Hello KoS nation, have a moment? I want to run an idea past you that could expand our conversations into another media. I'm exploring the possibility of the following project: Producing a webcast weekly comprised of blogger submitted segments, in the format of NPR's weekend edition.
Okay a little bit of background: I consider myself a politically aware, left of center, media obsessed individual. I read KOS regularly, as well as take a daily dose of the O'Reilly Factor (say what you will it's an interesting study.) In tandem these two sources have ofen driven me to ask myself, how can those of us on the left begin to express our opinion to a larger audience. I'm anxiously anticipating the arrival of the station being launched by Progress Media, and Al Franken's voice on the radio; but I've been left wondering what could the collective "we" do in the meantime? What I came up with was simple: steal an idea from Dean and improve upon it (hey it seems to be all the rage these days.)
This past week DFA launched Dean Radio, which I listened to briefly and was thoroughly underwhelmed by. However the idea is outstanding: using web-casting as another means of broadcasting. And after a little research: it's mostly free (check out winamp's shoutcast.) This is a rare chance to have a voice in the media that is unfiltered and inexpensive.
The question that I put to the community is twofold:
1.If given the opportunity would you be interested in submitting segments to a webcast "weekly"? Topics pulled from the preceding week ranging from local to national politics, the media and it's headlines, would be solicited. Segments would be submitted to the "producer" (aka me) in various audio formats (CD, Wav, MP3, aiff; I edit audio for a living so basically anything short of reel-to-reel), and edited into a prerecorded program that airs on a (tentatively) weekly basis. The program would either be broadcast via Shoutcast, live 365, or perhaps be a downloadable audio file (ala the NPR online archive.) Would you consider submitting to such a program? Do those of you who are interested in this have the necessary hardware to be able to record and submit?
Secondly
2.Would you be interested in listening to such a program of blogger submitted segments weaved in with listener feedback, music, and rebroadcasts of important speeches and such from the previous week?
I would qualify this post as "very exploratory" in nature, to basically gauge people's interest in such a project. I want to ensure that there are a good number of people who are committed enough to pledge regular submissions. My background in College Radio both on and off the air, has taught me I'm a far better producer than on air talent. While I plan on contributing myself, without substantial outside submissions this isn't something I can do. But based on my admittedly brief tenure here in KOS, there seem to be many informed and interesting voices here. The question is do any of them literally want to be heard? And will anyone listen?