INA Launches Global Initiative to Establish Commercial Standards for Podcasting

INA Launches Global Initiative to Establish Commercial Standards for Podcasting

First 100 Web Sites Sign Up for Pilot Program

LOS ANGELES, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Nanocasting Alliance (INA), the international trade organization for commercial podcasters announced today the launch of the first global initiative to establish universally accepted standards for commercial podcasting. The program is consulting a wide spectrum of podcasters from around the world, along with a coalition of academics, media, marketing, advertising and legal experts. The program will seek to identify guidelines and best practices that participating commercial podcasters will voluntarily agree to follow. Participating podcasters will display a "member seal" that will serve to identify the media outlet's commitment to these standards and distinguish them from sites not committed to the established code and best practices. The first 100 companies have already signed up to participate and are currently displaying the seal. Once fully established, the code and seal will be part of an integrated system designed to enhance credibility, trust and confidence among listeners, advertisers and clients. A major component of the program will be an awareness and education program for consumers and podcasters, who are interested in moving from podcasting for fun to commercial podcasting.

"Codes are a first step toward establishing legitimacy and professionalism. They show that an organization is committed to ethical behavior. Second, ethics codes help build confidence among members of the audience. They differentiate the committed professional from the rest of the herd. Finally, codes help build standards against which all activities of an industry can be measured. They help define what most in a profession consider appropriate," said Dr. Joseph Dominick, head of the telecommunications department at Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and founding member of the International Nanocasting Alliance.

Because podcasting is unregulated, there are virtually no limits on what one might hear during a program. This may be a triumph for free speech, but securing advertisers and sponsors will require a predictable format and some parameters. A commercial podcaster will want to provide some assurances to sponsors that they will not air a program that will offend its audience.

One idea that is getting a positive nod is the posting of "editorial policies." Like a posted privacy policy on a web site, the editorial policy would tell listeners and advertisers what they can and cannot expect to hear on the program. "Such policies would go a long way toward making potential advertisers more comfortable in choosing podcasts to communicate their message," said Jennifer McClure Managing Editor of the New Communications Blogzine. INA has embraced this notion as a fundamental first step and is recommending that all members draft and display an editorial policy.

The number of podcasters continues to grow and those committed to commercial podcasting are already feeling the pressure to separate themselves from the pack. "We commend the 100 companies that have recognized the need to distinguish themselves by participating in the program. Their involvement will help to shape industry standards and establish them as leaders in their market segments," said Errol Smith, co-founder of the INA

A small cross section of participants include:

http://www.landed.fm/http://radio.prairiebeacon.com/?m=200506http://www.wbjbradio.com/http://www.radiofreeamsterdam.com/http://www.hotrecorder.com/http://www.themshow.com/http://www.send2press.com/http://www.radiokitchen.net/index.htmlhttp://nextlevelpartner.typepad.com/http://wahmtalkradio.com/aboutkelly.htmlhttp://www.getprepared.org/wgpn.htmhttp://www.hiyaahpower.com/pages.asp?pageid=15671http://aruntx.com/podcast/shows/http://www.hedquist.com/

A searchable database of participating members will soon be added to the INA website.

For more information or to participate in the pilot program, go to http://www.nanocasting.org/ or contact The International Nanocasting Alliance at 320-210-1857.

This release was issued on behalf of the above organization by Send2Press(TM), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.send2press.com/

Source: International Nanocasting Alliance (INA)

CONTACT: Jeannette Bernstein of International Nanocasting Alliance (INA), +1-320-210-1857, info@nanocasting.org

Web site: http://www.send2press.com/

Web site: http://www.nanocasting.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: plain text copy of release: http://www.Send2Press.com/mediadrome/2005-06-0622-003.txt

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