Talk to Me: Radio and Podcasting in a Global City

Catalog description

This arts workshop focuses on the art and production of storytelling in audio for documentary, commentary, and personal narrative. With the increasing presence of new technologies, webcasting, and visual stimulation, this course concentrates on the power and influence of audio/sound production. As issues of diversity, race, and cultural representation are increasingly becoming part of the public dialogue, this course will also look at current podcasts and changing dialogues taking place in the world of media producers. Discussions in the class will look at the role of radio and podcasting in the current dialogues about history, whose stories are told and amplified, and current debates on the air about education, book banning, and a look at the discussions over critical race studies in the media landscape. For the first part of the course, we will explore the history and influence of radio as a medium. A range of podcasts and radio programs that address issues of journalistic integrity, book banning, fiction and entertainment, interview and live radio programs will be part of the course material. Programs include but are not limited to:On the Media, Notes from America with Kai Wright, Talk Radio on New York Public Radio and national call-in shows, the early radio work of Studs Terkel, and Radiolab among others. We will also listen to new online platforms for documentaries and stories including animation where audio is the driving force. Students will have the opportunity to create original podcasts for final projects. Readings include: Fighting for Air: The Battle to Control America's Media by Eric Klinenberg; Bunk the Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post Facts, and Fake News by Kevin Young. Students should have a basic knowledge of audio editing software: ProTools, GarageBand, Audacity, Logic, or other editing software.