Students

MMCC1008 – Introduction to Podcasting

2023 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor, Lecturer and Tutor
Helen Wolfenden
helen.wolfenden@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email. (Note that I don't access messages on my desk phone.)
10HA 193E
Please email for an appointment.
Tutor
Fereydoun Pelarek
fereydoun.pelarek@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email only
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

In this unit you will be introduced to both the narrative and technical tools of audio storytelling. The unit will explore podcasting as a new form of spoken-word audio identifying both the continuities and divergences from precursors like radio and other allied media genres. This unit has a significant practical component and culminates in the production of a podcast episode. There is a particular focus on the requirements of producing content for the ear.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: identify the principles and techniques underlying contemporary spoken word audio production and practices.
  • ULO2: apply practice and production skills.
  • ULO3: communicate using appropriate styles and techniques for spoken word audio.
  • ULO4: evaluate practices, production, technologies and techniques used to create podcasts

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. 

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Quizzes 15% No Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. Due 11.00 on the following Tuesday.
Practice-based Task 35% No 16:00 01/09/2023
Media Presentation: Podcast Episode 50% No 16:00 25/10/2023

Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. Due 11.00 on the following Tuesday.
Weighting: 15%

 

Quizzes will be based on listenings/readings.

Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify the principles and techniques underlying contemporary spoken word audio production and practices.
  • evaluate practices, production, technologies and techniques used to create podcasts

Practice-based Task

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 16:00 01/09/2023
Weighting: 35%

 

Students develop a podcast concept.

Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify the principles and techniques underlying contemporary spoken word audio production and practices.
  • apply practice and production skills.
  • evaluate practices, production, technologies and techniques used to create podcasts

Media Presentation: Podcast Episode

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 16:00 25/10/2023
Weighting: 50%

 

Students work to produce a podcast episode.

Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify the principles and techniques underlying contemporary spoken word audio production and practices.
  • apply practice and production skills.
  • communicate using appropriate styles and techniques for spoken word audio.
  • evaluate practices, production, technologies and techniques used to create podcasts

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Please Note: Lectures and tutorials commence in week 1. Please attend all classes.

This unit uses lectures and tutorials. Technical instruction is also via LinkedIn Learning. Content generated in this unit may be used as exemplars for future students.

During this unit you will have access to the Adobe Creative Cloud DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) Audition. Training for Audition is via LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) and you can access all their online training videos via the library: https://libguides.mq.edu.au/linkedinlearning.

The course for this unit is called Audition CC 2019 Essential Training and is available here:Audition Essential Training  Note that it takes a film based approach to the software but it still delivers a comprehensive guide to using Audition. Feel free to skip the sections relating specifically to Premiere Pro if you prefer. Please allocate at least one hour a week to access the training and practicing your technical skills.

iLearn is a major component of this unit. Please refer to iLearn frequently and undertake the quizes, readings/listenings and activities. It is very important to check announcements on iLearn regularly.

Please ensure that your computer has adequate RAM and space to run the DAW and store your audio files.

Recommended: one set of good quality closed or semi-closed headphones.

REQUIRED READING A selection of readings and listenings are detailed on iLearn.

Readings/listenings are accessed via Leganto http://libguides.mq.edu.au/leganto

NOTE that you MUST access Leganto via the block in iLearn in the first instance. This is how the system verifies you as a student in this unit.

Students should draw on at least two sources for their written reflections, required in the documentation portion of the assessments.

Recommended Readings

  • Abel, Jessica. 2015. Out on the Wire: The Storytelling Secrets of the New Masters of Radio. Penguin Random House.
  • Alten, Stanley. Audio in Media. 10th Edition, Belmont CA: 2013 (The bible of audio production for those really serious about sound.)
  • Biewen, John. Reality radio: telling true stories in sound, Durham, 2017
  • Crook, Tim. The Sound Handbook. London. Routledge 2012
  • Emm, Adèle. Researching for the media: television, radio and journalism, London; New York 2014.
  • Frangi, Anthony. Radio toolbox: everything you need to get started in broadcasting. Palgrave Macmillan 2012.
  • Geller, Valerie. Beyond Powerful radio: a communicator's guide to the Internet age. Belmont CA: 2006.
  • Keeble, Richard. Ethics for Journalists. London & New York, 2008
  • Kern, Jonathon. Sound Reporting: the NPR Guide to audio journalism and production, Chicago: 2008
  • Lingren, Mia, and Philips,Gail. Australian Broadcast Journalism. 3rd Ed. Oxford Uni Press: 2013.
  • Loviglio, Jason & Hilmes, Michele (Eds) Radio's New Wave: Global Sound in the Digital Age, Routledge: 2013.
  • McLeish, Robert. Radio Production, 6th Edition, Oxford: 2016
  • Nuzum, Eric. Make Noise: A Creator's Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio Storytelling, Workman Publishing Company, New York: 2019.
  • Talbot-Smith, Michael. Sound Assistance. London: 1999

Journals of relevance (via library/electronically available)

  • The Radio Journal: international studies in broadcast and audio media, (UK/international).
  • Journal of Radio and Audio Media, (USA)
  • Radiodoc Review: online journal reviewing documentary radio/audio (international) http://ro.uo w.edu.au/rdr/

Podcasts

New podcasts are popping up all the time. Some good ones are:

  • Australian: The ABC has many! https://www.abc.net.au/radio/podcasts/ Listen to a variety. You might like to try Earshot, Patient Zero, The Eleventh, Sum of All Parts, Trace, Conversations or Off Track.
  • Also see the full list of finalists from the Australian Podcast Awards: https://australianpodcastawards.com/
  • Community radio: FBi's All The Best https://fbiradio.com/podcast/all-the-best/ is very much the model for our us. 2SER also has some great podcasts https://2ser.com/podcasts/
  • International: From USA: Radiotopia, Serial, S-Town, This American Life, Freakonomics, Radiolab, Out on the Wire, StoryCorps, Radio Rookies, The Truth, The New Yorker Radio Hour, HowSound, From Our Own Correspondent, Third Coast International Audio Festival, Home of the Brave, The Heart, Love + Radio, Death, Sex & Money, 99% Invisible. Also try The Kitchen Sisters programs/projects (Davia Nelson & Nikki Silva are award winning producers based in USA http://www.kitchensisters.org)
  • UK: BBC Sounds https://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts; The Next Episode, Pieces of Britney, The BBC Academy (especially the Podcastology episodes), Forest 404 and many more!
  • Also check out he latest audio productions from print publications like The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/podcasts.

Web radios and audio sites of interest

Student radio sites, radio/journalism competitions and radio resources for learning

Unit Schedule

Please refer to iLearn for a detailed and downloadable unit schedule.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

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Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

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Unit information based on version 2023.01R of the Handbook