The BBC Academy Podcast

How audience insights can guide your podcast planning

The backstage technical wizardry that brings your podcast to your ear

How to talk about politics – and entertain as well

Eli Sessions talks to Louise Kattenhorn, commissioning executive for the BBC pop hub network, Lloyd Shepherd, Head of Product at BBC Sounds, and Emmanuella Kwenorty, who develops podcasts for BBC Sounds. Where do they think the world of podcasts is heading, and how is technology changing the way we listen?

In this episode Eli Sessions finds out how to keep conversations natural, with Hannah Hufford, producer of No Country for Young Women, and Sally Heaven, who produces Evil Genius.

In this episode Eli Sessions looks at those beautifully crafted podcasts that tell dramatic stories in depth. He speaks to Rami Tzaber, the editor behind 13 Minutes to the Moon – which told the story of the moon landing in intimate detail – and the commissioner who made it happen, Jon Manel, the BBC World Service's commissioning editor for podcasts.

In the first of a five-part series on podcasting, Miranda explains: - what makes podcasts distinct from radio programmes - how the role of the presenter is different from that on radio - the typical situation of the listener – on a commute, listening through headphones - how to create a different relationship between listener and programme-maker

In part two of our podcasting series, hear from Jason Phipps, commissioning editor for podcasts at the BBC, and Louise Kattenhorn, commissioning editor for BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra.

Georgia Catt is a producer in BBC radio documentaries, who has made an award-winning podcast, Missing, for the Untold series. She also produced Fortunately with Fi Glover and Jane Garvey. Emma Conneely is a producer in the BBC's podcast team, responsible for getting podcasts published and promoted. Georgia says that although she hates poor sound quality on a podcast, you can still get a good recording using a smartphone – but be aware of the kinds of background sounds you could pick up that can be annoying for the listener.

Promoting a podcast can mean anything from creating an audiogram – a clip from the podcast to promote on social media - to making other digital assets such as quizzes or articles to place online and draw attention to the podcast. According to Rhian, promotion at the start of other podcasts “really delivers figures”. But it depends on “generosity” between podcast producers who are willing to help each other with cross-promotions. There's also the possibility of a podcast takeover – which is when a podcast feed directs listeners to a different podcast for a short time. The presenters of a podcast are also an asset when it comes to promotion. Their social media presence and appearance on other media can raise awareness and drive audiences.

This episode of the Podcastology series includes a discussion about You, Me and the Big C. We recorded it before the death of Rachael Bland. Although the first podcast featured in this episode is about sports – but ranges much wider than that – and the second is about cancer, for Mike, what unites the two ideas is that the relationship between the presenters is the key. With Andrew Flintoff and his co-presenters Robbie Savage and Matthew Syed, Mike said he was confident about the project as soon as the three first talked together: “We sat outside a studio and within less than five minutes, I knew this was going to be amazing.” The three presenters of the cancer podcast, Rachael Bland, Deborah James and Lauren Mahon, knew each other online before the podcast, but had never actually met in person until they recorded together. When it comes to duration Mike is unapologetic about publishing podcasts that last an hour or more: “If the content's good, why do you want to cut it down?” he explains.

What production kit should you take when producing radio content in the field? Join BBC Academy trainer Sam Upton and newsgathering field producer Tom Quinn as they talk about what sort of equipment you need for radio production in the field. In this podcast you'll find everything from: - what type of kit bag to use - which digital recorder and microphones works best - which apps and audio editing software you need - which cables, batteries and extra kit will be handy to take

This podcast discusses the main issues around working with children. In it, two BBC experts offer their experience from a wide range of productions and projects. Margaret Burgin, a former BBC news journalist, is the training manager at the BBC Academy responsible for outreach to schools. Catherine McAllister is head of Safeguarding and Child Protection in the BBC Children's department with special responsibility across the BBC for online issues to do with children. If you're BBC staff and have completed the BBC Academy's Working with Children course this podcast will act as a refresher and help you reinforce what you've learnt. In the podcast, you'll learn about: - The difference between child protection and safeguarding - The BBC's Code of Conduct for working with children - When you need DBS and PVG checks - The requirement for licencing - The use of chaperones on productions - Risk assessments for working with children - How to find help and advice in the BBC - When you must refer up or inform a member of the Children Advisor Network BBC Staff can access the Working with Children course and further training resources on the BBC Academy website.

