Doha, Qatar: Doha Film Institute (DFI) is offering an opportunity for aspiring podcasters with its dedicated online training programme on podcasting.
Qatar and MENA residents are invited to apply for this programme, which will take place from September 5 to 10. The application process is currently underway and will continue until August 6.
Daily sessions, running for four hours from 4pm to 8pm, will be conducted in English. Participants will be required to pay a lab fee of QR1,100.
DFI said that this programme will equip participants with the knowledge, resources, and mentor support needed to develop their podcasting projects creatively and strategically. The training will include workshops on story development, sound editing, industry landscape, pitching, marketing, and project release in the current audio landscape. “In this course, participants will learn the basics of audio storytelling, the art of creating and producing distinctive audio podcasts. They will gain hands-on experience recording and editing with direction from industry experts. Participants will leave with an enriched understanding of the global podcasting landscape and its key players. They will receive invaluable tips on tools, funding models, audience development, distribution, and gain insights on how they will measure their success,” DFI said on its website.
The programme will cover various aspects, including an overview of the main global players in the podcasting industry, defining target audiences, scriptwriting, narrative arc mapping, generating immersive audio stories, planning, team roles, workflow mapping, selecting and using the right equipment, conducting interviews, and editing.
Participants will also learn about branding and marketing their podcasts, creating business models, and pitching their ideas to the industry, among other valuable skills.
No previous experience in podcasting or audio editing is required to participate in the programme. However, applicants should have some ideas about the type of podcast they would like to create. Only six to eight participants will be selected for the workshop.
The lab is open to serialised and story-driven audio projects, including fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid styles. Projects can be either short-form or long-form series.
The lab mentors for this programme include PRX Project Manager and Lab Programme Producer, Alexandra Blair; and Spotify Senior Podcast Manager and Lab Mentor, Rhea Chedid.
Guest speakers are Kerning Cultures Network Podcast producer, Al Shaibani; audio engineer and producer, Kevin O’Connell; Sowt Media CEO, Ramsey Tesdell; and Snap Judgment and Spooked Director of Production, Marisa Dodge.
More details about the programme are available at DFI website.
