Podcasting Pandemic Style

Contributed Photo

Edinboro University is taking its reach for multimedia presence to the next level with a new podcast platform, continuing to dive into the burgeoning medium of podcasts. 

 On Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 1:30. The PRSA NWPA Chapter and Edinboro University will host "Podcasting Pandemic Style," via Zoom. The event's pitch is: "Join us for this seminar if you'd like to learn more about what podcasting is, how to do it, and how you can implement this game-changing medium into your strategy."

To register, visit the registration form and receive Zoom details. Payment will be $10 for PRSA members and $15 for non-members.

The panelists of the event are Erika Grotto, content manager at Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA); Christopher LaFuria, deputy communications officer at Edinboro University and host of "Tartan Talks"; and recent 40 Under 40 honoree Chris Lantinen, social media marketing and podcast specialist at Edinboro University.

There will be news segments every episode where one of the policy directors will breakdown a current event with a focus on the terms, what it means to the members, and what actions they would be taking. Also, interviews about healthcare finance topics, with the same focus on steps they would be taking.

As a content manager, Grotto hosts a podcast through HFMA called "Voices in Healthcare Finance."

The popularity of podcasting has indeed seen an increase over the past couple of years.

In a letter to their shareholders, Spotify's popular music streaming and media services provider noted that more than 1 million podcasts are available on their platform.

"Audio has also taken on a greater role in managing the stress and anxiety many are feeling in today's unprecedented environment," the letter said.

According to a recent study, 75% of the U.S. population – an estimated 212 million people – are familiar with the term "podcast." In terms of listening to a podcast, 55% – an estimated 155 million people – have heard, up 4% from 2019.

Up 5 % from 2019, 37% – an estimated 104 million people – have listened to a podcast monthly. In most categories, such as listeners' age and sex, the percentages have all gone up from previous years.

Serving on the PRSA NWPA's 2020 Board of Directors, Ellen Kehl of The Nonprofit Partnership also sees potential in podcasting.

"I think that a podcast would enhance our offerings because it would provide another medium for stakeholders to learn about us and what we do," she said. "Everyone likes to get their information from different sources, so this would just be another."

Edinboro University's Center for Branding and Strategic Communication – part of the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network – also cashed into podcasting. The center began podcasting in late 2019 and finished installing their new podcast studio earlier this year.

"The podcasting studio has been a great expansion of our facilities and it may truly be the premier podcast studio in the region," Dr. Anthony Peyronel (the center's executive director) said. "That's one reason being part of this NWPA PRSA webinar is so important, because it will help us increase awareness of the new studio and its potential benefits despite still being partially locked down due to the pandemic."

Edinboro's beehive has five grant-funded centers that collaborate to encourage business growth: The Blasco Library, Edinboro University, Penn State Behrend, Mercyhurst University, and Gannon University.

Each of the five locations have their specialization. Edinboro's Center for Branding and Strategic Communication provides free assistance to regional entrepreneurs and organizations in public relations, advertising, graphic design & branding, web design, and social media management.

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is another organization with members across the country that serves to bring communications professionals together.

With more than 30,000 professional and student members, PRSA is collectively represented in the U.S. by 110 chapters and 14 professional interest sections. On nearly 375 college and university campuses through its student organization, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).