The Podcast Awards – An Editorial from GeekGamer.TV
I find it very interesting that the organization that created the “Podcast Awards”, pushes out loads of statistics and tries to push people to their stat service, for podcasters to be open and accurate about them….yet we have no idea how the selection process went down other then “generalities” and subjective criteria. The awards should not be a “popularity contest”. In my opinion, not only the selection process is severely flawed, but presentation is severely lacking of production, of these awards.
During the “reveal” of nominees, it was a “basic” and “barebones” powerpoint, with many spelling errors. Also, the host was spending lots of time talking about “stats of what podcasters are doing” but then “rushes” through the nominees.
The presentation was bad. Little enthusiasm, low live viewer count, production was dry….it doesn’t show the podcaster that is watching to really care about it.
What it also seemed that there was a large number of shows (that are a part of the founders podcasting network) who made it as finalists. I want to know the ratio of shows that are a part of the TPN Network, that also made it as nominees. I just find it weird that a lot of show that are affiliated with that network made “it in”. Was this a “nod” to those shows? Was some favoritism given to those shows? We will never know, because those “votes” or nominations are never released in public.
Excellent shows should not be penalized for not having a huge audiences…because those shows will never be able combat a show that has a larger audience. (for example) – No matter how focused the small community is…they can’t complete with an larger sized focused community of the same focusses.
Criteria should also be setup for each category…like what does “Best Produced” mean? Should a show that was nominated last year in any category carry any weight into a new year? These are some of the questions I ask myself as a podcaster.
In any event, I have decided not to support them anymore and push my listeners to this dying award. There needs to be a true, independent awards with clear cut criteria. Also, Audio and Video NEEDS to be split out. It’s not fair to combine audio and video shows into the same “Tech” category for example, IMO. Also shows should have to pick one or the other if they put out a show in both formats.
There also should be separation based upon audience size. Like “Best Tech Podcast – Small Audience”, kind of like how small market news stations can be nominated for “Best Newscast in the Country”, but are adjusted by market size so a news station in Fresno, CA would not be competing against a station in New York.
I’m looking at forming a new awards for podcasters to take us into the future of this medium. One that would remove popularity from the nominees selection process and would give all podcasters an even chance at an award. Not just the big shows.
I’m working with some leading programmers and podcasters that want a new way.
I know that some people may not like what I’m saying, but it needed to be said.
Thanks for reading.
Chase Nunes
Founder/CEO of GeekGamer.TV