Podcast Journalists
All of the JEMUN podcast journalist pairs will be provided with the following equipment:
-A computer with Audacity software
-2 handheld USB audio recording device with earphones
-1 desktop USB podcasting microphone (Snowball)
At the JEMUN Conference, Podcast Journalists will follow the planning to production steps shown below.
Step #1: Research Before the Conference:
Learn about the agenda topic you will be reporting on before you come to the conference by reading books, doing research online, and learning how to pronounce unfamiliar vocabulary. If you will be interviewing a guest speaker, make sure you do research about them before the conference.
Step #2: What would you like to report on?
With your journalist partner, brainstorm the event/situation/happening/subject you’d like to report on. Some of this brainstorming can be done in advance, but a majority of it will be done at the conference.
Step #3: Visual Podcast Planning Sheet
Plan an outline of your podcast by using the podcast planning sheet. Remember to…
-plan your podcast in segments.
-make sure the segments of your podcast flow together with smooth verbal transitions.
-aim for your finished podcasts to be between 3 to 5 minutes in length.
-decide on interview questions you would like to ask the interviewee(s) and practice them.
Step #4: Conducting the Interviews
Consider the following podcast tips in mind when Interviewing your sources.
-If possible, choose a quiet location to do your interview.
-Test your microphone levels before recording. Make sure you adjust the distance to the interviewee's mouth to accommodate different speaking volumes.
-warm up the speaker with a few, non essential questions that get them used to speaking with you in a conversational tone.
- Ask the most important question first.
- Try to ask only one question at a time. Don't confuse the interviewee.
- Don't ask more than 3 or 4 questions. That is enough for one person.
- Don't interrupt the person you are interviewing unless it is necessary. This is especially true of verbal Aizuchi. Try to nod instead of speaking out loud. Wait until they finish speaking before asking the next question. This will help you in the editing room.
- Try to avoid looking at your notes. Memorize your questions and practice them ahead of time. This will help you establish a good personal connection with the interviewee.
- Listen carefully. The interviewee might have something important to say that you didn't expect.
Step #5: Writing and Practicing your Script
Finish writing your entire script on the visual podcast planning sheet and practice saying it. Consider these podcast tips when writing your script.
-Write everything the way you would say it, not read it.
-Set 2-inch margins left and right
- Double space each line of text
-Type content in 14 point
-Instead of using symbols ($%) or short forms (cm.) in your script, use the exact words.
-Write out numbers using words. (Example: write twenty-two million instead of 22,000,000)
-Use full names, not abbreviations or acronyms. (As soon as possible, instead of ASAP)
-Keep the language simple, clear and direct, so it’s easy for you to read and for listeners to understand.
-Use short conversational sentences.
-Use contractions (Won’t instead of Will not)
-Use punctuation in your scripts to help the narrator. (commas, dashes-, and periods.)
-Don’t use brackets or quotes as they can’t be heard and they are difficult to convey.
-Read your script out loud, have someone else read it out loud and then answer these questions: Do you /they stumble? Does it flow well? Does it make sense?
-Read your script out loud. If you run out of breath; make the sentences smaller.
-Go back over your script and highlight words that you wish to emphasize so your voice pitch modulates during delivery; rather than monotone.
-After reading to your partner, ask your partner where you stumble, whether the content flows well, does it make sense?
-Provide a final script that includes transcript of sound bites used so this can be read by people who are unable to hear.
Step #6: Recording the Script
-Keep the following suggestions in mind when recording your podcast script.
-Make sure your recording levels are ideal. Test them thoroughly before your record. Especially avoid clipping.
-Make sure your mouth and throat are fully hydrated before and during recording. A glass of water or tea will help. Chewing gum before recording also helps.
-Leave at least 2 or 3 seconds of silence at the beginning and end of a recording.
-If you make a mistake, don't pause or stop the recorder. Just clap twice loudly, pause for a few seconds, and continue from the point just before you made the mistake. You will be able to find the mistake easily in the audio wave forms this way (visually). This will speed up the editing process.
-Speak clearly into the microphone. Get your mouth close to the mic for best results. Use a pop-filter, too.
Step #7: Podcast Editing
When Editing the podcast with your partner and an Advisor, please use the advice below.
- Use fade in and fade out and the beginning and end of the recording.
- Use the intro and outro recordings provided by your advisors.
- Make sure to delete any errors you made in the recording.
- Normalise your recording when you finish editing it.
- Always listen carefully to the final recording before saving it as an Mp3 file.
Step #8: The Final Touches
Finish editing your podcast according to the JEMUN Journalism guidelines.
Step #9: Title
Decide on the title of your podcast.
Step #10: Checking your Podcast
Get your podcast and title checked by the editor-in chief.
Step #11: Saving your podcast
Save your podcast as an mp3 file and name it with your meeting room and podcast #. Example: meeting room two, third podcast would be: M2(P3).mp3
Step #12:
Put your podcast on a USB memory stick.
Step #13: Submitting your Podcast
Give the editor-in-chief a podcast submission form and the USB memory stick.
Step #14:
The editor-in-chief will inform the podcast team when their podcast has been uploaded by returning the request form.
Step #15:
The podcast team will update the coverage board.
Step #16:
Give your partner a high five and start brainstorming your next podcast!
