  Brief Description:A podcast is usually either a radio (voice) or music file that's made available on a website.Description:A podcast is usually either a radio (voice) or music file that's made available on a website. Users can either listen to the file on their computer, or download it onto their MP3 player or other mobile device, and listen to it later.Used For:Some activities that podcasting has been used for include:
Suitable participants:The advantage of this method is that anyone with an internet connection (of broadband speed) is able to access the podcast at a time and in a location that is entirely suitable to themselves.Podcasting can also therefore allow a greater level of scrutiny and interactivity of council activities for example; users can send in comments and questions once they have listened to the podcast and try and get a follow-up response from the Council. Like webcasts, podcasts can also take place from any location, as long as the broadcaster has a computer with the right permissions as well as the necessary software and hardware (such as a microphone and some free software such as Audacity or GarageBand). Cost:One of the principal advantages of podcasting is the low cost associated with the method. For the initial outlay on the cost of a microphone, combined with some technical skills at using some basic free software packages, podcasting can be set up quickly and inexpensively while offering a level of convenience for users that has few rivals.Time Requirements:After the initial setup of the website and apparatus, then it should require relatively little time to set up the equipment and transfer to the website on each occasion.When To Use / What It Can Deliver:It could be argued that such a method helps to make council meetings much more transparent, and local government decisions easier to understand as a result. It allows people the opportunity to be engaged at a time and a place that suits their own lifestyle and commitments.Using it for council meetings or for an organisation's AGM when not all members can make a fixed time and date is the ideal occasion to use podcasting to include everyone interested. When Not To Use / What It Cannot Deliver:On it?s own, webcasting will not improve relations between local government and the people who live in the area, or the management of an organisation and it's individual members.Podcasting would not be appropriate if the issues being discussed are of a sensitive nature, or should only be discussed between a few people. As with many participatory activities, to be successful in the long-term there must be a sufficient mix of online and offline methods to be inclusive, informative and engaging for as many people as possible. Strengths:A major advantage of podcasting is the cost. If you were to try and broadcast council meetings on the radio, the cost would run into hundreds of thousands of pounds, something beyond the reach of most, if not all local councils.In recording live events, an obvious benefit of podcasting is the increase in transparency and accountability that comes with allowing more people to access council meetings, for instance. Weaknesses:As with all online methods, the content can only be accessed by people with access to broadband speed internet. Despite this, the increase in broadband penetration indicates that this will potentially become a less significant issue in the future.Origin:The term podcast was originally coined by Ben Hammersley in an article in the Guardian in 2004 and reflects the terms 'iPod' (Apple's famous brand of MP3 players) and 'broadcasting'.Case Studies:Related Methods
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