Tag Archives: podcast

What would be a good story for a Serial-like podcast about Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh-serial-podcast-sLast week I finally started listening to the uber popular Serial podcast.  I know, I know, I am late to the part on this one. I did a bunch of driving around Easter and all of that time in the car finally gave me the chance to listen to most of the episodes of Serial.

It seems like every one I know (or at least most of my Facebook friends) are huge fans of the podcast. Since I have started listening to the podcast, I’ve been asking everyone I meet if they have listened to Serial as well.  I was surprised to learn that not everyone has listened to the podcast or even heard of it.

Serial is a podcast that debuted last fall that looks at one story over several episodes.  The first season of Serial focused on the 1999 murder of a Baltimore high school student.  Her ex-boyfriend was arrested and convicted of the murder, but he maintains his innocence.  Serial was a hit and has become one of the most popular podcasts on iTunes. The Serial podcast is co-produced by Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder, who are both producers on This American Life, another popular NPR radio show and podcast.

From the a November 13, 2014 WSJ article – ‘Serial’ Podcast Catches Fire:

In the normally low-profile world of podcasting, “Serial” is a certified sensation—a testament to the power of great storytelling. It’s quickly become the most popular podcast in the world, according to Apple, and the fastest to reach 5 million downloads and streams in iTunes history. “Serial” is the top podcast in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia, and in the top 10 in Germany, South Africa and India.

The popularity of Serial has led to a whole range of Serial spinoff websites and podcasts:

The first season of Serial is fascinating.  I have not yet listened to the final episode, but even though I already know the conclusion of the show, I have found every episode worth a listen.  

Serial does an incredible job of using storytelling to engage listeners in the story. By telling the story through first person interviews and interviews with experts in the field, Serial gives listeners an in depth look at this particular case and some of the challenges on the US legal system.

The other thing that I think is really interesting about the Serial podcast (and this applies to many of the episodes of This American Life as well) is how this very local story has had the ability to engage the listeners in not only a Baltimore story, but issues that are much bigger than Baltimore.

Serial Podcast + Pittsburgh = ???

Since the toy drive back in December, I have been doing alot of thinking about storytelling. Especially storytelling on the local level.   So as I was listening to Serial last week, I started thinking about how the format could be applied to Pittsburgh.

What would it look like if there was a Serial-like podcast about something in Pittsburgh?  What story would be good to dig in and research, and what would be the impact of having lots of people in Pittsburgh (and outside of Pittsburgh) listen and research this topic?

If there was a Serial-like podcast cast about a Pittsburgh story – what story would you want to see covered?  It doesn’t have to be a crime, is their a neighborhood or a place that you want to know more about?  What local stories could use a deep dive on research?

I have some ideas for stories, but I am curious to see what stories are suggested and if there are other bloggers and armchair sleuths in Pittsburgh that would be interested in researching a story that is local to Western Pennsylvania.

Please share your story ideas below in the comments or on Twitter with the hashtag #serialpgh.

Serial & Long Form Local Journalism

I am also interested in the idea of local journalism that goes deep into a particular story.  There are many times when I have been talking to someone else about a local story and we have wondered why the local media has not done a better job of providing an in-depth look at the issue.  Sometimes the Post-Gazette has done a lot of stories on a particular topic, but the PG and most local news sites don’t do much to link those articles together.  There have been several blog posts written about if Serial is storytelling or journalism, regardless of what category Serial is or is not, I am interested in seeing how an in-depth story can have a local impact.

If you are interested in the discussion about Serial and journalism check out some of these posts:

Serial Links & Twitter Accounts to Follow

Serial Podcast & Related Links:

Follow on Twitter:

All of these have been added to the Serial – Season 1 Twitter list.

