Conversations Network News

TeamITC Private Podcast - April 9, 2009

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Thu, 9 Apr 2009 00:00:00 CDT

It's a long one! A few details and reminders about our workflow and the Assignment Page. A preview of two conference calls later today: (1) our quarterly call with major donors, and (2) the annual meeting of the Board of Directors. Doug reads the highlights from his annual report to the Board.

Donor/Manager Quarterly Conference Call - April 9, 2009

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Thu, 9 Apr 2009 00:00:00 CDT

A recording of our quarterly conference call with The Conversations Network management team and our major donors. Reports from Phil Windley (IT Conversations), Steve Williams (BayCHI Conversations), Doug Kaye filling in for Bernadette Clavier (Social Innovation Conversations), Joel Tscherne (Senior Website Editor) and Paul Figgiani (Senior Audio Engineer). Doug also provides an update on SpokenWord.org and gives the highlights from his annual report to the Board of Directors.

TeamITC Private Podcast - December 26, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:00:00 CST

The Long Lost Podcast from Fearless Leader Doug. What a year! We'll end up with about 473 new programs for 2008, bringing the archive total to around 2,030. 42 different people worked on those programs during the year. A quick (unaudited) look at the books says we've distributed $25,484 to the team over the past twelve months and that member dues and donations accounted for $17,880 or roughly 70% of our staff costs. So thanks to our paid members, too. Most of all, have a happy holiday season and a great 2009.

Donor/Manager Quarterly Conference Call - November 20, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 CST

A recording of the quarterly conference call with The Conversations Network's major individual donors and our executive producers. This quarter: ITC and SIC updates; '08 Conversations wraps up after 25 episodes;1.984 programs published to date; should hit 2.040 by year's end. Downloads have increase from 300,000/mo in January to 520,000 in October. We're making good use of our $10,000 in-kind Google Grant, having finally figured out the ins and outs of AdWords. Also reports on paid membership, PodCorps.org and SpokenWord.org.

TeamITC Private Podcast - October 10, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CDT

Has it really been four months since Doug's last TeamITC podcast? On tap in this episode: September payments are out; the old show-squatting problem is back; website editors, please use that keyword editor!; more slideshows, please; an update on SpokenWord.org; and the status of PodCorps.org.

Donor/Manager Quarterly Conference Call - June 25, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CDT

A recording of the quarterly conference call with The Conversations Network's major individual donors (donors, patrons and benefactors) and our executive producers. This quarter: ITC and SIC updates; '08 COnversations, our latest channel; we're awarded a Google Grant; and all about the Phase 2 plan.

TeamITC Private Podcast - June 5, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CDT

Doug talks about the implications of The Conversations Network -- Phase 2 plan for TeamITC: the content pyramid with grassroots content at the bottom and our curated content at the top. (Yes, there are layers in between!) And we're lookign to expand the management team by adding positions of responsibility for the new PtP service, AdWords, PodCorps.org and the wiki and forum. Oh, and happy birthday, IT Conversations.

Update from The Conversations Network - June 5, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CDT

Lots of big news in this podcast: IT Conversations (our flagship channel) celebrates its fifth birthday; Google Grants supports The Conversations Network; ;08 Conversations, our latest channel, covers the 2008 U.S. Presidential election; Joel Spolsky and Jeff Atwood bring their StackOverflow podcast to IT Conversations; and we give you a sneak preview of The Conversations Network - Phase 2 strategy.

Update from The Conversations Network - May 14, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 CDT

We've been busy for the past two months! In this update, learn about the new web sites for each of our channels along with some new features such as Share With a Friend and Badges for your website or blog. Learn who's now on our Board of Directors after last month's meeting. And for those of you who subscribe via RSS, check your subscriptions. We've made some changes/

TeamITC Private Podcast - May 13, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 CDT

Has it really been seven weeks since the last private podcast? Looks that way. A reminder that the PE rate is now $25/show. $10/show for slideshows and we REALLY need more. WEs should be doing more and it's the SPs' job to track them down. Keep those images between 5kb and 10kb so our homepages will be reasonable. New members to our Board of Directors. A new web-site design launches, and future plans for The Conversations Network.

TeamITC Private Podcast - March 26, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 CDT

It's a long one! Comments. (They're back!). Smart Playlists. RSS feeds from the CMS. Ratings widgets. Slideshows. Keywords. Shorten those titles! And all about our curatorial/editorial responsibilities.

