There is a fantastic blog entry over at Scobolizer regarding social networks and how Microsoft doesn’t get it. This is not just  (another) opportunity to bash Microsoft. Rather it helps provide focus on the topic of why social networks are so powerful (here ‘important’).

I reference the topic and the article because of how essential it is to participate in social networks. Which one? MySpace and Facebook are a couple of obvious choices. In the UK Bebo has surpassed MySpace as the top social network.

As I was doing research on the topic of social networks, I looked up the topic in Wikipedia. They have an extensive list of networks, their niche, and their reach. It is worth exploring them to see if your podcast should be a part of a particular network.

If we are going to reach the world, we have to be where ‘they’ are.

Tags: Uncategorized | No Comments »

I have been thinking and praying about what God is doing with DwM and Catholic media. I have been looking around the country at the different aspects of Catholic media. I am convinced that the Holy Spirit is doing a mighty work. I see it as nothing short of a Catholic Renaissance. What I have come to recognize is my vision is too small. God’s vision, however, is. . . big.

I see God working in so many different ways. On the College level I have visited Steubenville and have met with a recruiter from John Paul the Great. Both these universities are raising up leaders who are grounded in Catholicism and trained in communications. I have met with folk who run Catholic stations, some of them feel that something new is needed, that there is a ‘next step’ but they are not sure what that is.

I have worked with NEI-Radio and they are working with stations in the US but one of the more exciting developments is their work in the Sudan to establish Catholic radio. NEI recently met with representatives of Vatican Radio. Carlos will be in Rome later this month to speak at an international conference as will the President of the Catholic Radio Association. Jim Coyle and I will be speaking at a Catholic Media Convocation in May.

We have seen Catholic musicians join us at DwM and have posted their work at the Podsafe Music Network. I am looking for more artists to join us. We need their creativity, passion, and worldview.

God is lighting a fire on the earth. Right now, so many of us are preoccupied with tending our own little fires. We need to open our hearts and recognize that if we are going to cooperate with what the Spirit of God is doing, we have to make time for collaboration, sharing, and asking for help. We do not have to go it alone.

So, what is God doing? It is something new, it is something wonderful. It is something that will shine throughout all the world. You are a part of it. I am a part of it. Let’s not limit God. Let us open our minds and pray to see God’s vision for what He wants in Catholic media. It is something wonderful and daunting. It will seem to big and grand for us. Frankly, it is. But with God all things are possible.

Technorati Tags
Holy Spirit Media Disciples with Microphones Catholic Media Catholic Press Association Catholic Radio Association

Tags: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

This picture has absolutely no relation to this holy day. I am posting it because my family and I just finished to Divine Mercy chaplet and my wife and mother-in-law have taken the kids for a ride. The house is quiet and there is a smell of freshly cut grass in the air (not mine, but my neighbors).

This picture is of my oldest doing the dishes. She is responsible for every other night’s dishes and has been taking forever to get them done. She will run out of the kitchen gasping for air or dry heaving because the the feel and smell of the dishes. This is her solution to her situation.

Just wanted to share. Have a blessed Triduum.

Tags: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

New Relevant Radio Station and it’s a biggin

Stuart Henry, son of Long Island newspaper mogul Stan Henry, has sold the radio station to Starboard Media, a Wisconsin-based Catholic talk radio network. Starboard, which calls its network Relevant Radio, is buying the station that broadcasts on 540AM, and the building on Deer Park Avenue, from Henry for about $14 million.

Complete article here.

Tags: Uncategorized | No Comments »

I spoke with Brian Mooney of John Paul the Great University and asked for some code to allow me to better share information about the University. He just sent this to me. If you would like to display the links on your web site you can either view source in your browser or I can send it to you directly. Enjoy, my 56meg download is just about done, so I am going to get some popcorn and sit back and relax.

8-minute LONG video (56MB, Windows Media)

2-minute SHORT video (10MB, Windows Media)

60-second Audio (1.7MB, MP3)

Tags: Uncategorized | No Comments »

I was excited to see a recent posting on the DwM forum. It was from a Catholic artist named Susan Bailey. She gave me permission to copy her posting. You will find it below. What excited me about the posting was the fact that the Catholic artistic community (if Susan is at all representational) is starting to see the value of podcasting to spreading the word of their art.

I have sampled her music and encourage you to do so. You will find it at the Podsafe Music Network. She has made available a large number of songs. They range from gentle acoustic with pretty birds in the background to full sounding songs of praise and worship. She has a wonderful voice.

I have a couple of suggestions. First, see if her music would fit into your podcast. More importantly, however, is to play her music and also interview her. This is another opportunity to have an interesting piece added to your podcast. Find out about why she posted Podsafe music. Learn about her faith and her walk. Why did she wander over to DwM?