All of the JEMUN podcast journalist pairs will be provided with the following equipment:
-A computer with Audacity software
-2 handheld USB audio recording device with earphones
-1 desktop USB podcasting microphone (Snowball)
At the JEMUN Conference, Podcast Journalists will follow the planning to production steps shown below.
Step #1: Research Before the Conference:
Learn about the agenda topic you will be reporting on before you come to the conference by reading books, doing research online, and learning how to pronounce unfamiliar vocabulary. If you will be interviewing a guest speaker, make sure you do research about them before the conference.
Step #2: What would you like to report on?
With your journalist partner, brainstorm the event/situation/happening/subject you’d like to report on. Some of this brainstorming can be done in advance, but a majority of it will be done at the conference.
Step #3: Visual Podcast Planning Sheet
Plan an outline of your podcast by using the podcast planning sheet. Remember to…
-plan your podcast in segments.
-make sure the segments of your podcast flow together with smooth verbal transitions.
-aim for your finished podcasts to be between 3 to 5 minutes in length.
-decide on interview questions you would like to ask the interviewee(s) and practice them.
Step #4: Conducting the Interviews
Consider the following podcast tips in mind when Interviewing your sources.
-If possible, choose a quiet location to do your interview.
-Test your microphone levels before recording. Make sure you adjust the distance to the interviewee's mouth to accommodate different speaking volumes.
-warm up the speaker with a few, non essential questions that get them used to speaking with you in a conversational tone.
- Ask the most important question first.
- Try to ask only one question at a time. Don't confuse the interviewee.
- Don't ask more than 3 or 4 questions. That is enough for one person.
- Don't interrupt the person you are interviewing unless it is necessary. This is especially true of verbal Aizuchi. Try to nod instead of speaking out loud. Wait until they finish speaking before asking the next question. This will help you in the editing room.
- Try to avoid looking at your notes. Memorize your questions and practice them ahead of time. This will help you establish a good personal connection with the interviewee.
- Listen carefully. The interviewee might have something important to say that you didn't expect.
Step #5: Writing and Practicing your Script
Finish writing your entire script on the visual podcast planning sheet and practice saying it. Consider these podcast tips when writing your script.
-Write everything the way you would say it, not read it.
-Set 2-inch margins left and right
- Double space each line of text
-Type content in 14 point
-Instead of using symbols ($%) or short forms (cm.) in your script, use the exact words.
-Write out numbers using words. (Example: write twenty-two million instead of 22,000,000)
-Use full names, not abbreviations or acronyms. (As soon as possible, instead of ASAP)
-Keep the language simple, clear and direct, so it’s easy for you to read and for listeners to understand.
-Use short conversational sentences.
-Use contractions (Won’t instead of Will not)
-Use punctuation in your scripts to help the narrator. (commas, dashes-, and periods.)
-Don’t use brackets or quotes as they can’t be heard and they are difficult to convey.
-Read your script out loud, have someone else read it out loud and then answer these questions: Do you /they stumble? Does it flow well? Does it make sense?
-Read your script out loud. If you run out of breath; make the sentences smaller.
-Go back over your script and highlight words that you wish to emphasize so your voice pitch modulates during delivery; rather than monotone.
-After reading to your partner, ask your partner where you stumble, whether the content flows well, does it make sense?
-Provide a final script that includes transcript of sound bites used so this can be read by people who are unable to hear.
Step #6: Recording the Script
-Keep the following suggestions in mind when recording your podcast script.
-Make sure your recording levels are ideal. Test them thoroughly before your record. Especially avoid clipping.
-Make sure your mouth and throat are fully hydrated before and during recording. A glass of water or tea will help. Chewing gum before recording also helps.
-Leave at least 2 or 3 seconds of silence at the beginning and end of a recording.
-If you make a mistake, don't pause or stop the recorder. Just clap twice loudly, pause for a few seconds, and continue from the point just before you made the mistake. You will be able to find the mistake easily in the audio wave forms this way (visually). This will speed up the editing process.
-Speak clearly into the microphone. Get your mouth close to the mic for best results. Use a pop-filter, too.
Step #7: Podcast Editing
When Editing the podcast with your partner and an Advisor, please use the advice below.
- Use fade in and fade out and the beginning and end of the recording.
- Use the intro and outro recordings provided by your advisors.
- Make sure to delete any errors you made in the recording.
- Normalise your recording when you finish editing it.
- Always listen carefully to the final recording before saving it as an Mp3 file.
Step #8: The Final Touches
Finish editing your podcast according to the JEMUN Journalism guidelines.
Step #9: Title
Decide on the title of your podcast.
Step #10: Checking your Podcast
Get your podcast and title checked by the editor-in chief.
Step #11: Saving your podcast
Save your podcast as an mp3 file and name it with your meeting room and podcast #. Example: meeting room two, third podcast would be: M2(P3).mp3
Step #12:
Put your podcast on a USB memory stick.
Step #13: Submitting your Podcast
Give the editor-in-chief a podcast submission form and the USB memory stick.
Step #14:
The editor-in-chief will inform the podcast team when their podcast has been uploaded by returning the request form.
Step #15:
The podcast team will update the coverage board.
Step #16:
Give your partner a high five and start brainstorming your next podcast!
All of the JEMUN Podcast Journalists are required to do a JEMUN pre-conference assignment. This is due on or before June 12th, 2017.