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WVUD posts podcasts online
4:17 p.m., Dec. 6, 2006--UD's campus radio station, WVUD-FM 91.3, is now posting podcasts of some of its broadcasts. Chuck Tarver, station manager, said WVUD began working with podcasts last year but just recently installed a server that keeps track of all their broadcasts over a 10-day period, making it easier for the station's producers to create podcasts of their programs. “The server allows us able to make the programs we do here available to people who could not listen on the radio,” Tarver said. “The types of podcasting we do tend to be public affairs programs.” Because of copyright issues, Tarver said the station cannot podcast musical programs but said WVUD is working on expanding the types of programs available online. WVUD chief engineer Dave Mackenzie said the process of making a podcast does not happen automatically. “As it broadcasts live, we make a recording of it,” Mackenzie said. “That recording is then converted to MP3 format.” The file then goes to the podcast server where it is posted online. Users can either play the podcasts from the web site or download them to play on an MP3 player or computer. Mackenzie said the speed of converting a program to a podcast can depend how comfortable people are with computers. The quality of the broadcast also affects the speed, he said, as older analog cassettes have to be converted in real time. Mackenzie said WVUD has had no trouble with the podcasts. “It's something the station is going to continue,” he said. Currently, WVUD offers podcasts of Dreamstreets, a program about past and present literary art in Delaware, Progressive Voices, a program that addresses environmental, political and social issues that affect Delawareans, Radio Alchemy programs and In the Light with Joe Madonna. Tarver said WVUD also has UD student commentaries in a podcast. As part of an English class assignment with adjunct professor Phillip Bannowsky, the students wrote and recorded commentaries, which they delivered on the radio. Tarver said they decided to make the commentaries available for the students, as well as future students of the class, to hear. Tarver said he has received some feedback about the podcasts but said it is more about convenience than reaching a larger audience. Marian Peleski has hosted Progressive Voices since March 2005. She said the idea is to give a voice to those not heard on the media. “Over the past year and a half, we have covered many topics. Programs have covered issues like the Food Bank of Delaware, chemical-free lawns, health-care issues in prisons and an interview with Noam Chomsky,” Peleski said. “Podcasts give the public an opportunity to listen to Progressive Voices at their convenience especially if they cannot catch our scheduled air time,” she said. Peleski said her program, broadcast Mondays at 7:30 p.m., began podcasting after Oct. 16. “As a radio station, we've been undergoing a transition from analog technology to digital technology which enables us to include components like podcasts,” Steven Leech, host of Dreamstreets, said. Leech's program airs at 11 a.m. every Tuesday. This year, Leech said he is broadcasting a 40-program long series about local Delaware literature from the early 19th century to today. Leech said he is using his past recordings and interviews with figures such as John Biggs Jr. the son of John Biggs, the late Delaware author and former roommate of F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as Fleda Brown, poet laureate of Delaware. Many of these recordings are located in Special Collections in the Morris Library. Leech recently concluded publication of Dreamstreets, a literary magazine that celebrated its 50th edition in 2006. Leech said he has received phone calls and comments about the podcasts. “The positive and good feedback makes me feel I'm doing something valuable,” he said. For more information about WVUD's podcasts, visit [www.wvud.org/podcast.htm]. Article by Julia Parmley |
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