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It’s a busy information day, so I gained’t waste time: Adnan Syed’s homicide conviction has been reinstated, NPR cancels a few of its standalone podcasts, and Slate takes its podcasts to YouTube.
NPR cuts consequence within the cancellation of 4 podcasts
Final week, NPR enacted its deepest layoffs for the reason that Nice Recession in an effort to make up for a $30 million shortfall. Ten % of the workers — greater than 100 folks — had been laid off, and all however one job emptiness was faraway from the community’s careers website. The cuts touched all sectors of the group, together with the enterprise aspect and radio manufacturing, however podcasting seems to have been hardest hit.
None of NPR’s radio exhibits had been canceled on account of the cuts, however the identical can’t be mentioned for the community’s podcasts. Seasonal podcasts together with Invisibilia, Louder Than a Riot, and Tough Translation have stopped manufacturing, as has Wait Wait… Don’t Inform Me! spinoff Everybody & Their Mother. Moreover, the workers of every day science podcast Brief Wave introduced that they must reduce to three days a week.
No one was going to be proud of the cuts regardless of how they got here down, but it surely was stunning how swiftly NPR deprioritized its podcast-only lineup. And as many observers famous, the minimize exhibits represented among the community’s most important makes an attempt at diversifying its tales and expertise. When you haven’t but, I like to recommend studying Nick Quah’s newest piece for Vulture on why the cuts are unhealthy information for the way forward for NPR:
The media and podcast world quickly modified round NPR, and for a number of years, it appeared just like the public-radio establishment was equally altering in response by way of the way it thinks about operations, range, the way it sounds, who it serves. However moments of deep crises are likely to carry out basic identities, each in folks and in establishments. NPR shedding so a lot of its folks is already such a horrible factor. What’s moreover distressing about this second is what it portends for the chances of NPR’s future — and what it reveals, maybe, about how NPR has at all times considered itself.
The community says it isn’t giving up on narrative storytelling, regardless of the cuts. “These projects include some of the best work NPR has ever done. We are exploring ways this work can continue in other forms. We are losing some amazing people,” mentioned NPR spokesperson Isabel Lara. “Our narrative journalism efforts will continue with Embedded and Up First Sunday, which will showcase the best longform journalism projects from NPR and across the public radio system.”
Adnan Syed’s homicide conviction is reinstated over a procedural situation
Adnan Syed, the primary topic of the 2014 podcast megahit Serial, made headlines once more final yr when his 2000 homicide conviction was overturned. Now, that conviction has been reinstated by a Maryland appeals courtroom.
The courtroom sided with an enchantment introduced forth by the household of Hae Min Lee, Syed’s ex-girlfriend and the sufferer of a 1999 homicide. The household argued that they weren’t given sufficient discover to attend the September listening to that led to Syed’s launch.
Syed’s conviction was overturned after state prosecutors turned up new DNA proof that didn’t implicate Syed. The choice that got here out right this moment doesn’t change that truth, but it surely does imply that one other listening to will have to be held to reaffirm his launch.
Slate takes its podcasts to YouTube
The lure of YouTube is inescapable. Slate is making its lineup of podcasts, together with Gradual Burn, Political Gabfest, and Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick, obtainable on the streamer. Slate is following the lead of legacy podcast shops like Freakonomics Radio Community and NPR in bringing audio-only exhibits to YouTube, which has develop into the most-used podcast platform for listeners, in keeping with latest surveys.
“Discoverability has become one of the biggest challenges across the podcast industry, and we see this as a real opportunity to build scale and reach a new, untapped audience on YouTube, which has become the world’s most-used podcast platform.” Charlie Kammerer, Slate’s president and chief income officer, mentioned in a press release.
The timing is sensible. YouTube not too long ago rolled out its podcast creation instruments in YouTube Studio and is getting ready for the launch of podcasts on YouTube Music. Whereas audio-only podcasts are nonetheless fairly clunky on the primary platform, podcast leaders on the firm promise a extra elegant audio expertise inside YouTube Music.
Apple Podcasts provides channels tab to library, brings extra episodes into Up Subsequent queues
Apple has rolled out some podcast updates the corporate first introduced in February. Now, Apple Podcasts customers will be capable of browse exhibits of their libraries utilizing the channels tab, which lumps in exhibits from the identical writer in a single place. Plus, CarPlay will now function customary Apple Podcasts features, like Browse and Up Subsequent.
Moreover, the app has adjusted which episodes seem in listeners’ Up Subsequent queues. Earlier than, it was restricted to new episodes from exhibits that listeners already observe. Now, the lineup may also incorporate episodes from exhibits that customers don’t observe however have saved to their library or have began taking part in. It positively looks as if an enchancment to the Up Subsequent expertise (not everyone follows exhibits they hearken to) and could possibly be helpful in constructing listening habits.
Amy Poehler companions with Cadence13 for brand spanking new scripted comedy podcast
Whereas Cadence13’s dad or mum firm organizes a inventory cut up to remain on the New York Inventory Change (extra on that later this week for Insiders), the studio has introduced on one other Saturday Night time Stay legend to beef up its comedy choices. Cadence13 is working with Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions to provide a three-season present that parodies totally different podcast genres. The primary season, Say Extra with Dr? Sheila, starring Poehler herself because the titular therapist, will publish later this yr.
The Podcast Present London is 2 months away
The Podcast Present London is returning for its second yr on Could twenty fourth and twenty fifth, with two days of programming and an enormous lineup of audio system together with Crime Junkie’s Ashley Flowers and Intercourse Truly’s Alice Levine. When you’re involved in attending, we’ve partnered with the group over there to get you all a reduction: observe this hyperlink and use code “HOTPOD” at checkout for 10 % off customary one- and two-day passes. P.S. ticket costs go up on Wednesday subsequent week (April fifth), so that you’ll save extra in the event you seize tickets quickly.
That’s all for now! I’ll see you subsequent week.
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