BBC Three's new comedy Man Like Mobeen has made a big impact through social media. BBC Birmingham director Joe Godwin spoke to executive producer Ben Cavey, as well as star and co-writer Guz Khan, to find out about the making of the programme. Man Like Mobeen is set in Small Heath, Birmingham. The production team felt it was important to film in, and cast from, the local community to give the show an authentic feel. The programme set out to tackle negative media representations and give a voice to an often under-represented community. The four-part series tackles a number of challenging issues, such as clashes between the Muslim community and the alt-right. These themes clearly suit BBC Three's core ambitions: make you think, make you laugh, give you a voice. In this podcast you'll learn: - how to develop a comedy character from scratch - about different ways to break into TV comedy production - why it's important for the media to reflect a diverse range of backgrounds and identities - how Guz used YouTube to build a comedy career whilst working as a humanities teacher in Coventry

The BBC Two drama The Boy with the Topknot was based on a true story. That made the jobs of its writer, producer and director all the more complicated as they worked with actors, commissioners and those who are represented on screen. The 90 minute film the Boy with the Topknot, shown on BBC Two, was eight years in the making. It was adapted from a memoir by the journalist Sathnam Sanghera about his upbringing in Wolverhampton and relations as an adult with his family. Jessica Dromgoole asked Sathnam Sanghera, the film's producer Nisha Parti and its director Lynsey Miller about how the film was made and how their work was affected by its portraying living people – including Sathnan and his parents. The podcast presents highlights from a recent event at BBC Birmingham chaired by Jessica Dromgoole, a BBC drama editor.

It's been running continuously since 1951, comes in 12 and a half minute episodes and was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk". It's sandwiched between bursts of the unforgettable Barwick Green theme (dum de dum de dum de dum; dum de dum de dum dum). The Archers is a national institution. BBC Birmingham, where it's produced, recently held an Archers weekend, so that fans could find out more about the series. As part of it, at an event in the Archers recording studio, an audience heard from two actors, a writer and a producer on the series about their jobs and a wealth of interesting details about the how the series is made. This BBC Academy podcast presents highlights from the event, where you'll hear about - how the Archers is written - the invention of the character of Rob - how Lilian and Justin's bedroom scenes are recorded - how the child actor playing Henry never knew about the disturbing scene between Rob and Helen that he was part of Taking part were actors Sunny Ormonde and Simon Williams, writer Tim Stimpson and producer Kim Greengrass.

Daytime television was once thought of as the nursery slopes of a TV career. Today its complex formats and production requirements are seen by many as more challenging than peak-time programming. “You will learn more making a daytime show than any other.”– Rachel Innes-Lumsden Smaller teams, smaller budgets and tighter schedules mean there's little room for error. That makes a daytime production team a well-oiled machine where everyone knows their job. Street Auction (above) and Dom on the Spot are two BBC One daytime series that were given the green light by commissioning editor Lindsay Bradbury. Alongside Lindsay in this week's podcast are Julia Foot, series producer of Street Auction, and Rachel Innes-Lumsden, executive producer from the independent production company TwoFour which makes Dom on the Spot In this podcast you'll learn: - the pros and cons of working on daytime programmes - the daytime TV production process - the relationship between commissioning editors and programme producers - the schedules for daytime productions Find out more about BBC Academy: Website – www.bbc.co.uk/academy Facebook – www.facebook.com/bbcacademy Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbcacademy

In an era where fake news is fashionable, data can help distinguish the facts from the fiction. But how do you interrogate a spreadsheet and hold the data to account? And how can journalists use data to find stories? The BBC has placed the "interrogation of data" at the heart of its annual plan for 2017/18 and subsequent three-year strategy. Around 12 new staff are being recruited, including data journalists, data scientists, developers, designers, a cartographer, and a first head of statistics who will start in August 2017. Data is clearly becoming an increasingly important storytelling tool. But is data journalism new? And is it a specialist skill or can anyone do it? In this podcast you will learn: - the skills you need to be a data journalist - what makes a good data story - if you need to know how to code or be good at maths to create stories - how 'scripting' can be useful when working with data - how long it takes to learn the spreadsheet skills you need to work on data stories - how quickly you can go from idea to publication "I really hope that sometime in the future we drop the term 'data journalism' because it's just journalism" – Helena Bengtsson Presenter Daniel Wainwright of the BBC England Data Unit is joined by BBC data journalism editor John Walton, Guardian data projects team editor Helena Bengtsson and Paul Bradshaw who leads the new MA in Data Journalism at Birmingham City University. Find out more about BBC Academy: Website – www.bbc.co.uk/academy Facebook – www.facebook.com/bbcacademy Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbcacademy

