Just Radio

Podcasting for Publishers from Just Radio and ContentETC

Many magazines, journals and newspapers want to add value to their websites with lively and professional audio material. The problem is, the quality of much of this content is variable at best, poor and damaging to the brand at worst. Just Radio and ContentETC have joined forces to offer their clients a professional podcast editing and training service.

We have successfully trained many editorial staff in how to professionally collect and compose audio material. We often encounter the common error in thinking that a recorded interview can be ‘knocked off’ on the back of a conversation for a print piece.

Many staff are enthusiastic about working in this developing medium and are full of ideas for web-based material. But in our experience this usually stops short of them being able (or willing) to shape and edit the final piece. Indeed it may be counter-productive to take journalists from their busy desks in order to labour for long hours on a task that a professional could accomplish to the highest standards in a fraction of the time.

ContentETC and Just Radio are now offering a service – that can be used across multiple brands – to ensure podcasts fully reflect the quality and editorial ambition of the publisher.

The Service

We offer total flexibility, and depending on the needs of each brand, our service can include…

Mentoring in how to turn editorial ideas into valuable audio material
Training in recording and interviewing skills
A ready-made editing service to shape and refine your audio material
Presentation training where appropriate, and access to a studio with technical staff and professional presenters

NB: Our aim is always to train and empower staff to take over the audio production wherever possible – but to be easily available when their expertise or confidence runs dry.

Why Just Radio and ContentETC?

Just Radio and Communications is the leading programme producer for the BBC. The Daily Telegraph describes directors Susan Marling and Kate Bland as “one of the best teams in radio.”

Between them they have won numerous industry awards (including 3 Sony Gold Awards) and have earned a reputation for working thoughtfully and creatively to engage listeners with information-rich, ambitiously formatted, unusual scenarios, with sector-leading sound design and engineering. Their broadcast output consistently attracts excellent reviews.

Alongside the BBC, Just Radio has a growing number of non-broadcast clients including the Open University, RIBA, the Wellcome Trust, and the Barbican. Its communications arm has provided training for a host of publishers and media owners, law firms, financial institutions and trade bodies.

ContentETC is the UK’s leading training provider specialising in content and communications.

We have built our reputation by tailoring all of our training, so that every one of our client benefits from exclusive, customised learning programmes. Our team of tutors, practitioners and experts skilfully relate their current real-world experience to the challenges and opportunities confronting the organisations we work with.

We work hand-in-hand with many media owners, helping them to optimise the transition from pure print to digital and integrated media. Our clients include IPC Media, Future Publishing, Centaur Media, Origin Publishing, Dennis Publishing, Hachette Filipacchi and the Telegraph Media Group.

What does it cost?

Less than you might imagine... We would tailor a proposal based on your specific needs, but as an example:

Podcast production
We can work with your team and their existing audio material to produce highly professional podcasts that are totally web-ready. As an illustration, to produce an 8-minute audio segment - using your own audio material (recorded and ordered to a satisfactory standard) – could be accomplished in half a day at a cost of £220.

Retained services
As an example, a monthly retainer fee of £880 could give you:

Access to a professional producer who can coach you and your team in how to turn editorial ideas into audio material
An editing service for approximately 4 podcasts a month. The number would depend on the length and quality of the material, and as an example, an 8-minute piece (using material that was in fairly good shape) could be completed in half a day.

Training
Our fees for training in recording, interviewing and presenting would depend on your specific needs and are based on our daily rate of £1185 per day. Any professional studio time that’s required would be recharged at a standard rate of £95 per hour.