NOTE: I’ve added some additional polls based on early input.
I’ve been toying with this idea for a few months. As many of you know, I currently work in radio, having done TV for 25 years. Logically with that background, with the clear success of WUWT, I’ve been approached more than once about doing a live weekly radio program. Here’s what my radio voice sounds like.
You’re listening to WUWT (click for MP3)
I’ve looked around a bit at what others are doing, for example at the “science” section of BlogTalkRadio. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I didn’t want to be in the same listing with the other people there. Sheesh what a nuthouse.
Doing a radio program is a big commitment. It is also expensive in that I’ll have to setup a home studio and streaming server. My current radio station isn’t properly equipped with live Internet streaming and I worry about breaking what is running now by adding new software and hardware. The last person who tried a hardware/software experiment on live production systems took us off the air for about 15 minutes and is no longer working there.
A radio program also has rewards in that it can reach many people who might not turn to blogs. It also offers a chance to have guests, much like guest posts on WUWT.
I wouldn’t limit the format to just climate, since the namesake is rich enough to cover most any topic. There’s also such a wealth of news each week to easily fill an hour long program.
I welcome input on the idea, and also any software/hardware combos that might be recommended for live radio streaming. I already have several ideas, but readers often surprise me with new ones.
And if I do it, what would be the preferred format?
Audio, video, or both?
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I’m still wondering what the radio program is supposed to achieve that isn’t done already on the blog. Are there so many illiterate or blind people out there who still are interested in science and use the web to make it worth while? Myself, I find I’m reading much faster (even though English isn’t my first language) than having content read aloud to me. Also, listening to talk radio is dreadfully “linear” – you cannot (as I habitually do) skim an article in a few seconds to find out for yourself whether it’s worthwhile, and if it is, then read and re-read it more slowly for full comprehension.
Audio formats IMHO should be reserved for things that cannot be expressed fully on the printed page, such as music, poetry/drama, or even political speeches (where sometimes the intonation gives an interpretation of the words said that’s quite dissimilar to what they look like in print). Science in my – maybe naive – understanding is about facts that neither need nor allow for interpretation (let alone artistical or poetical embellishment), so it’s a waste of effort to use anything but written words and occasional diagrams unless your target audience is somehow unable to digest these other than through audio.
Here’s a playlist
Bless the Weather : John Martyn
Snowblind : Black Sabbath
Hotter than July : Stevie Wonder
Cold Rain and Snow : The Grateful Dead/Pentangle
Cold as Ice : Foreigner
The Sun and the Rain : Madness
etc
Anthony,
I am so interested in this I would be willing to make a small donation to help defray the equipment costs. Do you have a way for those of us so inclined could make a donation?
I’ve been looking for science mp3 podcasts to load into my waterproof mp3 player when I swim. I had to switch from running to swimming about 6 months ago (my knees are betraying me 🙁 ) and, while swiming is better exercise, it is monumentally boring. Listening to podcasts while I do my mile is the only way I can fight the boredom of looking at the bottom of the pool for 35-40 minutes.
I’ve tried other ‘science’ podcasts but have found them wanting.
Go for it.
[Reply: there is a “Donate” button along the right sidebar. ~dbs, mod.]
Your voice is very easy to listen to and we know that you would offer an audience informed commentary and could offer some interesting interviews as someone here suggested. Do what you want to do Anthony,but remember to pace yourself.
I also agree with Janama ( 11:18), keep it simple for yourself and leave the onus on us to download your efforts. You do so much already that I would hate to see any added expenses of your time and effort for a perhaps limited gain.
I would suggest checking out Geekbrief.tv as they do 3 to 4 short podcasts per week. Neal and Cali quit their jobs and have been podcast for a living now for 2 or 3 years. Their podcasts are about tech stuff and they have a wealth of information about how they got up and running doing podcasts. Unlike many podcasts they are the talent and the production staff. As they have lived it, they are a wealth of knowledge about hardware, software, production and the internet as a business. You can get to some of that information here:
http://www.geekbrief.tv/podcasting-tips/
Best wishes and thank you for all you do.
