New York Times to host Student Podcast Contest

The New York Times is hosting its first-ever Student Podcast Contest. The publication presented the contest as a way to incorporate audio narratives into a classroom setting.

The official announcement of the contest is expected next week, but some preliminary details are available. Participants can submit original podcasts, no more than 5 minutes long, inspired by one of the NYT writing prompts. The contest runs from April 26 through May 25.

The initial announcement includes a lesson plan for teachers and students to approach the audio format. It includes mini-lessons on how to conduct an interview, recording audio on a smartphone, and basics of podcast editing. It is fairly detailed, and — as a snapshot of NYTimes podcasting values — arguably the most interesting part of the preliminary contest announcement. It certainly can be a valuable classroom aid for teacher helping their student enter the contest.

Anna Washenko