Using the topic chosen by your group, create a conversational podcast episode. The episode should be about 30 minutes in length and include all the members of your group. The podcast should also include audio samples that bring research or other relevant materials into the conversation. One member of your group should serve as the media person who will be in charge of playing samples during the performance. You may also want to designate an MC, who will guide the conversation--or you can have all members lead/drive the discussion. The aim is to have everyone involved in an authentic dialog. Here are more details:
Research driven: The podcast should provide an alternative means of exploring the research question(s) you develop related to your topic. As such, it should include significant research. Each of you will conduct research, so you will want to coordinate so that you cover a range of concerns related to the topic.
Conversational, yet focused: You will need to develop as a group a "script" that consists of talking points/prompts, quotations from sources, and plans for media samples. You should not write out things that you want to say. The script will serve as a roadmap, but you may end up with a few detours along the way. Aim for a somewhat casual tone applied to a serious topic.
Captured live: You will record the podcast in a live session in class. You will need to do some planning and practice so that the recording session goes smoothly and takes up the key points you want to discuss. We will go over these logistics in class. Recording will take place between Feb 27th and March 3rd.
Post-production podcast submission: Once you capture the conversation, you will each use the raw materials to create shorter (5-10 minute) audio essays. For this version, you can take the piece in your own direction. You can incorporate additional audio samples. You will also develop a formal script, integrate sound/music, etc. These versions will be composed individually and due on March 19th.
This assignment should give you an opportunity to think about how audio formats can be used to communicate and how a live conversation differs from an audio essay format. You can think of it as a kind of presentation mixed with a conversation, followed by another media composing opportunity. You are responsible for conducting research and sharing it via an audio format. You will create a compelling discussion about the topic as a means of doing so. And you will then develop and polish an audio piece so that it is a solid composition.
You will need to use the group sprint format that we deployed for your report drafts. Here are details on that.