In recent years, the popularity of podcasting has exploded. In 2023, Pew Research Center reported survey data showing nearly half of all U.S. adults listened to a podcast in the past year, while one in five said they listened “at least a few times a week.” Although people produce audio content featuring every conceivable subject, from food and fashion to comedy and sports, journalism is one area in which podcasts are increasingly central.
While print newspapers have decreased in prominence and importance in the digital era, audiences have flocked to audio formats for their news. According to Pew Research Center, about 29% of people surveyed report that “staying up to date about current events” is a primary reason they listen to podcasts. Two-thirds of podcast listeners say they have “heard news discussed on the podcasts they listen to.”
For students interested in pursuing a career in journalism, understanding the tools of podcasting will continue to be extremely vital. Such students might want to pursue degrees that offer a thorough grounding in digital multimedia skills, such as those taught by the William Paterson University (WP) online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Journalism program.
Exploring the Impact of Podcasts on Journalism Today
It is impossible to fully understand the impact of podcasting on journalism without discussing what some consider to be the most influential and famous podcast to date: “Serial.” It is recognized as a podcast that helped kickstart consumers’ love of podcasts, especially for current events and news stories.
“Created by former public radio journalist Sarah Koenig, the investigative series spotlighted the case of a murdered young woman with a mix of third-person storytelling and first-person reflection that has become a cornerstone of nonfiction podcasts,” according to a research paper published in the journal Electronic News. The researchers argue that the high production quality of “Serial” helped establish podcasting as a serious vessel for journalistic storytelling and inspired dozens of imitators.
How Have Podcasts Changed Journalism?
Since the advent of the 21st century, the news industry has been in constant flux. The rise of podcasting, which has brought a new format to the forefront of journalistic practice, is just the latest change. However, this kind of change is not necessarily negative. The enormous popularity of audio narrative experiences has created an opportunity to deepen coverage of important issues and new methods of delivering the news.
According to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ), “It’s not just radio that stands to benefit: podcasting brings to all of journalism new opportunities for skills enrichment, to rethink the boundaries and meaning of our work, to find new ways to engage our public.” In other words, podcasts have changed journalism in a productive way by helping journalists reimagine the possibilities of their work.
“At a time of professional and financial disruption, experimenting with podcasting may bring opportunities in the form of innovation, audience reach and sustainability,” according to RISJ.
Podcasts and the Future of Digital Media
It has been clear for many years that journalism in the digital era requires new skills, and podcasting offers innovative young reporters a way to make their mark on a changing industry. WP’s online BA in Journalism program includes courses that give students a foundation in key journalistic skills and offer them an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge of podcasting in particular. The Podcasting I course provides an overview of narrative podcasting, and students learn not only the history of audio storytelling but also how to approach branding and engage listeners.
As Pew Research Center points out, the share of the U.S. public listening to podcasts has increased drastically in recent years. Like any good communicator, a journalist must meet audiences where they are. The best time to gain crucial podcasting skills and prepare for an audio-centric future of news is now.
Learn more about WP’s online BA in Journalism program.
