Learnings from OpenCoffee Limerick

I wasn’t able to attend OpenCoffee Limerick yesterday morning, but I dropped in as the gathering broke up in time to catch the following useful insights:

• Since the latest version of Google Reader, James Corbett no longer uses Feeddemon. I remain attracted to the idea of offline feed reading, but I must admit that one of the reasons I’ve fallen behind is that it’s often less attractive to open another application to read my feeds.
• Plans are underway for the “Paddy’s Valley” blog-inspired Irish entrepreneurs tour of Silicon Valley in December.
• It might be a good idea to hold Podcamp Ireland on the same weekend as the Podcast Expo in California. Discuss!
• The social network of choice for many Tipperary Institute students is Flickr.
• The informal coffee morning in Limerick’s Clarion Hotel has already spawned a joint venture development project between 3 of the companies involved.

Bernie Goldbach has a detailed report.

Programme for Government commits to deliver for Independent Radio and TV sector

From www.radioproducers.ie:

As the new government takes office, the Association of Independent Radio Producers of Ireland (AIRPI) welcomes the commitment published in the programme for government agreed between Fianna Fáil and the Green Party to develop the independent radio and televison sector …

Disclosure: I am a serving member of the executive committe of AIRPI.

Podcamp Ireland Anyone?

Krishna De raised the question over at the Irish podcasters group.  What about an Irish PodCamp?  We’ve actually had two events already: piggy-backed on Barcamp Waterford and on the Irish Blog Awards, but maybe it’s time to have a stand-alone event – perhaps a half-day?

There are a lot of questions to be answered before something like this can happen.  The first question is: Who?  Who would like to attend?

The discussion has begun at PodRepBod.  And in the grand tradition of podcamps, barcamps and unconferences I’ve started a wiki.  If you would be interested in attending PodCampIreland, depending where and when it is held, please visit podcamp.pbwiki.com/PodCampIreland and put your name on the list of attendees.

Books in The Park: The Podcast

Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown County Library are certainly innovative in their approach to promoting literacy.  Next Saturday they present a unique opportunity to meet authors “in the flesh” – and in the open air – at Books in the Park, which will feature 10 well-known writers at a family fun day in Cabinteely Park.

In a further innovation, the Library will use this event to pilot the use of podcasting as a means of extending their reach in the community.  The event will be recorded by the award-winning podcast company Edgecast Media, who will produce two programmes featuring highlights of the afternoon’s events, for distribution on the internet and playback on computers, iPods, or other mobile devices.

Both adult’s and children’s authors will take part in simultaneous events from 2:30 to 4:30 pm.  Weather permitting these will be held outdoors, otherwise they will move indoors to Cabinteely House.

For the adults there is crime author Paul Carson, Jacinta McDevitt, Robert Dunbar, Sarah Webb and Marisa Mackle, while children will be entertained by Don Conroy, Joe O’Brien, Derek Landy (of The Skeleton Detective fame) Oisín McGann and Aisling O’Loughlin. There will also be face-painters, henna artists, magicans, jugglers and balloons for the young and young at heart! The fun starts at 2.30pm, and continues until 4.30pm. Admission is free and no booking is required. All welcome to this unique library event in the great outdoors!

How To Get Started As A Podcaster

I get asked this a lot. And I’m only too happy to help. The point about podcasting is that anyone can do it. You don’t need broadcast quality sound to podcast for your family, friends or sports club. In fact, as a consultant, I will sometimes advise on a low-fi approach depending on the requirements of the client (internal communications, community and voluntary groups, etc.)

The vast majority of podcasts are hobby-productions which give enormous satisfaction to those who produce them and the select audience for whom they are intended. If you want to get started in podcasting, you’ll find a wealth of free information on the web, including on this site here. If you have a specific question, feel free to get in touch and I’ll help if I can. Here’s an extract from an email response I sent this morning:

Emotional Intelligence in Application

Last Monday’s Irish Times caught my eye with the words “New Business Magazine” on the cover, and I bought my first copy in months.  Next morning, on a train trip to Dublin, I got around to reading it, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it felt a lot like reading some of my favourite Web 2.0 blogs.  The magazine is called Innovation and it’s heavy on technology, startups, research and, of course, innovation; and I’ll definitely be looking out for it in future.  (Wonder if I can get it with RSS?!)

One of the most interesting things from my point of view however was an interview with Emotional Intelligence evangelist Daniel Goleman, who recently conducted a seminar in Dublin.  Interesting, because I had just that morning completed pre-production on a new series of podcasts with my client Michael Byrne on that same subject: Emotional Intelligence.

Podcaster? – or Radio Producer?

What’s the difference between a podcast and a radio programme?  Well, it’s like the difference between milk from a bottle or milk from a carton: none whatsoever.

That’s why my business card says both.  In the past year I’ve produced podcasts which were syndicated on radio, and radio shows which were published as podcasts.

The cool thing is that it’s not just podcasting which is going through an exciting phase at the moment – so too is the radio industry in Ireland.

I’m in Galway today for a meeting of the Association of Independent Radio Producers of Ireland.  It’s a new organisation dedicated to helping the development of the independent radio sector.  I was recently elected to the executive committee of the association (thanks to the nominations of fellow podcasters!) and I’m really looking forward to working with them over the coming year.

Digiculture #2: Media Moves

Digiculture Episode 2 (30MB, 32:01, MP3) is out, and on an iTunes near you!  It features an interview with David Dunn of Mediaforum in relation to the Media Moves conference (as mentioned here previously).  There are more eachtraí from the world of the wandering podcaster, including my 3-minute elevator pitch from the IrishBusinessWomen.com conference!  All I need now is a very slow elevator …