Links Worth a Look – December 16th

Here are some links/articles/blog posts that are worth a look:

  • Should I Drink That? Brewcast – Belgian Christmas BLOWOUT! – Our favorite beer podcasters are back with a special holiday episode.
  • Looking Sharp!: Best bet – I just found this Pittsburgh Fashion blog. A nice post about Sugar Boutique and Jupe on the City Paper's Best of 2008 List.
  • BUS by deeplocal –check for the next bus by sending a text message! – I have been waiting for something like this – BUS is a free service that allows public transit companies to make their timetable data accessible over text message. Passengers simply text in a unique code from a bus stop sign near them, and they get back the times of the next available buses. BUS has been launched in the City of Pittsburgh through a partnership with the Port Authority of Allegheny County at select bus stop locations. Visit deeplocal.com for more info.

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Links Worth a Look – September 28th

Here are some links/articles/blog posts that are worth a look:

  • MCG Jazz » MCG Jazz Mission – MCG Jazz’s mission is to preserve, present and promote jazz. Through our performances, we strengthen the long time Pittsburgh jazz community and contribute to the overall cultural and artistic diversity of the region. Through our live recordings we reach a national and international audience – a market we’d like to grow. Through our educational programs we are able to have students attend the concerts at low or no cost to them, make artists available for master classes and provide opportunities for internships in production and marketing.
  • Pittsburghers knit items for upcoming movie with Charlize Theron – Check out this great story about how some Pittsbrugh knitters ended up creating some items for an upcoming movie with Charlize Theron
  • Living on Earth: Your Environmental Road Trip – YERT (Your Enviromental Road Trip) who started and ended their trip in Pittsburgh is featured on the radio program Living on Earth.

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Links Worth a Look – September 18th

Here are some links/articles/blog posts that are worth a look:

  • Raise a glass its time for Oktoberfest. – For nineteen years the Penn Brewery has brought Munich to Pittsburgh with our annual Oktoberfest celebration and this year will be no exception. Held the same weekends as its German counterpart, the Penn Brewery offers the most authentic Oktoberfest celebration in Pittsburgh.

    Friday and Saturday nights the party starts at 5:00 p.m. with live German entertainment, a delicious variety of German foods and our craft made, award winning beer highlighted by our annual Oktoberfest Bier.

  • FORTY UNDER FORTY – November 7, 2008 – Save the date – Pittsburgh Magazine and PUMP will honor 40 people in Pittsburgh under the age of 40 who are doing great things in the city.
  • Should I Drink That? Brewcast » Blog Archive » Episode 44 – Steel City Big Pour 2008 – My friends from the best Podcast in town are back with a new episode from the Steel City Big Pour (and a snazzy new website)

    Join us for the second annual Steel City Big Pour which is once again the greatest beer fest in the land. Featured breweries are:
    Scott Smith from EastEnd Brewing
    Brandon from Rock Bottom
    Mike from Troegs Brewing Matt from Voodoo Brewing Jim from Erie Brewing
    Fred from Hoppin Frog
    Woody from Ale Street News
    Chris from Bocktown
    Drew from Pipers Pub
    Aaron from Stone Brewing

    We're still giving away FREE TICKETS to the Brewing UP A Cure beer festival! Check out the contest page for details!

  • IheartPGH.com » Blog Archive » PARK(ing) Day – Parking Spots become Parks for a day – Friday, September 19,2008 – check out this comment on this history of Parking in Pittsburgh.

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Links Worth a Look – September 10th

Here are some links/articles/blog posts that are worth a look:

  • Major bass fishing tournament coming to city next year – I was totally enjoyed the bass masters tournament last summer. I am am thrilled more competitive fishing is coming to town. – "Pittsburgh has netted the 2009 Forest L. Wood Cup Championship, a four-day bass fishing tournament that pays the winning angler $1 million."
  • Jerry's Records: Pittsburgh's $3-a-pop vinyl treasure trove – Check out this article on CNET which links to a Podcast about Jerry's records in Sq. Hill
  • September Tech V!be – The September 2008 edition of the Pgh Technology Council's newsletter has some great stuff. Links to some IheartPGH favorite events and some other interesting upcoming events. If you aren't already on the mailing list for the tech council I reccomend you sign up.

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