ONA Weekly #361: How To Add More Audio To Your Stories

By on May 26, 2021

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How to add more audio to your stories

Longform narrative podcasts are one of the biggest media success stories of the past few years, but they’re not the only way to add audio to the story (or the only reason to experiment with the form). As the Reynolds Journalism Institute notes, audio can make content more accessible. It can also make the story—and the work behind it—come alive, even if you’re not producing This American Life-type shows.

Here are some suggestions (from RJI and more) for moving beyond text:

  • Use audio to take readers behind the curtain: This could mean offering audio sneak peeks of tomorrow’s headlines or using audio to explain how stories come together.

  • Use text-to-speech services: There are many free and paid options available, and they are improving all the time. PopSci has a handy guide to tools that convert text to audio.

  • Consider the “papercast”—not detailed news briefings or a full podcast, but quick audio news updates. They have been used by metro newspapers like the Hartford Courant and the Idaho Statesman and can be converted for use by smart speakers. Listen to some examples here.

  • Keep an eye on audio-only social media: The big player in this space right now is the chat app Clubhouse. Though it’s most well-known for hosting celebrities like Elon Musk, brands are now on the platform. News organizations and media companies have been slower to follow (though Barstool is on the app), but this remains something to watch.

Dig deeper: Socializing a Visual-Less Future: The Future of Social Audio (2016) — slide deck Featured experts: Mathilde Piard from NPR and Delaney Simmons from WNYC Takeaways: Audiograms increase engagement on Twitter and Facebook, but don’t forget to track a variety of metrics and goals (i.e. raising awareness vs reminding fans to listen).

We’re always on the lookout for helpful resources and tips. If you have other examples to share, please reply directly to this email.
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Deadline today: Apply to be a screener for the Online Journalism Awards

Each year, we select a diverse set of volunteers to kickstart the review process for our Online Journalism Awards. People in this inspiring and fulfilling role help us discover the best work in digital journalism from the past year. Screeners will pass their recommendations to the OJA judging panels, which selects the finalists and winners. The job entails reviewing 25-30 entries and providing comments and scores. Screeners must be able to commit 10-15 hours to review entries from June 17 to July 9.

This is one of our most popular volunteer opportunities. The application deadline is today, May 26, at 11:59 pm EDT (3:59 am UTC). Apply now.
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Our Deepfakes, Disinformation and Democracy conference is coming up

As deepfakes become more and more advanced, they raise questions about media trustworthiness and how consumers can believe what they see.

This topic and more will be discussed at our Deepfakes, Disinformation and Democracy Policy Conference. ONA—along with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and the Association of Computing Machinery’s U.S. Technology Policy Committee (USTPC)—is holding this free virtual conference on Wednesday, June 2, from 1-4 p.m. EDT (5-8 p.m. UTC)

Hear from lawmakers and other policy experts, as well as representatives both from media organizations and technology companies. They’ll talk about the latest technological developments in deepfakes, trust in news media and issues of national and election security. Register here. (And in the meanwhile, check out this ONA19 panel on preparing for the future of deepfakes.)
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Submit your best social justice reporting to the 2021 OJAs

New this year: The Excellence in Social Justice Reporting category honors works of digital journalism that highlight systemic inequities encountered by marginalized and underrepresented communities. Topics may include (but are not limited to) migration, gender equity, racial justice and access to food and housing, with subcategories to submit a single story or portfolio. Submit by June 10.
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Stat of the week

When asked to evaluate the media’s standing, 41% of Americans say news organizations are growing in influence, compared to 33% who say their influence is declining. But just one year ago, the trend was reversed, with nearly half of Americans saying news organizations were becoming less relevant.
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Important dates

Note: All ONA events are currently happening online, and open to all regardless of where you’re located.
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Career opportunities

ONA’s Career Center is an excellent resource for jobs, fellowships and internships in digital journalism. Recent postings include:
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On our radar

The radar is now open for suggestions. Have you written or read a piece lately that would benefit others in journalism? We’re interested in sharing insights on trends, how-to guides, lessons from a project and other inspiration for innovation in digital journalism.
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