With more and more cyber-attacks in the headlines, including this year's NHS attack, BBC Information security specialist Andrea Walker and BBC News technology broadcast journalist Chris Foxx cut through the jargon to show you how to defend yourself against online threats. "We have to keep our information safe so we're not letting other people know where our children are, or our bank details, or where we're going on holiday."– Andrea Walker In this podcast you'll learn about: - the significance of cyber-security - the different types of online risks - spotting hazards - protecting your social media Find out more about BBC Academy: Website – www.bbc.co.uk/academy Facebook – www.facebook.com/bbcacademy Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbcacademy

The BBC wants more women to apply for engineering jobs but the advice given at a recent BBC Design & Engineering event could be useful to everyone. In this podcast you'll hear: - what it's like to work at the BBC - tips on how to approach a job application - thoughts about changing career direction and goals - specific advice for women The question-and-answer session was chaired by Rebecca Salsbury, interim director of platform in BBC Design & Engineering. The panel included: - Frances McNamara executive product manager at iPlayer - Sareh Heidari, a software engineer in BBC News Products & Systems - Murray Fortescue, head of architecture and engineering for Audience Platform - Dave Walters, head of product, systems and services for BBC TV, Radio & Archives As Sareh Heidari said at the event, “almost pretty much whatever you're interested in, there's probably a role for you here at the BBC”. Find out more about BBC Academy: Website – www.bbc.co.uk/academy Facebook – www.facebook.com/bbcacademy Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbcacademy

Virtual reality (VR) and 360 video are the new cool kids on the media block but how will this impact media organisations? Over the past couple of years, projects have been produced on a wide range of subjects, such as Notes on blindness, The Arctic and even one filmed from the International Space Station. The BBC has produced its own VR content too. There's no doubt that VR and 360 both give the user something extra, taking them somewhere they couldn't go in real life and providing an 'experience' rather than just something to watch. So how should media organisations approach the challenge in terms of creativity, production and distribution? "You have to be prepared to hand over control to your viewers which has implications for how we report on TV."– Zillah Watson In this podcast you will learn: - the difference between VR and 360 video - how broadcasters are currently using VR and 360 - how other industries are using VR and 360 - what's augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) - will there be a killer app? Zillah Watson, from BBC Research & Development, is an editor who's been responsible for a number of VR projects at the BBC. She wrote a recent report for the Reuters Institute on VR and 360 in news organisations. Si Lumb is a senior product manager for BBC's Research & Development Future Experiences team. Rebecca Gregory-Clarke is the lead technologist for immersive technology at Digital Catapult, a government-backed agency that promotes technological development in the UK. Find out more about BBC Academy: Website – www.bbc.co.uk/academy Facebook – www.facebook.com/bbcacademy Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbcacademy

The Radio 1 breakfast show with Nick Grimshaw achieves more than five million listeners a week, thriving on a diet of the latest music releases, news and guests. The BBC Academy's Roxy Ebrahim-Khan spoke to producer Will Foster, assistant producer Fiona Hanlon and Nick Grimshaw himself to find out what it takes to work on this fast-paced show. In this podcast you'll learn about: - the different responsibilities of presenters and producers - the preparation that goes into each programme - what's most challenging and most enjoyable about working on the show - team dynamics - ways to get your first break in radio "If it's a good vibe in the studio and we're getting on as a production team you can hear that on the radio. You want to be part of it - it feels inclusive." – Nick Grimshaw The production team also shone a light on staffing issues, booking guests, roles within the team, where they get their ideas from, and what happens if teams don't get on or guests don't work out. Find out more about BBC Academy: Website – www.bbc.co.uk/academy Facebook – www.facebook.com/bbcacademy Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbcacademy

