Sound and Vision:

100 Years of the BBC in Berlin

[Podcast Team]

Shoaib
Chris
Jaz
Nedim
Tanya

July 16th, 2023

Module 5: Cultural Project Management

Winter Semester 2022-23 – Summer Semester 2023
Supervisor: Evelina Bazaeva
Centre for British Studies, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Table of Contents
1. Aims and Objectives
2. Strategy
a. Initial
b. Final
3. Organisation
a. Team Member 1
b. Team Member 2
c. Team Member 3
d. Team Member …
4. Final Remarks
5. Materials

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 1. Aims and Objectives
Our podcast team had clear goals, aims, and objectives for the "Sound and Vision:
100 years of BBC in Berlin" event. We created four engaging podcasts that delved
into the rich history of the BBC and its complicated relationship with Berlin.

Our primary goal was to educate and inform our audience about the significant
milestones and achievements of the BBC over the past century. We aimed to showcase
the importance of the BBC in shaping the media landscape and its role in broadcasting
quality content to the public.

To achieve these goals, we collaborated with renowned academics who provided

expert insights and perspectives on various aspects of the BBC's journey. We aspired
to create thought-provoking content that would encourage critical thinking and
generate interest in media history among our listeners. With meticulous research and
preparation, our team produced high-quality podcasts that were engaging and
presented professionally.

To ensure maximum accessibility, we uploaded our podcasts on various platforms,

like YouTube, Spotify and Instagram reaching a wide audience. In our marketing
efforts, we utilised social media, to promote the event and our podcasts, aiming to
maximize reach and engagement.

Throughout the process, our team remained dedicated to continuous improvement.

We actively sought feedback and incorporated suggestions to enhance the quality and
relevance of our podcasts. Our ultimate goal was to leave a lasting impact, inspiring
our listeners to appreciate the BBC's legacy and understand its complicated
relationship with Berlin.

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2. Strategy
Initial Strategy: At the start of the project, our initial strategy revolved around
thorough planning and coordination. We began by conducting extensive research on
the history of the BBC and identifying key topics and themes that would resonate with
our audience. We reached out to academics who were experts in the field to
collaborate with us on the podcasts, ensuring we had diverse perspectives and insights.

Once the content outline was established, we allocated tasks and set deadlines to
ensure a smooth workflow within our team. We designated roles such as host,
researcher, scriptwriter, and editor, ensuring each team member understood their
responsibilities.

In terms of promotion, we planned to leverage social media platforms like Instagram

and TikTok to generate interest and reach a broader audience. We also decided to use
various podcast hosting platforms to maximize our podcast's visibility.

Final Strategy: As the project progressed, our strategy evolved based on the feedback
and insights we received. We actively sought input from our supervisor, Evelina,
incorporating her suggestions to refine our content and make it more engaging and
informative.

We focused on producing high-quality podcasts by conducting in-depth interviews

with academics and experts to achieve our goals. We ensured that the discussions
were well-structured and offered a comprehensive overview of the BBC's history. We
paid attention to the production quality, working on professional audio equipment and
editing software to enhance the overall listening experience.

As the event approached, we organized a dedicated marketing campaign, creating

teaser trailers and releasing sneak peeks to generate excitement and anticipation.

Throughout the project, we remained open to feedback and continuously refined our
strategy based on the insights we gathered. This iterative approach allowed us to
create podcasts that resonated with our audience and effectively achieved our aims
and objectives.

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3. Organisation
3a. Team Lead: Shoaib

Responsibilities as Team Lead and Podcast Host:

1. Content Planning and Collaboration:
● Collaborated with academics and experts to shape podcast topics and
structure.
● Played a pivotal role in content planning and topic selection.

2. Hosting and Interviewing:

● Conducted interviews and led discussions with guests as the podcast host.
● Ensured a smooth flow of conversation and created an engaging atmosphere.
● Conducted extensive research on guests and prepared insightful questions.

3. Scriptwriting and Storytelling:

● Worked closely with scriptwriters to develop compelling narratives for each
episode.
● Shaped the storytelling approach to align with podcast goals.
● Ensured content was engaging, informative, and well-crafted.

4. Timeline and Schedule Management:

● Managed the podcast's timeline and adhered to set episode durations.
● Coordinated with the project supervisor, researchers, and editors to meet
deadlines.
● Maintained a consistent release schedule.

5. Quality Assurance:
● Reviewed recorded episodes and provided feedback to editors.
● Made necessary adjustments to enhance audio quality, pacing, and
production value.

6. Team Coordination:
● Coordinated efforts of the entire podcast team.
● Delegated tasks and ensured effective communication among team members.
● Oversaw individual progress to maintain a cohesive and successful
production.

3b. Chris

In my capacity as a team member of the Podcast Team, I performed largely ‘behind

the scenes tasks. I enjoyed the opportunity to research our interview subjects which
prepared me all the more for my role in the panel discussion.
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The breakdown of my tasks was as follows:

1. Blurb: I wrote the blurb in the March Podcast Project Plan

2. Alternative Podcast Interviewees: While doing preliminary research for the
project I found five potential interviewees who had done projects with the
BBC in the last 10 years that intersected with music, reportage, and Berlin. I
reached out to four of them, but the interviews never panned out.
(Correspondence is included in the ‘Materials’ section of the PR Team
report)
3. Interview Questions: Tanya and I worked together to research and prepare
questions for Dr Emily Oliver. I completed the research and questions for Dr
Stephanie Seul as an individual task.

