In 1979, the Buggles released their hit song “Video Killed the Radio Star”. For many years it was
true; television had seemingly obliterated the once popular radio. Gone were the days when
families would gather around the radio to hear the latest news, instead people began gathering
around the television to watch images dance across the screen. But radio hasn’t totally
disappeared, it has morphed into a new wave of media that has become increasingly popular over
the past few years: podcasts.

I know what you’re thinking, “Podcasts? What? I deleted the podcasts app the minute I got my
phone!” I did too; podcasts seemed like boring talk shows nobody wanted to hear. What I, like
many, didn’t know was that podcasts were starting to become next big thing in broadcast
journalism. However, the creators of the infamous radio company This American Life and
investigative journalist Sarah Koenig called it from the start. The podcast “Serial”, a crime story
series, was released in 2014, and arguably jumpstarted podcasts as a popular form of
entertainment. Today, thousands of podcasts are being produced and listened to. Listeners can
find everything from comedy, crime, news, movie reviews and much more.
The rise of podcasts has changed the way people view, or rather listen, to broadcast journalism.
Podcasts have allowed for anybody with access to a recording device and internet connection to
have their voice heard, literally. People who simply have a good story or want to present their
research can do so without having to previously be a journalist. As a result podcasts are
extremely diverse, and have pioneered a new force in media.

The emergence of podcasts has also marked a societal change. We are once again mastering the
art of listening. In a world of politics not listening to their opponents’ opinions and mindless
social media use, podcasts are refreshing. They force people to actively pay attention to what the
speaker is saying, a skill useful in all aspects of life. As every teacher ever has once said, “You
have two ears and one mouth, so listen.”

Video hasn’t totally killed the radio star. Podcasts have emerged as a form of media that is both
thought provoking and relaxing. Don’t believe me? Just flip one on while you’re on your way to
to school or work. Sometimes seeing isn’t believing, hearing is.

Personal favorites:

– Lore: Horrifying non-fiction stories presented by Aaron Mahnke that each have a theme
relating to human nature.

– Serial: In-depth research and interviews in a season long series presented by Sarah
Koenig on groundbreaking crimes and events.

– True Crime Garage: Nic and the Captain tell crime stories piece by piece and theorize the
possible explanations for the most gruesome and puzzling crimes.