Billions of people are using chat apps. Can brand owners and broadcasters make themselves part of these private conversations? And should they? The BBC World Service, the Weather Company USA and youth-led creative network Livity have been exploring ways to engage with these hard-to-reach audiences. This podcast explores how organisations are using short animated images such as gifs as well as chatbots - computer programmes which simulate conversations with humans - to become part of the conversation in private spaces. Communications on these text, email or instant messaging apps is referred to as 'dark social' because, unlike a Facebook share or a retweet, it's harder for brands and broadcasters to see what's going on ‘in the dark'. In this podcast you'll learn: • how big-name brands are using ‘dark social' to promote themselves • what the Weather Channel learnt from audience interactions with its chatbot • about the insight the BBC World Service gained from its first attempt to deliver original journalism via a chat app This podcast is presented by Charles Miller, editor of the BBC Academy blog. He's joined by BBC World Service assistant editor Vladimir Hernandez, series-producer of Young, Angry and Connected, a story of political activism in Africa and the BBC's first WhatsApp journalism project. Also on the panel are Alan Bryant, a planner and strategist at Livity, which helps organisations reach young people, and Domenic Venuto, general manager of consumer products at the Weather Company in the US. Find out more about BBC Academy: Website – www.bbc.co.uk/academy Facebook – www.facebook.com/bbcacademy Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbcacademy

Editing an hour-long factual film can take a couple of months. The editor and director work closely to make the most of what's been shot and to tell the story as clearly and engagingly as possible. This week's podcast goes into the cutting room to examine this intense and creative process with two experienced professionals. Sam Billinge is a factual film editor who has worked on a wide range of documentaries for the BBC and other broadcasters in genres including science and business. Jacqui Farnham is a former BBC producer/director and series producer who has made films for Horizon, science biographies and social history programmes. "The film-making process is personal as well as professional. You're making subjective decisions based on your own feelings and instincts." – Sam Billinge The podcast includes Sam and Jacqui's take on: - how to brief an editor at the start of an edit - who writes the commentary and picks the best bits of the interviews - how an editor can bring the director a fresh perspective on the rushes - how to handle viewings - what happens in the closing days of an edit Sam and Jacqui also discuss the pressures created by having to rely on a colleague who you may never have met until the start of the edit. Find out more about BBC Academy: Website – www.bbc.co.uk/academy Facebook – www.facebook.com/bbcacademy Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbcacademy

BBC Three won this year's Royal Television Society Channel of the Year award despite no longer being on television. But how have its commissioning and production processes changed? The BBC Academy's Jas Rao spoke to controller Damian Kavanagh and assistant producers Poppy Begum and Catriona White. "There's an opportunity in this world about really listening to your audiences and trying to tell stories that will provoke them to have conversations and form communities."– Damian Kavanagh In this podcast you'll learn about: - connecting with audiences - the BBC as a youth brand - pitching programme ideas - the skills required of online content producers Find out more about BBC Academy: Website – www.bbc.co.uk/academy Facebook – www.facebook.com/bbcacademy Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbcacademy

You can use sound to tell stories in different ways - whether that's a soundtrack, a character's voice or sound effects for a radio drama. A recent Producers' Forum session at the BBC studio used by The Archers and Home Front saw a lively debate about the range of skills required in sound production. BBC Academy director Joe Godwin spoke to Neil Hillman, an award-winning sound designer and editor, Marc Silk, a voiceover artist for cartoons, video games and films, and Alice Truman, a soundtrack composer in film, radio and TV. In this podcast you will learn: - how a sound designer creates a film soundtrack - whether to use a boom mic or radio mic to record on location - how a voiceover artist creates characters - how a soundtrack composer works within a film production - how to turn an ironing board into a farm gate Archers editor Huw Kennair-Jones and Home Front editor Jessica Dromgoole meanwhile explain how they use props in their recordings. Find out more about BBC Academy: Website – www.bbc.co.uk/academy Facebook – www.facebook.com/bbcacademy Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbcacademy

