Should we hold our breaths for an IABC or PRSA podcast?
I’m getting used to heaving deep sighs these days. I heaved one earlier today when I read that the American Association of Petroleum Geologists launched a podcast for its members. According to the association’s Gerald Buckley (as reported by Steve Rubel), “All not-for-profit associations are facing a common problem—retention of aging member and student members.” Buckley added that using the podcast format is a way to “serve the entire spectrum in ways they appreciate.”
You can define a podcast a number of ways, but at its heart it is a communication channel. Whether you’re listening to Buckley dish up headlines and announcements about the association, its activities, and newest publications; Adam Curry waxing on about his troubles obtaining bandwidth in his new UK home; or Dawn and Drew talk about—well, whatever it is they talk about, it’s all still delivery of information from a source to an audience.
And where are the communication associations in their plans for podcasting? Silent. They may be talking about it; I’m certainl not privy to their internal conversations. But still, it’s an embarrassment that an association for petroleum geologists has adopted this communication channel before the communication associations.
Considering how tight the budgets are for IABC, PRSA, CPRS and the other associations, you’d think podcasting would be a no-brainer. At the same time the associations make information available to members in close to real time they would also be educating the membership about this powerful new medium.
01/27/05 | 4 Comments | Should we hold our breaths for an IABC or PRSA podcast?