DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/4SF3-X898
Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0001-7167-3171
Defense Date
2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Media, Art, and Text
First Advisor
Mary Caton Lingold
Second Advisor
Chioke I'Anson
Third Advisor
Michael Hall
Fourth Advisor
Mariam Alkazemi
Abstract
Podcasting and digital audio storytelling continue to grow and expand as we stay centered in the golden age of digital audio. But who is creating these podcasts; and more importantly, how and from where are they learning their craft? Podcasting has not yet received adequate attention in undergraduate mass communication programs, so people who want to go into the field often have to find their own way. I argue that audio should be incorporated as a basic requirement for all students pursuing any major housed in mass communication programs. Just as writing and visual fundamentals have been incorporated into the curriculum for every student, audio fundamentals should be as well. Even with the steadily increasing growth of podcasting creation and listenership, there is still a dearth of employable recent graduates who have the necessary skill-sets to be able to join the digital audio and podcasting industry, and record, produce and create quality content. I argue that there must be a widespread effort to recognize and address this existing problem, and prevent future generations of students from graduating out of mass communication undergraduate programs ill-equipped to successfully transition into the professional modern media world. This dissertation sets the stage for both the how and the why of this argument — laying the groundwork through an overview of the history and the steady rise of digital audio storytelling and podcasting, followed by how professionals have received their audio skills and how that training can and should be implemented into undergraduate classrooms everywhere.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-8-2023
Included in
Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Digital Humanities Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, Mass Communication Commons, Other Communication Commons, Radio Commons