2nd year Bachelor students at Digital Campus Bordeaux took on a major challenge: designing and producing a captivating and inspiring native podcast.
This national competition, held in January and designed to develop their audio production and storytelling skills, set students a dual objective: to deliver an engaging format while exploring an aspect of urban culture from an optimistic angle.
A meaningful theme
To meet the competition requirements, each podcast had to address one of the following three overarching themes:
- The Planet: ecological challenges, local initiatives, solutions for a sustainable future.
- Inclusion: spotlighting inspiring journeys, accessibility and diversity.
- Society: urban transformations, solidarity, social innovations.
A key constraint reinforced the authenticity of the project: each podcast had to include an interview or testimony from a local figure connected to the chosen subject.
A professional approach to podcasting
The exercise went far beyond simple audio production. Students followed a structured process inspired by professional standards:
- Concept and editorial direction: a professional yet accessible tone; an immersive narrative style combining anecdotes, analysis and interviews; and a clear structure (introduction, development, conclusion) to maintain listener engagement.
- Sound design and production: careful selection of music and jingles; addition of sound effects to enhance the impact of the stories told; and mastery of transitions for a smooth listening experience.
- Interaction and engagement: calls to action to encourage sharing and interaction on social media; inclusion of varied perspectives to reflect the diversity of topics covered.
Concrete deliverables for total immersion
Each team submitted two key deliverables before presenting their project to a panel of professionals:
- A statement of intent: a document detailing the podcast's vision, message and positioning.
- A full script and podcast recording, ensuring a smooth and well-structured production.
Students then defended their project during a 30-minute presentation, including listening to an excerpt and a Q&A session with the jury.
A springboard into the world of podcasting
This competition gave students the opportunity to discover the inner workings of audio production and radio writing, while developing their project management abilities. A professional experience that reaffirms Digital Campus's DNA: learning by doing, through concrete and ambitious real-world scenarios.
Congratulations to all participants for their creativity and commitment to this wonderful audio adventure!