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

Available for download on Saturday, May 06, 2028

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