In this era of data journalism and interactive online content, what else can people trained in writing and broadcasting do to tell their stories and reach wider audiences? Coding is one answer. BBC data journalist Daniel Wainwright spoke to BBC News Labs engagement producer Allison Shultes, software engineer turned journalist Niko Kommenda and assistant professor in information and communication studies at University College Dublin Bahareh Heravi. "We need to have skills to be able to crunch this data and bring different datasets together to come up with stories." – Bahareh Heravi In this podcast you'll learn more about: - what exactly is meant by ‘learning to code' and what it allows journalists to do - why newsrooms are looking for hybrid journalist-coders - what all journalists need to understand in order to work with developers in a 21st century newsroom - how journalists can get started with coding Find out more about BBC Academy: Website – www.bbc.co.uk/academy Facebook – www.facebook.com/bbcacademy Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbcacademy

Live radio requires a lot of effort at the best of times - more so when you're dealing with sensitive issues, vulnerable contributors and medical advice. We find out how the team behind BBC Radio 1's The Surgery put the show together and deal with a wide range of medical issues from callers, especially mental health problems. In this podcast you'll learn about: - specialist production and presenting skills - the processes in place to protect callers - the issues around offering advice - the duty of care towards listeners "It is really hard, I'm not going to lie. I don't think it would be fair to say it's easy to present a show of such a sensitive nature."– Gemma Cairney The BBC Academy's Jas Rao spoke to the team: presenter Gemma Cairney (above, left), resident GP and co-host Dr Radha (above, right) - formerly of Channel 4's The Sex Education Show and BBC Three's Make My Body Younger - and producer Becky Griesdale-Sherry, a former producer of the Vanessa Feltz phone-in show on BBC Radio London. Find out more about BBC Academy: Website – www.bbc.co.uk/academy Facebook – www.facebook.com/bbcacademy Twitter – www.twitter.com/bbcacademy

To get a programme on television, you first have to master the commissioning process and pitch to someone who's in a position to give you the go-ahead. “When it works it is absolutely the best feeling in the world,” says Lisa Hazlehurst, head of Lion Television, Scotland. “When it doesn't work you really do have to pick yourself up.” "The key to success is serendipity and something that punches your show above the noise – and that's often the talent.”– Alan Tyler In this podcast presenter Sally Magnusson speaks to TV commissioners about: - what they're looking for - the best way to approach them - what goes into a taster tape Producers who win a commission should enjoy the moment, warns executive editor at BBC entertainment commissioner Alan Tyler. As one producer explained to him, it's “30 seconds of ecstasy when you get the commission, followed by the horrible realisation that you now have to make the bloody thing". The guests on this panel include Alan, Lisa, the BBC commissioning editor for daytime and early peak Jo Street, BBC commissioning editor for science and factual Craig Hunter and BBC Scotland commissioning editor Ewan Angus.

There are so many options when choosing a career, the competition is tough, and most school leavers have little practical experience. The BBC Academy's Kris Bramwell spoke to BBC new talent schemes coordinator Affie Jeerh and National Careers Service adviser Rachel Locke to hear their advice. "What I firstly advise people to do is have a real, hard think about what it is that makes them the person they are."– Affie Jeerh In this podcast you'll learn more about: - getting your CV right - how to write brilliant covering letters - what are the options for people starting their career today - transferable skills - how to stand out for the right reasons

Changing your career, whether through choice or redundancy, can be daunting. You can feel inspired and confused at the same time. But where do you start? And what do you need to consider? "The average millennial, by the time they retire, will have probably changed their job at least 14 times."– Mel Barclay In this podcast you'll learn more about: - the risks involved - why more people are making the leap - techniques to help you plan - the help available for BBC staff The BBC Academy's Jas Rao spoke to Mel Barclay, head of career transition at LHH Penna - an organisation that's worked with the BBC over a number of years to help redeploy staff. He also chatted to Natasha Stanley, head of content for Career Shifters - a website that provides support for people changing careers - and hears from Nina Ridge, a former BBC weather presenter who became a school teacher.

