Here are some components to consider when you are analyzing podcasts.
1. What type of podcast is this?
This is important to consider because:
- News and documentary podcasts (just like news stories and documentaries) must follow certain codes and conventions so that accuracy and ethics are maintained
- This would not necessarily be the case with theatrical or dramatic podcasts – which can be considered fiction. These types of podcasts have more freedom to play around with the truth for dramatic effect
- News and documentary podcasts do not function in this way: they should be balanced, insightful, and objective on the subject that they are reporting on
2. Balance
A podcast, like a news story, should balance both sides of an argument in order to minimize bias. You can assess this by considering:
- The length of time spent on each side of an issue
- How multifaceted is the information that is being presented (various theories about an object being considered, versus just one theory only)
3. Bias
A podcast should be neutral. In order to assess bias:
- Listen to the language of the narration as it is often chosen carefully
- Can you learn anything about the narrator or the organization that they might be representing?
4. Subjectivity
Good podcasts should let the audience know and comprehend the personal feelings, tastes, and opinions of the podcaster(s) on an issue or subject.
- Can you detect the podcaster’s feelings on the issue? How is this expressed? What effect does it have?
5. Opinion
In podcasts, opinions that the podcaster expresses should be balanced with facts. To see if your chosen podcast is doing this, focus on whether:
- The podcaster is citing specific reasons that are based on verifiable facts
- Use your critical thinking skills to assess whether the rationale behind opinions expressed (as well as opinions expressed by those they might interview)
6. Representation, Ethics, and Credibility
In order for a story to be ethical, the subject must be represented fairly. Ethical podcasts usually rely on interviews, facts, and information that is already available. Additionally, a credible podcast will use information from credible sources.
- Is there any trace of this in the podcast you are analyzing? How do you know?
- Can you verifying the facts that the podcaster is presenting
- What sources of information is the podcaster using?
- Remember: the tricky part about credibility with a personal interview is that human sources may not recall exact details or possibly even lie. A good podcast presents these interviews impartially and closely analyzes their content to present an objective story.
Adapted from Lumen's Writing 102 - How to Analyze a Podcast - Authored by Marc Watkins; Provided by DWR: CC BY-SA
