UF begins podcasting university news, information

July 26, 2005

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In an effort to reach the rapidly growing number of people using MP3 players such as Apple Computer’s popular iPod to access news and information, the University of Florida has begun offering podcasts on the university’s news Web site.

The new service makes UF the first state university in Florida and one of a handful of schools nationwide to offer the new broadcasting format for university news, said Joe Hice, associate vice president for marketing and public relations.

“On a large campus like ours, it is important to provide as many options as possible to our students, faculty and staff to receive university news,” Hice said. “For many, podcasting will replace the more traditional communications tools in use today. It‘s definitely the wave of the future.”

UF’s podcasts are available at UF’s recently revamped news Web site, http://news.ufl.edu, under the link labeled “.” Podcasts currently posted there include excerpts from a forum held on campus last week by former , and interviews with UF experts on topics including hurricanes and orthodontic braces.

The university plans to expand its offerings in coming months. For instance, beginning with the fall semester, UF will begin podcasting weekly updates of campus events.

A new but increasingly popular medium, podcasting allows people to download audio files from the Internet and listen to them on an MP3 player wherever and whenever they like. Content is as diverse as the people who create podcasts. Many cater to music lovers; other podcasts delve into politics, the arts, sports, humor – virtually any subject imaginable. One of the more popular podcasts is National Public Radio’s “Science Friday.”

According to a study released in April by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, more than 22 million American adults own iPods or MP3 players, and 29 percent of them have downloaded podcasts.

Last month, gave podcasting a major boost by adding a podcast subscription service to the newest version of its music service directory. Podcasts available on iTunes include the , , and . UF’s podcasts also are available on iTunes, as well as at , another podcast directory, or aggregator.