The stories aren't about sound - they are created using sound. Hugh Sykes uses sound to tell evocative stories and paint pictures in the audiences' minds. The renowned foreign correspondent plays clips of his work - from the whistling winds of Pakistan to reporting the aftermath of the Tunisia terror attack in 2016. "One of my golden rules is that a radio reporter has to wear headphones like a camera operator has to look through a viewfinder." – Hugh Sykes In this podcast, you will learn how to: - effectively tell stories on the radio - get the best sound for each story - approach difficult situations for newsgathering - tackle sensitive topics

If you work in the media you're most likely to be involved in regular creative ideas sessions (like the one above). But what form can they take - what techniques can you use to improve them? The BBC Academy's Charles Miller spoke to former BBC journalist and development producer Steve Rawling, the founder of creativity training company Now Go Create, Claire Bridges, and Facebook product designer Tanner Christensen. “It's about understanding how to create what I call a 'whole brain team'... Understanding what everyone brings to the table in relation to creativity.” – Claire Bridges In this podcast you will learn: - techniques to spark ideas - methods leaders can employ to help their whole team think more creatively - whether creativity is a skill you can develop or a gift you're born with - the benefits of creative sessions to teams across the media

BBC Academy director Joe Godwin spoke to comedian Janice Connolly and BBC Comedy executive Rebecca Papworth about taking unconventional Birmingham housewife Barbara Nice from a stand-up act to a rounded radio sitcom character. Janice developed her Barbara Nice character in the late 1990's and it led to her being spotted by Peter Kay. “As an artist it's important you have a relationship where you think you're being talked to properly - the person you're working with gets you artistically but is also very honest with you.” – Janice Connolly In this podcast, you will learn how to: - go from stand-up to sitcom - become comfortable with radio technology - develop a character - build the relationship between performer and producer Janice has a string of credits as a musician, actress, comedian and artistic director.

Radio 4's Desert Island Discs has earned its 75 years on the air by consistently producing revealing interviews with well-known guests like US actor Tom Hanks above. We asked series producer Cathy Drysdale to explain how the show is made: - how to book big-name guests - how their lives are researched - what happens during the studio recording - how the programme is edited - what personal qualities you need to work on the series Cathy reveals the way her team works flexibly to fit in with guests' busy schedules. She also talks about how the producer and presenter Kirsty Young must trust each other explicitly in the studio. "When I'm looking through the glass and I see Tom Hanks there I am pinching myself. I allow myself five seconds of pinching and that's it. Then you have to be completely professional.” – Cathy Drysdale Desert Island Discs airs on Sunday at 11.15. More than 2000 episodes are available on the programme website.

The way UK television script-writing teams work is changing fast. While today's fragmented digital industry offers less in-house stability, there are more opportunities with international and online broadcasters. We spoke to TV writer Sophie Petzal, BBC Writersroom development producer Abigail Gonda and Doctors script editor Nasreen Ahmed. “We're less hamstrung by the needs of channels now... I feel like now, more than ever, is the time to get into television.” –Sophie Petzal In this podcast, you will learn about: - BBC initiatives to nurture budding script-writers - The demands of working as a TV drama script-writer or script editor - Why the relationship between the script editor and writer is so important - The new challenges teams are likely to face in the coming years - The value of script-writers and script editors in the production process

Advanced tech, behind-the-scenes experiences, full games on social media - how do the latest digital innovations affect the traditional broadcast industry? And what do they mean for you if you're trying to get a job as a sports journalist or producer? "There are completely new players delivering big audiences through online only platforms... it does feel like it's a bit of a Wild West at the moment." – Professor Andy Miah. In this podcast you'll learn more about: - the new digital innovations being used across a range of sport - the future of sports consumption habits - the impact of these changes on existing broadcasters - the importance of storytelling The BBC Academy's Jas Rao speaks to Professor Andy Miah, author of ‘Sport 2.0: Transforming Sports for a Digital World', and Stuart Rowson, younger audiences editor at BBC Sport, as well as hearing from Manchester City FC's social media manager Chris Parkes-Nield, Table Tennis England's head of commercial Mark Taffler and Hashtag UTD striker Seb Carmichael-Brown.

New internet devices that use voice are starting to appear in our homes: you speak and they answer back. So what is the likely impact of these so-called digital assistants? The BBC is looking into the possibilities while independent developers are already creating content for such devices. "It is an opportunity for those of us who are producing content because every platform that is hungry for content has to be filled.” – Flora Graham In this podcast you will learn: - how digital assistants work - what kind of content is already popular - what new ideas the BBC is developing - how the technology is likely to develop in the years ahead We also put two devices through their paces, challenging them to translate a sentence into German and to "tell me something interesting". The BBC Academy's Charles Miller speaks to Henry Cooke, senior development producer at BBC Research & Development, independent technology developer Robin Jewsbury and New Scientist digital editor Flora Graham.

