FORUM 10: Southern Regional Podcasts

This week we will analyze some podcast trailers as you prepare to create our own. Trailers are short, catchy descriptions of a show. Most podcast distribution platforms give you the ability to designate an uploaded audio file as a "trailer," which will display it at the top of the episode list in podcast apps. This makes your trailer the first thing a new listener is likely to hear.

For the Discussion Forum, listen to the trailers below. As you will hear, these shows are all very different in their format and storytelling approach. The one factor that unifies them is geography – these are all shows that center on the American South and make southern identity a part of their audio aesthetic. Like most trailers, these are short so listen to all of them and then choose two (2) to compare and contrast by answering the questions:

How do these shows identify themselves as "southern" in their trailer?
What audio aesthetic elements (sound quality, musical arrangement, pacing, vocal delivery, etc.) communicate "southerness"?
All of these shows challenge stereotypes of what it means to be "southern," do you think that message is effectively communicated in the trailer? Is so, how? If not, how could the trailer be more effective?
Are you interested in listening to any of these shows after hearing the trailer (may or may not be the shows you choose to analyze)?

Southern Regional Podcast Trailers
White Lies  https://www.npr.org/2019/05/03/720096355/introducing-white-lies
S-Town  https://www.wnyc.org/story/preview-of-stown-our-new-show/
Dolly Parton's America  https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/dolly-partons-america/episodes/dolly-partons-america-trailer
Gravy  https://sfagravy.libsyn.com/welcome-to-gravy
The Bitter Southerner Podcast  https://bittersoutherner.com/bitter-southerner-podcast-season-one
Buried Truths  https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-iaytd-3c62fbc?utm_campaign=w_share_ep&utm_medium=dlink&utm_source=w_share
Catlick  https://www.spreaker.com/user/btharman/audio-trailer-raw-vocal-10-7-19-10-34-pm
(YouTube)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b6UI7AbEs8&feature=emb_title

To receive full credit you should make a meaningful comment on at least two (2) of your classmates' posts. A meaningful comment is defined as 2-3 sentences that demonstrate clearly you have 1) read their original post in its entirety, and 2) you are responding to their thoughts and ideas in a clear and respectful way.


TRAILER DRAFT

Podcast trailers are short, catchy descriptions of a show. Most podcast distribution platforms give you the ability to designate an uploaded audio file as a "trailer," which will display it at the top of the episode list in podcast apps. This makes your trailer the first thing a new listener is likely to hear.

For this assignment, you will create an initial trailer for your show. The trailer should describe to the audience what the show is about and should also introduce them to narrative and aesthetic elements of the show such as the theme music or any signature sound effects. The trailer should be about ninety (90) seconds in length. You should endeavor to produce a trailer that is as complete as possible in order to get the most effective feedback possible. Next week we will give each other feedback on our trailer drafts, and you will continue to revise your trailer until you submit a final version as part of your Podcast Package at the end of the semester.

To submit your work, click "File" > "Export" > and choose "Export Project to MP3 File." Soundtrap may direct you to click "Save" or to wait until the project is mixed on its servers before it will allow you to export it. Once you have the exported MP3 submit that file to D2L. To submit your MP3 to D2L, click on the "Trailer Draft" thread in MODULE 10 and then click "Start a New Thread." You can title the thread with the name of your podcast and then give a brief description of what you have produced so far in the text box. Scroll down to where is says "Add attachments," click that and then click "Upload." To finalize submission of your MP3, click "Post." After submitting, you should go back and verify that your submission has posted correctly to ensure you receive full credit for your work.

You should also utilize the "Share" feature in Soundtrap to share the project to my email: jasonguthrie@clayton.edu.

There are no comments required on your classmates' submissions this week as we will be giving each other detailed feedback on our Trailer Drafts next week.