She is not yet a member of DwM, but I am hoping she will ‘join the family’. Below is the info she shared in the forum. I hope it will allow you to get to know this wonderful artist a bit better.

Hello all,
My name is Susan Bailey and I am a singer, songwriter and recording artist. My songs are prayerful expressions of my Catholic faith. I have just loaded up my catalog of songs to PodSafe which you can use, if you wish, for your podcasts. There are a variety of styles, from pop to ballads to acoustic, to choose from. All the titles of the songs I have listed include the name of the CD they come from. I have songs dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary (from the CD ‘Mater Dei’) and two songs dedicated to Mother Teresa (from the CD ‘Teach Me to Love’ - these two songs also say ‘Mother Teresa’ in the title so that they are easier to find), along with songs for Advent and Christmas (from the CD ‘Wait with Me’).

I hope you will find these songs useful for your podcasts. I have just gotten into listening to podcasts and am a big fan of Fr. Seraphim’s podcasts. Because I have been so inspired by what I’ve heard, I’m thinking about doing some podcasts myself. This is such a wonderful and viable alternative to the radio at work!

Thanks for all the great work you podcasters do!

Peace, Susan
_________________
SUSAN BAILEY
Performing songs of hope and inspiration
as an expression of her Catholic faith
Hear samples, buy CDs at www.susanbailey.net and www.susanbailey.org

Read GrapeVine Magazine, THE online e-zine about Catholic music!

You can contact Susan via her web sites. She did not give me permission to publish her email, so I will leave that up to her.

Ciao

Tags: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

I have been wondering something for a while. I have been sensing a fatigue in several members. The novelty of the cast has worn off and now we are faced with work. It is work doing show prep. It is work doing the cast itself and it is work getting it all ready for public consumption.

It seems that there are two things each of us can do to help eachother in these areas. The first is to let members know about people who they think would be good guests for the show. In the past, I have informed members that Joe Worthing the Exective Director of Project Moses was open to interviews. Now we have the upcoming opportinity to interview Dr. Derry Connelly from John Paul the Great University. I am sure other members have come across interesting folk who would be good guests. What do you think? What should this development look like? Should these be posted on the forums, members only area, on the blog, or not at all?

Second, we could develop segments for use by others. Those of you who do not want to either do an entire cast or want to do a segment that is outside your normal cast, you could post that for others to use. For example, I posted an interview with Fr. Wilde of Priests for Life. I posted that and at least one person took advantage of that resource. How should this exist? Again casual postings on the forums, members only area or should that be a function of the web site?

Let me know how you think DwM can help you with your casts. Remember, we do now have an area in the forums where you can post links to your promos and request voice work. DwM exists to strengthen the efforts of its members. What whould help you the most?

Tags: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

I met with Brian Mooney of John Paul the Great University on Monday. He was in town to do some recruiting for the University at some local Catholic High Schools. I had heard of the University through Carlos (he seems to know everyone). He shared with me the history and mission of the University. I shared with him the mission and vision of DwM.

John Paul the Great University mission (spelled out in full here) is to train their students both in media and business. They will be turning out trained media professionals who are formed in a Catholic world view. You can view their multimedia offerings here.

I believe there is a great partnership here with the University and Disciples with Microphones. I would like for all of you to experience this first-hand. I propose we set-up a few conference calls with the University President, Dr. Derry Connelly, PhD. This will allow anyone interested to hear about the University and begin seeing what the possibilities are as it pertains to your podcasts. I would then hope you would set-up individual interviews for your own casts.

I have requested from the University that they offer some tags for embedding their video and audio on our sites. It is a way for each of us to help promote the University (if you so chose). I see several other possibilities but I ask you to think and pray about how this opportunity can impact your casts.

I would love for Fr. Roderick to take advantage of this as well. If any of you have good contacts with him, you may want to pass on this information to him as well.

Tags: Uncategorized | No Comments »

I am not sure if this tool would be all that helpful. I may be missing something, so tell me if this is something to jump up and down about, or if it is just another well intentioned tool.

Let me know. I am scratching my head about this one.

Tags: Uncategorized | No Comments »

In April 2005, Larry Lessig (founder of the Creative Commons movement, among other things) gave a presentation at the New York Public Library on the topic ‘Who Owns Culture’. It was based upon an article he wrote for Wired magazine.

Larry Lessig is an important voice in the remix debate (some call it a war) that is going on today. It is important for all of us to enter into this discussion or, at the very least, to understand the conflict.

The presentation was recorded and then the slides were synced with the presentation and uploaded to Google Video. I encourage everyone to watch and listen.

Tags: Uncategorized | No Comments »