Last Thursday, I had the privilege of sitting in on presentation by Rhod Sharp at the Berkman Center.  Titled "Sounds Fine: An Introduction to Radio Technique," the session was devoted to geek toys for podcasting and also to the fine art of handing both interviewees and microphones.  Rhod managed to be both concise and reassuring - which doesn't surprise me when I consider the depth of his experience as an on-air BBC Radio guy. 

After we all had an opportunity to admire the digital recording equipment on the table and reap the benefits of Rhod's expertise, he gently talked us into interviewing each other.  Oddly enough, the most difficult task for me as an on-the-spot citizen journalist was not handling the equipment  - it was finding a way to sit close enough to my interviewee to position the mike so that it would pick up both of our voices.  Fortunately, my interviewee was a fellow member of the Berkman blogger group, the charming and articulate Mal Watlington.  I felt comfortable cozying up to Mal, who is a buddy, but would definitely be hesitant about sitting that close to a stranger.  However, Rhod assured us that one learns through experience how to arrange oneself so as not to unnerve interviewees with a claustrophobic degree of proximity.

The good news for nonprofit professionals who want to use podcasting as citizen journalists is that it's really something you can learn to do with a bit of practice. 

Naturally, Rhod's presentation was webcast live from the Berkman Center, and the ever-gracious Erica George has confirmed that a  recording will soon be available online.