Quote Originally Posted by BradShoemaker View Post
I believe it is becoming one. Not so much from the tech geeks or those of us who are involved in podcasting, but because the general public still doesn't have a clue what podcasting means. A good portion have heard the term, some even know what you are talking about, but I have found that the majority of people we talk to give us a blank stare when we mention podcasting... some even say "I've heard that word, but what is it?". Almost every time we talk about our shows, people inevitably think of traditional radio. They ask us what station we are with, etc. Therefore, we have decided to start calling them "shows" just so people can relate and don't zone out or lose interest in something due to the term they are unfamiliar with.

As for it being a dirty word, I guess in another sense it can become one. Again, perception is key and people think of podcasting they think of some guy who lives with his parents sitting down in a basement talking dungeons and dragons or WoW despite the fact that even traditional media has their own podcasting elements. Even though it is breaking through the barriers, it is still at the early stages of adoption and acceptance.
I agree with Brad when it comes to how podcasting is perceived by some in the general public.

Coming from radio, I can tell you that traditional broadcasters and industry professionals have also been slow to recognize that internet broadcasting is not only here to stay, but is becoming a dominant force.

Because I was on the periphery of “real” radio as a weekend programmer, I had to find ways to further promote my message early in my career. It was the internet that gave my show even more power on the radio, providing a synergy that catapulted my little hair loss program to a level that no one in radio would have ever foreseen

Internet broadcasting is the future for all broadcasting, and the future is here.