The BBC's media editor Amol Rajan asks James Ball, special correspondent at BuzzFeed News, and Mark Frankel, social media editor at BBC News, about the different meanings of 'fake news' and how journalists should respond to it.

The prospect of presenting your first ever live show on national radio can be both daunting and exciting in equal measure but how do you get to that position in the first place? Roxy Ebrahim-Khan talks to Jasmine Takhar about her journey from broadcasting on two community radio stations to launching the Friday Night Residency on national radio station Asian Network. Also, hear from producer Che Chumber who was tasked with the challenge of launching and developing a new presenter and getting them ready to broadcast live. “Something clicks when you work hard. Persistence and determination always gets you there.” – Jasmine Takhar In this podcast you will learn how to: - secure your dream job - Deal with nerves before going live on air - Build producer/presenter relationships - Use social media to launch and establish your career Jasmine presents the Friday Night Residency from 21:00 to midnight every Friday. She was previously a presenter on community radio stations Kemet FM and Westside of London. Che Chumber has worked on Strictly Come Dancing, The Gadget Show and as a social media producer at Somethin' Else.

2016 is nearly at an end, so you know what that means - it's highlights time! Kris Bramwell, Roxy Ebrahim-Khan, Zayna Shaikh and Charles Miller, aka the BBC Academy Podcast team (left to right above), share their favourite clips from the past year to mark the end of the current series. Peaky Blinders producer Simon Maloney, Operation Gold Rush's Dan Snow, BBC News presenter Maxine Mawhinney, journalist Vanessa Feltz, television producer Jon Plowman and Sima Kotecha, a reporter for Radio 4's Today programme, all feature. In this podcast you will learn: - about the personal qualities Sima says you need to be a journalist - what makes good video content for social media - how good ideas come first, and the platform second, when telling stories - what Vanessa looks for in a caller to her radio phone-in - and more! Charles Miller is the editorial lead for the BBC Academy Podcast and also writes the BBC Academy blog. Roxy Ebrahim-Khan, Zayna Shaikh and Kris Bramwell are producers in the BBC Academy's digital content team.

The challenge for Home Front's production team has always been to create a historical drama that's true to the time yet connects with today's audiences. In this podcast you will learn: - where to start researching the history - how to write a radio drama series - about the role of digital content - the scriptwriter's role during a studio recording - the difference between performing for radio and TV "The thing that's at the heart of all audio storytelling for me is why are they listening? Are they still listening? Is it the best listening experience that it can be?" – Allegra Mcllroy Each 12-minute episode of the Radio 4 drama series is set exactly 100 years before the date of broadcast and tells the story of a fictional character living in the UK during World War One. The drama has been on air since 2014 and will run until 11 November 2018 – the centenary of the armistice. Sebastian Baczkiewicz - the BBC's first writer in residence in 2000 - was the lead writer on the first season. Allegra Mcllroy is producer/director. Ciaran Bermingham is the historical researcher and known as an authority on all things World War One. Actors Laura Elphinstone and Kathryn Beaumont play Marion Wardle and Edie Chadwick.

Journalist, author and screenwriter Dan Lyons questions many of the norms of tech businesses, including the practice of building loyalty through a written ‘cultural code'.

BBC managers past and present - Simon Waldman, Sara Shepherd and Karen Hannah - discuss the dilemmas, challenges and rewards of making the step up.

Millennials, Generation Y, people born between 1980 and 2000 - turns out there's 14 million of them in the UK. They're tech-savvy, spending hours online: reading, listening or posting their own content. And it turns out they don't just want cat videos. So what do they want and how can you give it to them? “Without a good idea and without good storytelling at the heart of whatever you do, regardless of the platform it's on, it probably won't fly.”– Max Gogarty Who better to get the answers from than people who are already doing it well. Vlogger and YouTube star Grace Victory (above) talks about what to think about when creating content on different platforms - like the similarities and differences between online and TV. Dan Murdoch made the documentaries KKK: The Fight for White Supremacy, Black Power: America's Armed Resistance and Transsexual Teen Beauty Queen. Dan talks about the life of a freelance documentary-maker and gaining access to controversial contributors. Max Gogarty is BBC Three's content editor, has been a producer/director with credits including ChemSex - not to mention winning a Bafta for his work on Skins online. In this podcast you will learn: - how the commissioning process works - about the relationship between content creators and commissioners - what comes first - platform or content? - tips for creating content for Generation Y

Presenter and historian Dan Snow and producer Ben Crichton discuss the vast challenges of making Operation Gold Rush.

