Listen up! How to Launch and Grow a Hit Podcast

This resource page features course content from the Knight Center for Journalism in the America's massive open online course (MOOC), titled " Listen up! How to launch and grow a hit podcast." The five-week course took place from August 20 to September 23, 2018. We are now making the content free and available to students who took the course and anyone else who is interested in learning the world of podcasts, from developing an idea, producing and editing it, and making sure it grows and sustains itself.

The course, which was supported by the Knight Foundation, was taught by Caitlin Thompson, Tobin Low, Rose Eveleth, Jacob Kramer-Duffield, and Jennifer Barish. They created and curated the content for the course, which includes video classes and tutorials, readings, exercises, and more.

Module 1: Podcast 101 with Caitlin Thompson

This week you will get a landscape overview of podcasting.

This module will cover:

• Where we’ve been
• Where we are now
• How it all works

Module 2: Show development with Tobin Low

This week you will learn how to shape an idea into a podcast pitch.

This module will cover:

• The basics of developing a new show
• The questions you should be able to answer when pitching a podcast
• How to start defining your production needs

Module 3: Production basics with Rose Eveleth

This week you will learn about the myriad ways that podcasts are actually made.

This module will cover:

• Recording tools and techniques
• Basic tape editing and processing
• How to get your final product out into the world

Module 4: Podcast analytics and audience engagement – what it is and where it’s going with Jacob Kramer-Duffield

This week you will learn about just what we mean when we say “analytics” in podcasting.

This module will cover:

• The history and structure of measurement and standards
• Some of the baseline numbers that the industry revolves around
• Where things are headed

Module 5: Sales and commercial viability with Jennifer Barish

This week you will learn about different revenue models in podcasting and its implications for media companies and independent creators.

This module will cover:

• The wild world of podcast ads (past, present, and future)
• Crowdfunding & premium subscription models
• Revenue expectations vs. reality