There are several podcasts on the topic of doctoral studies and scientific research. The PhD gives the students of the University of Sherbrooke a voice. CHUT le Podcast introduces the work of Thésez-vous? continued, which supports doctoral students in their writing. Well, in my dissertation the same thing happens in France. The offer is overflowing in English.
On the other hand, unless I am mistaken, no doctorate or master’s degree specifically on the subject of podcasting has been defended at a university in Quebec. Prune Lieutier will remedy this deficiency. After earning her doctorate in digital children’s publishing last year, she has just started a postdoctoral fellowship at HEC Montréal on the independent podcast industry in Quebec.
The postdoctoral position is supported by the Quebec Research Fund on Society and Culture. There is a dire lack of data to understand the national reality of this new and expanding media production. There are few statistics, which are often incomplete, for example on hearing, and do not take younger target groups into account.
“The idea is to first take stock of the situation in order to describe this industry,” explains Ms. Lieutier in an interview. Secondly, I will try to identify the development problems in this world, especially in terms of production and distribution. I will propose a map of the sector, understand who does what, according to what business model, and I will identify the challenges of this sector in terms of financing or training, for example. My intuition tells me that all problems manifest at the same time, but research will show. I stay true to the concerns of a creative industry by changing the scope from children’s literature to podcasts. »
The flared ear
Ms. Lieutier is all the more qualified to carry out this project because she herself is dedicated to the podcast with La Fleche à l’oreille, of which she is co-founder and general director. Founded in 2018, the company’s mission is to develop podcasts for children and young people. She already has around 300 in her catalog!
Some creations are inspired by a work (e.g. an album) or an existing activity (e.g. a visit to an exhibition). Others are created from scratch. The company also introduces podcast creation to children in schools, including young immigrants in immersion courses.
The headquarters are in Quebec, but cultural communication continues beyond the borders, in Louisiana, Morocco, France or Belgium. A new interactive audio project aims to develop games based on speech recognition in collaboration with six Quebec museums and publisher QuébecAmérique.
La flea à l’oreille employs a handful of people and many freelancers, writers, directors, actors and technicians. The projects are financed individually, with various partners, children’s book publishers and television channels. The broadcast of the productions is free of charge and advertising-free in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act.
The researcher adds that the podcast ecosystem remains difficult to define due to the diversity of models developed there. Some small players record their productions in their garage. Some specialized companies offer highly professional services. Still others develop podcasts to complement their cultural offerings.
“It is extremely versatile and what is missing today is funding to support research and experimentation,” says Ms. Lieutier, repeating a refrain echoed by most professionals working in the industry interviewed for this series. “The lack of funding, apart from one-off projects, limits risk-taking, experimentation and outreach. This is an area that has grown very quickly, especially during the pandemic, and would benefit from being structured so that it can be heard. »
The Cultural Enterprise Development Corporation (SODEC), through its Innovative Initiatives Grant Program, paid $40,000 to La Fleche à l’oreille, one of the few organizations supporting this emerging industry. SODEC will organize three meetings with podcast representatives at the end of the month to better understand its needs.
“There are now conversations in the community about how we can defend and better promote our interests,” says Prune Lieutier. His company will organize a large international French-language meeting on youth podcasting in Paris in December.