Say it aint so…
An applematters article discusses the current state and ultimate fate of podcasting, and, dismayingly, discusses the probability that Podcasting as we know it, with it’s warm, human and grassroots feel, is destined to be edged out by the pro’s, who, with an ever-tightening grip on the medium, will do what they do.
I don’t necessarily disagree, but I HATE to see things go that way…the medium is rich, and I believe that there is a demand for the humanistic, bare bones aspect of podcasting that removes it from the mass-produced realm of the networks, ClearChannel and Cable TV. With everything on commercial feeds now sounding so mass produced and cookie-cutter similar, podcasts, yes even the HORRIBLE ones (and I havn’t really found any that are totally without merit) are refreshingly candid and immediate.
I hate to think that another grass roots effort, so promising for the average person, is destined to be snapped up, sanitized and drained of spontaneity. Yes, there is room for the pros (vis NPR), but let’s peacefully co-exist.