Kalistani Major History

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"Foreign Policy with Professor Chang"
Radio Kaliburg announces New Podcast Platform
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 9, 5521


Dr. Pierre Chang, hosts his featured Radio Kaliburg Podcast on Foreign Policy

Radio Kaliburg, one of the few independent radio stations in Kalistan, has launched an online platform. The station, traditionally a propaganda outlet for the now defunct Socialist Party of Kalistan, has been reignited by a group of former producers and DJs from KRTVN, who believe that maintaining independent radio is key to freedom of speech in Kalistan. The radio station is formally funded by the Institutional Party of Kalistan, for the purpose of observance of the law.

"Radio Kaliburg operates our regular AM/FM/SW transmitters here in Kaliburg, with translators in Addisjah, High Bong, and Lucid to cover much of northern Seleya," said Operations Chief Gary Delaney. "But we have decided that it is in our interest to not only build a podcast series for our programming that can be distributed across the world's internet, to get the message out beyond our borders, but also to build a platform for other independent producers to begin making shows of their own."

The Radio Kaliburg Platform, officially known as "Indi" will host shows made by independent Kalistani broadcasters. The platform will feature creation tools that which aim to lower the the learning curve for creators who are just learning to podcast, and for a sliding annual subscription fee, based on audience size to permit small and new podcasts the opportunity to compete favorably with better funded or commercial programming, podcasters can produce and format their own content separately from the creation tools.

"We want independent producers on this platform, not highly polished, heavily produced shows that have big money behind them," said Delaney. "But there is a place for those with heavy commercial money behind them: For profit shows can share their revenues with the platform to help encourage the community." Indi will employ an Ombudsman who will help ensure that quality and format guidelines are up to a station standard. "While envision that most of the podcasts will be produced by individuals, we want to make sure that they sound good," said Delaney. "Things like quality microphones are imperative and sound proofing. None of this business that sounds like someone recorded the show over a telephone into an answering machine. Sound quality is important: We don't subscribe to the notion that 'more lo-fi equals more authentic.' There is some investment podcasters should make before submitting shows."

Delaney doesn't think that the emphasis on quality will depress interest. "I imagine most people will opt for the free option, which utilize our own creation tools. That will limit poor quality, DIY sounding shows right out the gate, because it will force creators to consider how they sound, and how they create their programs. And the Ombudsman's department will be in charge of selecting which shows to feature on the front page, so it should encourage even the free users to try to get better."

And besides, pointed out Delaney, "If your goal is to get your ideas out, or to showcase your production skills, or whatever reason you have to create a podcast, why would you want to create an embarrassing product. Indi is a place for the 12 year-olds who want to try to create a their first show for their friends and family, or want to talk about their favorite video games, and that's fine, if that is the limit of their ambition. But if you are serious about basically running your own radio station, nobody wants to listen to some 20-something narcissist with his drunk friends rambling on about nonsense into a earplug microphone. Just because they think something is funny doesn't mean strangers want to listen to that. So Indi wants to try to encourage quality over quantity, and the better producers will naturally rise to the top, with a little help from quality control."

Delaney said that the Platform will permit shows with any number of topics: "We are looking for good music programming that can compete directly with KRTVN programming," said Delaney, "but we are also looking for current events commentary, nature and informational programming, sports analysis, historical discussion, political talk, and cultural programming. Basically everything you might hear on a normal radio station, but produced by the audience." But Delaney was clear: "Most of the so called podcasts out now, where a bunch of idiots are sitting around going on and on about nonsense or tabloid stuff, or are being deliberate edgy or controversial, those kinds of programs will probably not be featured, and you will have to go searching for them."

An early adopter of the platform is a Professor from Eveari College, the private liberal arts college in Ananto's second City. The host, Dr. Pierre Chang, offers his commentary on Kalistan's Foreign Policy, taking a topic a week and inviting guests from around the Empire to offer commentary and conversation. "Foreign Policy with Professor Chang" was one of the first featured programs and was created with the Platform's Free creation tools.

"From the start, Dr. Chang has been a true professional: He is committed to both sounding good and sounding intelligent, and his connections in the professional community are surprising informational and authoritative," said Delaney. "His show 'What's wrong with South Selaya?' about the rise of the seemingly random and deliberately chaotic policy in many places in Terra was our first 'Featured Episode' because it was an example of the kind of quality we want to promote on Indi." Delaney said there were 45 separate podcasts included in beta testing, and now that Radio Kaliburg Online is public, Delaney expects to see usage dramatically increase in Kalistan.

"You can sign up for a podcast account at http://indi.ks, and listen to Radio Kaliburg online, including all featured podcasts, on any of the streaming services or at https://rka891v.ks in Vrassan and https://rka891e.ks in Egelian."