Podcasts: A Tool for Freedom of Speech or Misinformation?

By Annabel Gorman, October 22, 2021

            In the 21^st century, podcasts are a new and convenient way of consuming media. Instead of taking the time to read an article or turn on the news, people can listen to podcasts in the shower, while they drive, and while they are doing something else. This convenience has made podcasts very popular, especially with younger people.

            Podcasts have many positive aspects about them other than their convenience which make them a positive resource in the media. Unlike the radio or traditional news, podcasts are not regulated. This makes them a powerful tool of resistance and freedom of speech. For example, according to Frary, in Vietnam, protesters released podcasts that provided alternative perspectives about Vietnamese culture and politics. Podcasts have been used in other countries where freedom of speech is restricted, such as Zimbabwe and China to offer alternative political perspectives.

            Despite the many positive impacts of podcasts, there are a few negative aspects that can undermine their credibility. One drawback is that podcasts are not regulated, meaning that anyone can say anything. While this lack of regulation provides freedom of speech for some, it also provides a platform for misinformation for others. Podcasts also play into the commercialization of media that Picket talks about in his article. In the United States, we do not have a strong public radio that values keeping the public informed over profit, and podcasts contribute to this. While some podcasts are free and from nonprofits, many are from organizations that either require payment or operate as a commercial entity. 

            To analyze the impacts of podcasts, I listened to The Evolution of Greenwashing on npr, which is about if companies pledge to lower carbon emissions actually translate to lower emissions. At the beginning of the podcast, the guest speaker, Jim Nicolo, shares an anecdote about buying a Volkswagen that claimed to be the most sustainable car on the market. This car was later exposed as a fraud. This anecdote showcases one of the positive aspects of podcasts, the ability to criticize. The guest speaker could openly share his negative feelings towards the car company without fear of repercussion. He goes on to say that the tech sector has authentic interest in making environmentally sustainable products and that the invisible hand of the market will lower carbon emissions. This podcast is from npr, which is typically reliable, so it does not show the negative aspect of podcasts that anyone can say anything. However, they did list a number of sponsors at the beginning of the podcast, which could show that this podcast is not part of the public media and is commercialized. 

Works Cited

Frary, M. (2017). Power to the podcast: Podcasting is bringing a whole new audience to radio and giving investigative journalism a boost. Plus, our handy guide to making your own podcasts. Sage Journalism 46(3): 24-27.

Pickard, V. (2017). A Social Democratic Vision of Media: Toward a Radical Pre-History of Public Broadcasting. Journal of Radio & Audio Media 24(2): 200–212

Huttner, P. (2021, Sept. 23). The Evolution of “Greenwashing.” [Audio Podcast Episode]. NPR Climate Cast.  

This post was edited on 12/8/21 to change the categorization from “uncategorized” to “Week 8”