Use of podcasts in the production structure of Spanish newspaper groups specialized in regional newspapers

Abstract

Following two decades of uninterrupted growth, the impact of the podcast on society in general and on the information industry in particular is evident. The proliferation of new narrative and thematic proposals, of which the emergence of daily immersive analysis podcasts is a salient example, is indicative of this emerging trajectory. This article examines the utilization of this format by journalistic corporations operating within Spain in the local press sector. The sixteen Spanish newspaper groups identified are: Edicapi, Edigrup Media, Faro, Godó, Grupo Segre, Grupo Serra, Grupo Voz, Henneo, Hermes Comunicacions, Joly, La Región, Noticias/Grupo Taldea, Prensa Ibérica, Progreso, Promecal, and Vocento. A quantitative-qualitative analysis sheet is proposed for their examination, consisting of six attributes: identification, formal, style and subject matter, production, distribution and marketing. Of the 16 groups, 12 incorporate podcasts into their production structures, and three of these groups have designated areas with the objective of centralizing their creation and distribution. Edicapi, Prensa Ibérica, and Vocento. The analysis suggests that, in general, these companies do not utilize this innovation in a comprehensive manner within their production processes, nor do they systematically generate the podcast format as part of their editorial offerings. With the notable exception of Vocento, no perception of the strategic value of this technology as a formula for consolidating their competitive position in the market was detected in the cases considered.