"Radio Pitch Guide." Pitch to CBC Radio. CBC Radio Canada. Aug. 2013. Web. 25 Jan. 2014

"The Killer Pitch – Pitching Tips." BBC News. BBC, 2014. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.

"5 Ways To Successfully Pitch Ideas to Clients & Investors." Creativeoverflow. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.

Mari Satoh, W14, Topic Selection

  

The podcast I have chosen to do is “Spark with Nora Young” on CBC Radio One. This feature introduces technological innovations and explains how they have impacted the society. I chose this podcast as I wanted to make a clip where individuals can hear it and immediately relate it to their everyday lives.

The topic I have chosen to report about for this channel is the impacts and influences of “Snapchat” on the Smartphone generation. Snapchat is a Smartphone application that allows you to exchange pictures to friends for up to ten seconds. The pictures can only be seen by the individual that has received the photo and the picture taker has the option to add text, drawings and select the duration of the picture viewing.

Today, we live in an era where many individuals own devices where such applications can be downloaded. My belief is that the invention of applications such as Snapchat and Instagram reflects how much more we pride ourselves on self image and presentation. Furthermore, it shows how every good moment must now be photographed to remember it, rather than just by memory.

In order to select my topic, I have used the resource SPARK, otherwise known as Student Papers and Academic Research Kit. Because I was having trouble figuring out what to create my podcast on, I selected “choosing a topic” on the SPARK website. From there, I used both nutshelling and brainstorming. For brainstorming, I was able to list out different applications that had been made which has enhanced or changed the society as of recently. After that, I branched off into the different types of ideas that could be generated from the applications. For example, for the application “Snapchat”, I wrote words such as digital history, pictures, selfies, self image, text, video, emotions, messages, appearance, presentation, and entertainment. Next, I went to the nutshelling method and answered the questions asked on the sheet. I determined that the purpose of my paper (or assignment in this case) was to explain the way Snapchat has influenced the generation and reflect what may result in the future. A working title would be “Snapchat Sensation” or “Snapchat Society”. The most important argument I wanted to make was that our generation is one that frames around self image and temporary enjoyment. I believe that the most common view of this topic would be that “selfies” are being used as an outlet to present oneself.

As a result, I believe that other students should refer to SPARK to help them with this assignment. These tools have helped me choose a topic that I am not only interested in, but have a lot of reflect upon. The tools force you to think deeper beyond the surface and helps mold the outline for the podcast.

Mari Satoh, W14, Introductions

Hello everyone,

My name is Mari Satoh and I am a third year professional writing student at York University, currently enrolled in the institutional stream. I am also working on a minor in political science to obtain a background in politics as I am interested in writing news at some point in the future.  

In terms of researching, I would like to learn how to verify the authenticity and legitimacy of a source. While some sources may be biased or unethical, others may be beneficial to attain an understanding of certain concepts.

Furthermore, I would like to learn how one can type in the right search entries to find what they are looking for on the internet. I am interested in learning how to manipulate the results of the search by altering what I input into the search bar.

As of right now, I do not have a prior experience with radio or podcasting. Though the thought of creating my own short podcast episode intimidates me, I am also excited to see what the end product will look like. It is something new that I have yet to try, so I feel as if it would be a challenge that would not be in my normal comfort zone. Thus, I believe that I would gain the most amount of experience from trying something that I have not tried in the past.

The subjects I am interested in exploring are music, sports and theatre. Since I was young, I have always had a passion for different types of music from different eras and would love to explore artists, new and old. I enjoy checking out local rock cafes and country bars, and thoroughly appreciate learning about these new locations and crowds that they attract. Sports has always been a huge part of my life as I follow many on a regular basis, and would one day love to become a sports journalist if given the opportunity. Lastly, theatre would be a subject of interest for me as I enjoy watching operas and musicals.