A podcast is a digital media file, or a series of such files, that is distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and personal computers. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster. The term "podcast" is a of the words "iPod" and "broadcast". Though podcasters' web sites may also offer direct download or streaming of their content, a podcast is distinguished from other digital media formats by its ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added, using an aggregator or feed reader capable of reading feed formats such as RSS or Atom.
There are websites where people can download podcasts to whatever topic they arte interested in. That is a huge advantage in comparison to the radio. People have actually the choice to what they want to listen to. It has everything that can be thought of, starting from comedy to sports. Radio is giving people the choice to listen to the program if it is interesting, but for example at podcast.net, people can choose their own podcasts. It is very useful for journalists because it can give the information one might need and not find in the newspaper, regarding to a topic which has not been touched for a longer time.
The podcast can be downloaded and the access to it is very easy. Feed formats such as RSS, which nearly every computer has and every website make it easy to get the podcast people want. The BBC, Guardian Unlimited, Yahoo, all sorts of WebPages and news organizations have their podcast which is convenient, because for example journalists have missed the news, or an event that has recently happened, he/she can listen to it again. It is easy and convenient, because people can listen to the latest podcast on their way to work, as nearly everyone has an iPod or an mp3 player.
As mentioned in the beginning a podcast us distinguished from other digital media formats by its ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added, so it is easy for a journalist to follow one event, where new information are being expected, for example a plane crash, how many people have died or are injured, what was the reason for the crash, questions like that can be answered quicker when the podcast is being updated automatically. Information can travel quicker and journalists have the chance to do a better and quicker job.
A new way of learning a new language is through podcast, instead of buying all the books and expensive cassettes to get used to the sound. Lot’s of journalists have to travel and of course talk to a lot of people and maybe have to learn some basic sentences of a new language and on their way to the new place, they have the opportunity to learn.
As mentioned in the beginning a podcast us distinguished from other digital media formats by its ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added, so it is easy for a journalist to follow one event, where new information are being expected, for example a plane crash, how many people have died or are injured, what was the reason for the crash, questions like that can be answered quicker when the podcast is being updated automatically. Information can travel quicker and journalists have the chance to do a better and quicker job.
A new way of learning a new language is through podcast, instead of buying all the books and expensive cassettes to get used to the sound. Lot’s of journalists have to travel and of course talk to a lot of people and maybe have to learn some basic sentences of a new language and on their way to the new place, they have the opportunity to learn.
Podcast opens a new world to media and communication. Radio is there to listen and get entertained, but with podcast gives people the opportunity to get involved and the choice of what they want to do with that piece of information.
Podcast is different from radio, but people still talk about the new form of radio, probably because it has something to do that people are listening to podcasts and radio, although there are more ways of using podcasts than a piece from the radio.
