037: Diverse Perspectives in Audio Storytelling with Meg Wilcox The People Teaching People Podcast

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, we are joined by Meg Wilcox. 

Meg loves a great story. Her earliest audio memories are from when she was only 4 or 5 years old, listening to CBC Radio in her dad's art studio. While he painted big sweeping landscapes, she would divide her page into frames to make her own comic strip-like stories -- one frame just wasn't enough!

In hindsight, it probably isn't too surprising that Meg ended up a journalist. She spent many years travelling the country as a radio host, producer and reporter with the CBC, CKUA, and the Banff Centre. Now, she teaches audio storytelling, podcasting, and media freelance in the Journalism and Digital Media program at Mount Royal University in Calgary. She is also co-director of the Community Podcast Initiative -- a place to encourage and explore storytelling and community connection while amplifying and supporting voices that are under-represented and misrepresented in traditional media.

Meg is an award-winning podcaster, and in 2020 she was one of Avenue Magazine's Top 40 under 40. Her first book is called The New Journalist's Guide to Freelancing, and it's out now via Broadview Press.

 

Listen in as we talk about:

3:51 Meg’s journey in becoming a journalist

8:49 Key learning experiences as a journalist

11:05 The importance of being curious

14:17 Creating a safe space for learning

15:54 Developing and teaching a podcasting course

21:19 Meg’s PhD studies with the University of Glasgow

26:22 Meg’s collaboration with Inside Out Theatre

29:44 The role of podcasting in education now and in the future

38:17 Indigenous voices, knowledge, and expertise in podcasting 

46:10 The Community Podcast Initiative

49:42 Meg’s book: The New Journalist’s Guide to Freelancing

55:28 Meg’s words of wisdom 

 

Connect with Meg:



Websites: 



Meg Wilcox: http://www.megwilcox.com/

The Community Podcast Initiative: https://thepodcaststudio.ca/





Instagram:



@meghw

@communitypodyyc





Twitter: @meghw

Book: The New Journalist’s Guide to Freelancing: Building Your Career in the New Media Landscape 

Podcast: Community Podcast Initiative (CPI) Podcast



 

Connect with Tiana:



Website: https://tianafech.com

LinkedIn: Tiana Fech

Instagram: @tianafech 

Facebook: @tianafech 

Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course 



Today’s episode is produced by VOLT Productions, a full-service podcast production agency helping creators and entrepreneurs launch, grow and monetize their shows. You can learn more about the agency’s founder Simona, their work and their team by going to www.voltproductions.co. 

 

KEY LEARNING EXPERIENCES AS A JOURNALIST

“Journalists have to be curious. Without curiosity and wanting to look at things from other people’s points of view, you can’t translate that to an audience.”

Meg emphasizes the paramount importance of expertise, facts, and context within the realms of journalism, particularly in an era burgeoning with misinformation and disinformation. She highlights the shift in journalism towards acknowledging not just academic experts but also individuals with lived experiences, underlining the richness this diversity brings to understanding stories. Engaging with a broad spectrum of experts, Meg underscores the continuous learning and enriching encounters that journalism facilitates as well as the expertise required in crafting informed narratives.

Furthermore, Meg reflects on the unique allure of live radio broadcasts, stressing the irreplaceable experience of real-time conversations and the organic, compelling nature of such interactions. She underscores the significance of collaboration and the human element i...