This is a winner. As one can see by this blog there a hunger for science in the media. Like a lot of commenters here I’m sure,I’m still checking out the Mars rovers and following any new stuff on line. My wife is a radio producer and host who was born in Russia and she combs world news in several languages. Russia has scientific radio and TV programming of just the kind you are looking at and these folks are scientifically literate like no other. I think video – not just audio is best if this can be arranged. Its more of a hassle for production but the subject matter lends itself strongly to imaging – graphs etc. WUWT also would be a good educ. book series
If you choose video, “Watt’s on?” would be appropriate..
Anthony.
I say yes, do it.
BUT
As I see your blog, it looks as if you and the mods already have an enormous workload, apart from any work you do elsewhere (earning a living, perhaps?).
I would recommend that rather than commit to a defined schedule where you have to produce stories for a regular slot, do it on an ad hoc basis. That way, when a topic comes up that lends itself to that means, you can do it to suit your own time-frame rather than put extra pressure on yourself just to achieve a deadline of your own manufacture. Remember the periods last winter when you had to take time away to recover.
On the whole , I think that this would be a very worthwhile extension to the current blog, but not if it’s going to kill you or your marriage.
For myself, I would like to see a mix of MP3/MP4 that can be viewed/ listened to from the blog.
john
To open this idea up, get the ball rolling, going at a crawl, suggest — For the driving, jogging, cooking, cleaning, showering, bathing, shopping, conference-room-brief-not-listening, bike riding, ditch digging, sitting in a foxhole, can’t-use-a-keyboard mob, have hotlink audio versions of your blog articles that people can safely click on and listen to during these awkward times with their little old i-phones (or whatever they’re called). When they get home, or wherever it’s safe to use a keyboard– they can enter their response or feedback. Said response or feedback perhaps being a little more thoughtful given the extra time to think about what was being talked about? There’s always hope;-)
PS: To add emphesis to articles where humor or sarcasm is called for, might I suggest a lady’s voice with a down under accent?
My long post summarizing the ideas I liked best just got disappeared thru my stupidity. Most important: 1. what is(are) your purpose(s)? 2. will you have time for your wife and kids? 3. you have become (are) a “personality” in addition to a best-blogger — essential for radio; 4. donations plus subscriptions plus estimate of set-up cost so we afficianados can help defray; 5. lots of advice on most useful (both latest and that which appeals to largest audience) technology for your purposes; 6. link to WUWT.com for text and graphics; 7. perhaps this next step will enable you to hire a “manager’ and ‘tech person’ for live broadcasts; 8. continue to develop your inventive entrepreneurialism (whew) and investigative journalist persona (how desperately we need more like you).
About new format. I don’t like it (you did not give me a chance to vote that way — I don’t “hate it”). I feel most like JDS and Michael Larkin even though I do not have latest tech. New format does not feel “professional”. Everything is so spread out. Way too much white space; I think EM Smith said something like “snow blindness”. I can adjust the font size myself. I have many other reasons-feelings that I cannot articulate — but if this is what you want, ok with me.
Anthony–I think it’s a great idea, although I don’t know how you have time to do all the great things you’re already doing. There are so many radio and TV shows now spewing out nonsense and lies, it would be refreshing for the pubic to hear some real science (as opposed to the total garbage you hear and see on network shows). So I hope you do it, and if I can help in any way, let me know.
Don
One more comment: Anthony, you attract the most amazing commenters on WUWT and from so many fields and around the world. I continue to learn from each of them as well as from your, and your contributors’, posts. The experience has changed my life in this way: Despair would be easy these days in the currect educational/political climate (and I had to teach for years in a marxist(Cultural Studies)-curriculum-dominated institution), but with this many individuals thinking these truthful thoughts, living them in their daily lives, and demanding excellent of themselves and others, there is great hope. Especially, it is the everydayness of the experience of hope — for truthfulness, for the scientific method — that helps make life worth living. Steady as she goes (nautical meaning only) in whatever format/enterprise you choose.
First thought.. WHY? What will it accomplish that isnt being done now?
I’m sure this is going to get lost in here but I dont think I’m the only one who spends entirely too much time reading blogs and blog referenced MSM.. and using what I read to reason on the issues.
I read much faster than I can listen.