Jessica Dromgoole, editor of Radio 4's Home Front, and Birmingham's first writer-in-residence, Caroline Horton, answer questions from aspiring playwrights on writing radio drama.

Live social video is everywhere right now. You can't move these days on social media sites without seeing your followers 'going live' from somewhere - no matter how mundane the subject matter. Broadcasters and brands are getting involved too, with reporters pressing the live button at scenes of breaking news, including the Brussels bombing earlier this year and the Soho vigil in response to the Orlando nightclub shooting. It's not just serious stories which are popular. Who remembers LadBible's last lolly standing or Buzzfeed's exploding watermelon? These days it seems nobody wants to wait for anything. These apps offer a sense of immediacy: watch the news as it happens. In this podcast we find out: What you need to think about before pressing 'go live'. - How you can use 'lives' to drive new stories and content. - Tips and advice on running a successful live broadcast with your smartphone - How best to engage with your audience during the transmission. Sarah Brown is the strategic partnership manager at Facebook. She is a writer, producer and editor with 15 years experience in international journalism and communications, specialising in digital media and with a passion for world news and current events. Andy Dangerfield a social media editor for News at Buzz Feed UK with more than 10 years experience reporting, feature writing and broadcasting. Since joining BuzzFeed News at the start of this year, Andy has been at the forefront of delivering BuzzFeed's news and political coverage on new platforms. Mark Frankel is the social media editor for BBC News. He has a background in journalism and currently is helping to shape and deliver a 24/7 breaking news operation for the BBC across branded social media accounts.

Even media professionals need to hone their presenting skills. Whether you speak too fast, forget to breathe, get nervous, or just need to put some energy behind your words, you can do lots of simple things to improve how you sound on air. Voice and presentation coach Elspeth Morrison recently visited the BBC Academy podcast team in Birmingham to deliver a coaching session. In this fly-on-the-wall podcast, you can listen as Kris Bramwell, Zayna Shaikh, Jack Burgess, Roxy Ebrahim-Khan and Charles Miller are given the task of re-writing an article in their own style and presenting it to Elspeth as she attempts to develop their voice and help them brush up on their presenting skills. “When presenting a podcast, it should sound like you've just wondered in and are having a chat.” – Elspeth Morrison In this podcast we learn how to: - Mark our scripts ahead of recording - Find our “broadcast self” - Handle our nerves - Write a script to our voice Elspeth Morrison is a voice and presentation specialist who has worked with actors, business people and journalists for more than 15 years.

We've all got a smartphone and a story to tell. So technically we could all be mobile journalists, right? Turns out you might need some other bits and pieces too. In this week's podcast we speak to two journalists who have both tried the mojo (mobile journalism) way to make completely different kinds of films. Dougal Shaw is a business reporter who creates features for BBC News. He recently put himself on what he calls a ‘mojo diet' - meaning he only reported with his smartphone for a month. Eleanor Mannion is a programme-maker with the Irish state broadcaster RTE. Earlier this year she shot a full-length documentary, The Collectors, entirely on her smartphone, which RTE says is a first for a European broadcaster. They both share their experiences: - The pros and cons of being a mobile journalist - How it's different to conventional newsgathering and programme-making - What bits of kit you could put in your mojo bag - Apps they've found to be useful for filming and editing - Mobile journalism versus traditional filming methods

When it comes to television sitcoms, producer Jon Plowman (OBE) says the reason audiences tune in is simple: “We like the characters and we want to have a good time with them.” Plowman's CV reads like someone has cherry-picked their favourite comedies and placed them in one dream career. He's produced The Office, Vicar of Dibley, Absolutely Fabulous, League of Gentleman and Little Britain, to name but a few. “A lot of people think scripts are about jokes,” he adds. “I think they're about characters.” In this podcast Plowman takes us behind the scenes to provide an insight into how Jennifer Saunders worked on Absolutely Fabulous, as well as telling the story of how BBC Two gave The Office a second chance.