3c. Jaz

This report highlights my contributions as part of the podcast team, with a focus on
my role in writing interview questions and introductions for guests Ben Bradshaw and
Dr Annika Forkert.

I dedicated substantial time to researching the backgrounds and works of the above-
mentioned interviewees. This involved delving into their publications, articles, and
relevant materials to comprehensively understand their expertise and
accomplishments. This allowed me to identify compelling angles for discussion and
craft engaging questions for our guests.

Using the insights gained from my research, I carefully formulated a set of 14

interview questions for each guest. These questions were designed to ignite interesting
and thought-provoking conversations while ensuring they remained aligned with the
overarching themes of the BBC German service. It was crucial for me to strike a
balance between addressing the interviewee’s field of expertise and considering the
preferences of our podcast’s audience.

I also took responsibility for writing introductions for the episodes with Ben Bradshaw
and Dr Annika Forkert. These introductions were crafted to captivate the audience's
attention, provide a concise overview of the guests' achievements, and set the tone for
the upcoming interview. By carefully crafting these introductions, I aimed to create a
seamless and engaging flow for the podcast. Throughout my involvement in the
podcast team, I also actively participated in meetings and brainstorming sessions,
exchanging ideas and suggesting potential themes.

3d. Nedim

My role as a member of the podcast team was mostly concerned with the technical
aspects of the process. I also made some promotional material for the podcast and the
GBZ.

The breakdown of my tasks was as follows:

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 4. Podcast recording: I recorded audio and video files of the Zoom meetings with
our interviewees
5. Tech support: Support in troubleshooting problems with the microphone,
Zoom meetings, and recordings
6. Promotional material: I designed promotional Instagram stories and Youtube
covers for our podcasts. These were also displayed during our Grimm
Zentrum event. In addition, I made a cover for our podcast on Spotify.
7. Youtube intro: I made a video that serves as an intro for our podcasts on
Youtube
8. Podcast publishing: I created a new GBZ Gmail account that allowed me to
post our podcasts on Youtube. I also made a Spotify page for our podcast
which gives us abundant listener data.
9. Linktree page: In another effort to promote the Centre and our event, I made
a special GBZ Linktree page that gives the user access to all of the most
important websites and social media pages of the Centre. This is something
that can continue its life after the event.
10. Podcast editing: The editing was done in two phases: audio and video. Audio
editing included fixing problems with echo, EQing the voices of the
interviewer and interviewee, and audio level normalization. Video editing
was more straightforward, although there were instances where problems
with Internet connection meant that the video had to be spliced together from
multiple parts.

3e. Tanya

My contribution to the Podcast team was dedicated mostly to research. Together with
Chris, I created interview questions for Dr Emily Oliver. In order to do this, I studied
her academic and professional background, overviewed the scope of her publications
and read her article “Tuning in to Germany: The BBC German Service and the British
Occupation”.

The individual task was to develop a list of topics for discussion and then interview
questions for another interviewee, Prof. Richard Aldous. To do this, I also researched
Prof. Aldous’ academic, broadcasting and writer’s career. I read his books'
descriptions and available excerpts, (‘Tunes of Glory’, ‘Schlesinger: The Imperial
Historian’, ‘Reagan and Thatcher: The Difficult Relationship’ and ‘Tony Ryan:
Ireland's Aviator’. I also listened to several Radio broadcasts on RTE and Prof.
Aldous’ literature podcasts on American Purpose (online magazine).

Before I was tasked with the research and interview questions, I designed a milestone
planning table, in which I outlined the tasks, preliminary deadlines and team members
in charge of each task.

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4. Final Remarks
The project was a success, with the podcast team effectively creating and delivering
engaging content for the event "Sound and Vision: 100 years of BBC in Berlin." The
team's diligent efforts resulted in a series of informative and thought-provoking
podcasts showcasing the BBC's significant milestones and achievements throughout
its history. The collaboration with academics added depth and expertise to the
discussions, providing valuable insights to the listeners.

In terms of suggestions and recommendations for future projects, there are a few areas
to consider:

1. Audience Research: Conducting thorough audience research prior to the

project can help identify the target demographic and their preferences. This
will allow the team to tailor the podcasts' content, tone, and format to better
resonate with the intended audience.
2. Diverse Perspectives: While the project successfully involved academics and
experts as guests, future projects can benefit from incorporating a broader
range of perspectives. This could include inviting guests from various
disciplines, backgrounds, and cultural viewpoints to provide a more
comprehensive exploration of the chosen topic.
3. Marketing and Promotion: Expanding marketing and promotional efforts can
help reach a wider audience. Collaborating with influencers, leveraging social
media platforms, and exploring partnerships with relevant organisations can
significantly increase the visibility and impact of the podcast series.
4. Collaborative Networking: Building relationships with other podcasters,
media outlets, and academic institutions can open up opportunities for cross-
promotion, guest collaborations, and knowledge-sharing, further enhancing
the impact and reach of future projects.

By incorporating these suggestions and recommendations, future projects can build

upon the success of this endeavour, delivering even more engaging and impactful
podcast content to the audience.

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5. Materials
(Minutes, project plans, presentations, output, etc.)

Links to podcast and promo:

Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC_O2pNfns7wrxCZQc3YKJA

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0hWwy5ISdV7HHmWOXW0ylT?si=0d5cfff220
524095

Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/centreforbritishstudies?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&lt
sid=7b052966-d2f8-4a83-b759-323813a8d69d

Posters and flyers for promotion

Spotify page cover:

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Youtube thumbnails:

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Instagram stories:

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