1. Audio
 The importance of sound. Sound can be an
excellent way to go beyond the pictures and text a
reporter produces in covering a story. Sound gives
voice to sources in a way that text cannot.

2. Advantages of audio
 Audio is usually easier for people to consume on the
go; You can listen while doing other things.
 It’s easier to edit than video; less intrusive than a
video camera
 Requires less bandwidth
 Most people are able to consume much longer
podcasts than video

3. Gathering Sound
 Use a digital recorder
 More science than art
 Remember that microphones pick up sounds much
differently that the human ear
 Try to use headphone when recording sound
Consider mic placement

Always consider natural sounds


4. Editing Audio
 Audacity (it’s free!)
 GarageBand (Apple product)
 Soundtrack Pro (part of the Final Cut studio)

5. Audio Formats
 MP3 (always compress the audio file into an MP3;
it’s a universal format)
MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3 is a standard technology and format

for compressing a sound sequence into a very small file (about
one-twelfth the size of the original file) while preserving the
original level of sound quality when it is played.
 Windows Media
 Real (Real Audio)

6. When should you use audio?
 Interviews
 Do you really need a “talking head” to convey your message?
 Is there a compelling reason to have visuals?
 Who says you can’t use both audio and video.
 Both video and audio have their place. Think through your
goals, define your target audience and decide what is best for
you and them.

7. Podcasting
 Podcasting. A web-based audio broadcast made
available for download
Here’s how Apple describes it: A podcast is an episodic

program delivered via the Internet using an XML protocol
called RSS. Podcast episodes can be audio files, video
files, documents, or any combination of the three. The
publisher or broadcaster podcasts the program by posting the
episodes and the XML document to a Web server. The
consumer subscribes to the podcast using a client
application, such as iTunes, which regularly reads the XML file
and downloads new episodes.

8. NPR
 Radio journalism in the style of National Public
Radio offers some of the best examples of how to
transport your listeners — take them inside the story
and provide for them an experience of the place, the
situation, the people of the story.
 NPR Podcast Directory
 Other podcasting
New York Times
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