My first blog bookmark is ‘Instapundit’.. which often points to PJTV. I hardly EVER watch PJTV… because I cant watch listen to presentations at the same time I’m reading ‘between the lines of print’
If I’m wanting to think about a speech somewhere I look for the transcript FIRST.. then if there’s a question on context listen to the actual recording.
If I ever do watch/listen.. it’s to targeted issues like ‘Reason TV’. Or youtube.
Anthony.. I dont want to be unkind, I love this site. But just think about your own first reaction when you read another blogger is putting up ‘Additional Content’ in Audio/Visual media.
This sounds like a great idea. I would be willing to pay for it. 😉
Well, I voted for live streaming, but others have made excellent points about “record and post”… gives YOU more flexibility of up to the moment subjects and guests. If you podcast please also post in MP3 – not all of us are podcast-able.
But here is another suggestion I didn’t see above, think hard about going “remote” on a regular basis, say once a month or twice a year trips where for a month all sessions are remote, and how to do that. There is nothing like being where the action is, as you know. Yes, it is more difficult, more expensive, different equipment considerations…. But, to be standing on a Shasta glacier that is expanding, not contracting – even without video, THAT would be exciting as you describe the condition real-time! BTW, we had a film crew here at the house doing a movie and the cameras they used were the same size as a standard SLR (but $5-6k cost) and the director said they take as good of digital “film” as the $60 – 70k “studio” cameras do.
This would be fantastic as a weekly news recap and interview show – I would advise against fixed length or fixed format at least to start. Let content drive format from week to week and just tell us what happened that week, incorporating appropriate guests as much as possible. Don’t try to formalize/script too much or this will eat up way too much time for you. Keep it informal and casual, but by all means do it!!!
I would love to see (hear) you incorporate some sort of “Debate the Denier” segment or something like that. I realize that you would not have much luck getting the prominent alarmists to debate, but I think it would be outstanding to invite some of the more active bloggers/commenters/newsgroup participants from the other side to engage you and your guests directly. Sort of an opportunity for them to “give you their best shot” to support alarmism or challenge some of the WUWT content, and for you and/or your guests to respond and engage directly.
By showing a willingness to engage directly, even with non-experts on the other side, you would present an obvious contrast with the alarmists. And as the non-experts you engage inevitably appeal to the authority of the leading alarmists again and again, you can continuously remind them that there is an open door to ANYONE that wants to come in and engage on the issues.
Generally speaking, adversarial content, when conducted with class and poise, makes for extremely interesting listening. The beautiful thing about a podcast format for this is that it readily supports extended discussions when warranted and follow-up when appropriate.
(I would be willing to contribute towards the necessary expenses involved in getting this going, as I’m sure others here would be as well. )
I think this is a great idea … if you have the resources for it. My guess is that WUWT actually may be one of the future replacements for some old news papers that haven’t been able to develop. All kinds of reasonably accurate popularizations of science are very welcome in a world where the masses don’t have a clue about science … and things haven’t got better during the last few decades.
a rational voice of moderation is always a good thing in the public arena. people who do have time and interest will continue to come to WUWT. Additionally the traffic to the site will see some people that did not take much interest in the topic. That will create a better enviroment in the whole debate.
Anthony,
I am definitely among those that worry the radio work would be too much. If you so wish to proceed, get “someone else” to build the radio stuff for you out of your blogs and have you just read/record it and have them handle all the production and distribution details. You’ve did TV weather a long time, so maybe you have some old media friends that could help you?
Anthony, the idea is great – I would love it – but you do so much already!!
Still, McIntyre versus Mann – it’s even better than Federer-Nadal!
OH!
Anthony, you need to do a bit of original music for your show intro.
May I suggest that any song you choose be arranged in a do-wop style and be performed by Anthony and The Mods? ;o)
john ratcliffe says: I would recommend that rather than commit to a defined schedule where you have to produce stories for a regular slot, do it on an ad hoc basis.
This is my point of view too. Be careful. Less is more. After a while you will get a feeling what to do next, do not promise too much, something like one hour now and then, on an ad hoc basis, would be nice.
In a perfect world all the guest posters here, and Anthony, would put their posts on video. But I know that costs money. So I am happy with what I have here on this blog.
Not bad. A call in talk show would be the way to go. Maybe a 3 hr show on Sunday like Drudge used to have? You have all the info at your disposal and the callers too.