Update from The Conversations Network - March 16, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:00:00 CDT

Doug announces a major new feature: the SmartPlaylist Manager. Now you can customize your Personal Playlist to receive and hear only the programs you select by keyword, series or channel. If you're a paid member, your Personal Playlist will automatically include the Premium Edition versions of our programs, and you can even subscribe to your Personal Playlist via RSS. Doug also delivers an audio version of his Algebra of Quality essay and announces new editorial policies guaranteed to improve the quality of our programs.

Update from The Conversations Network - March 8, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Sun, 2 Mar 2008 00:00:00 CST

Lots of news: premium versions of our programs (for paid members) without the music, intros and other promotional messages and the return of comments and the Excerpt feature to our detail pages.

Donor/Manager Quarterly Conference Call - February 29, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CST

A recording of the quarterly conference call with The Conversations Network's major individual donors (donors, patrons and benefactors) and our executive producers. A better-than-usual call this time. Good participation from our guests, and discussion of some major issues regarding the future of the network.

TeamITC Private Podcast - February 17, 2008

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CST

From the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii, where it's work and not all play. Well, it's still Maui, so how hard could it be? January payments are late because I left important paperwork on the mainland. Make sure to visit the forums to participate in our business-plan discussions there. And note that we've got RSS feeds for the forums now. We're looking for help with marketing, fundraising and administration. Let me know if you've like to branch out and get more involved. And SPs: Please don't also the WE work on your shows. We need two sets of eyeballs on the copy!

PodCorps Update - January 9, 2008 -

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Wed, 9 Jan 2008 00:00:00 CST

500+ stringers now in the database. Skype for Interviews? Yes! Welcome to AIR (the Association of Independents in Radio). Help wanted: part-time audio professionals. The PodCorps.org forums are open for business. Check your profile: Are you really in China? And now we're a Facebook Cause. Join us there.

TeamITC Private Podcast - December 31, 2007 - December 31, 2007

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST

The end-of-year TeamITC private podcast from Fearless Leader Doug. EOY traffic and donation stats. FaceBook Causes. Our Frappr page. The album-art debate is settled. Doug and Paul's excellent Skype movie. Housekeeping for WEs and PEs. CriticsRant.com Looking for pro bono marketeers, pr folks and fundraisers.

2007 End-of-Year Report - December 24, 2007

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 00:00:00 CST

2007 was a great year for The Conversations Network. 396 new programs. (!,557 total in the archives.) More than 250,000 unique listeners. 405 paid members since we started that option two years ago. But less than 0.2% of our listeners donate or pay for membership. Also: our Facebook Cause, a new Skype for Interviews video and Help Wanted: Audio Engineers.

TeamITC Private Podcast - November 20, 2007

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 CST

The Assignment page: Take shows from the top down, please! "Squatting" is when you don't get a show done within 48 hours of signing up for it. Don't forget the SIC shows. The compensation is the same as for ITC. The long descriptions are getting too long. Hear how they're used and what guidelines to use. And PEs: Make sure you read the show and series notes before you start on a show. The Series Producers are putting important information for you there.

Update from The Conversations Network - October 9, 2007

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Tue, 9 Oct 2007 00:00:00 CDT

Doug Kaye, Executive Director, announces Media Conversations an all-new channel on The Conversations Network. The first series on the channel is Future Talks, an interview-format program with futurists Gerd Leonhard and Glen Hiemstra. Future Talks is the first series on The Conversations Network produced in video as well as audio. It will run for the next ten weeks, with a new episode released every Tuesday.

TeamITC Private Podcast - September 16, 2007

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:00:00 CDT

From Fearless Leader, Doug Kaye: CMS stability, logins have changed, the new Levelator, OSC has been eliminated, tapesyncs are coming, volunteers needed, wanted: series producer for Media Conversations, also wanted: PEs for the Podcast Expo QuickCast, and details about The Conversations Network at the Expo.

Update from The Conversations Network - September 16, 2007

doug@rds.com (The Conversations Network) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:00:00 CDT

This brief program is an update from The Conversations Network's Executive Director, Doug Kaye. Topics include the status of the re-integration of IT Conversations into The Conversations Network, a pitch for new volunteers, a new version of The Levelator, and The Conversations Network's plans for the Podcast and New Media Expo.