Looks like Tim Bourquin and the crew at TNC New Media are working along the same lines as I proposed in my presentation at this year’s Podcast & New Media Expo. My first few slides featured the tombstone at left. Yes I did have a slide that said “Podcasting is Dead,” but as with all things it was the context that mattered. I’m as heavily invested in podcasting as anyone. You’ll have to listen to the full presentation when it is available on our Podcast Academy channel (irony?).
The main thrust of my argument is that podcasting is dead for those trying to monetize the content they produce because it no longer holds any special sway or benefit. Frankly, in some cases the term may be hindering content producers because of the perception of that term among advertisers. The podcast community, the use of podcasting for individuals, corporations and organizations to distribute content, the ease of entry and all the benefits podcasting has brought us are alive and well. But if you are trying to make money from your content, you need to face facts; you are a Digital Media Entrepreneur. (Some like New Media Entrepreneur – that works too.) The sooner you expand your scope the better. That is a much bigger pool to swim in, and as such, all avenues of distribution must be considered, RSS or otherwise. While the phrase “podcasting is dead” sounds drastic, it is a good thing. It is meant to grab the audience’s attention and drive the point home: expand your scope. After all, in years past would have rather been a newsletter article writer or have expanded your scope and been in the publishing business?
Anyway, I noticed on the page for next year’s event, the name has changed. Now it is the New Media Expo.