Thread by @TheElsieEscobar

THREAD: Redressing my words 👊🏽 I’m not a fan of supposition & choose to acknowledge unconscious bias when I *see* it. PLUS I tend to lead w/ ❤️ - 90% of the time I discern, but 10%...ay ay ay...bueno. I diacknowledgege tho, it started with this tweet:

https://twitter.com/TheElsieEscobar/status/1228412766635089920?s=20

1/

And then I acknowledged that I didn't have all the facts. I was at home and triggered by my fellow podcaster cohorts in attendance at #Evolutions2020 and the posts that I saw.

I did exactly what I teach *against* - read the posts and started 🗣

https://twitter.com/TheElsieEscobar/status/1228414001559883776?s=20

2/

Background: @hernanlopez announced there was going to be this *new* Podcast Academy + awards, which to those of us that had been around for a bit sounded like The Academy of Podcasters, which was a thing for about 3 yrs occurring @podcastmovement

https://twitter.com/hernanlopez/status/1228384605243265024?s=20

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Those awards, held for 3 years, were affirming + bonding to the Podcasting Industry (albeit LONG 🥴) & they had a component that I felt was the most powerful - the Hall of Fame. Those inducted to the HOF were nominated & voted on by peers, honoring the independent pioneers 4/

I was inducted to the HOF in '17. It was an incredibly meaningful honor not only for me but most importantly for the women that I serve + my family. It was an affirmation of the disruptive power of podcasting breaking all molds established by legacy media & coastal models. 5/

When I browsed the comments from my peers @ #Evolutions2020 my first UNINFORMED feelings came from a belief that the HOF + everything that came before it was going to be erased. This was deeply painful TO MANY OF US given the meaning that we as a community had infused it w/ 6/

I was wrong.

@dmfranks, President of @podcastmovement, clarified their intentions via this tweet, which was such a sigh of relief!

https://twitter.com/PodcastMovement/status/1228753078666424320?s=20

7/

And @hernanlopez clarified that their awards was a completely *new* thing - NOT affiliated with the old thing - although it looked and sounded like the *same* thing announced at the same event where the *old* thing was held...can you see how confused we all were? 8/

Bottom line, lack of communication and misunderstanding + emotions and you get 🤯😡😭

I shared with Hernan this tweet:

https://twitter.com/TheElsieEscobar/status/1228501778699898881?s=20

Which casts light on one thing that has been simmering beneath the surface for years in the podcasting industry.... 9/

....And has nothing to do w/ this new "Oscars of Podcasting" but does have to do w/ what most of us that have been in the industry for over a decade feel.

We are systematically overlooked & erased by legacy coastal media + THE REPORTING. 10/

Bloomberg/Variety types do NOT cover "the rest of us" - they cover the companies located in CA or NY that either have legacy support or VC funding and longstanding EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS with folks working in podcasting or have pivoted to podcasting. 11/

The soul & drive of podcasting pulses AWAY from the mainstream + we don't have relationships with reporters in these highly visible platforms.

We don't have the power, nor the hip story as *they* see it, and God knows we don't have the $$$ so why even bother to learn? 12/

This is blatantly clear from the coverage of the *new* award news from Bloomberg with this snippet by @Lucas_Shaw

Podcasting - "Born in the halls of public radio..." Um - no. That's bad reporting. Conjecture.

bloomberg.com/news/articles/… 13/

And in the @VanityFair article...

variety.com/2020/digital/n…

I saw this "Some notable podcast publishers and distributors are not among the organization’s founding members"

and I thought, oh! They noticed! And then... 14/

"Those absent from the roster include iHeartRadio, the New York Times Co., Luminary, Entercom Communications and Cumulus Media’s Westwood One." Um... 🤷🏻‍♀️ #nope

I mean they are talking about "notable publishers and distributors" 15/

What about hosting platforms like @Libsyn, @Blubrry, @Simplecast, networks like @_RelayFM. @5by5, TWiT.tv, "The" @ApplePodcasts for goodness sakes....I mean...what about Apps like @Overcast, @CastroPodcasts, @pocketcasts, @GooglePodcasts, etc. 16/

I'm not saying EVERYONE needs to be part of this thing, I'm commenting on the REPORTING.

The.

Reporting.

These journalists don't know what they don't know and the sad part is that they don't really care because when you do look into "podcasting" - it's NOT sexy. 17/

It's not covered in $$$

It's not wearing fancy haute couture outfits.

In fact, podcasting is the "famous person" that is super quirky and weird and their wranglers are always trying to work on their image and people keep wondering how they got famous in the first place. 18/

Bottom line, podcasting will not stay the quirky, anti establishment, fringy industry that we, old schoolers fell in love with BUT as the industry gets all glammed up, we must acknowledge it's roots, luminaries and pioneers and give credit where credit is due. 19/

And that also includes public media folks and corporations getting the press to EDUCATE about the history beyond what they know - at minimum tip their hats to those of us that broke and are breaking every rule in audio production and storytelling - podcasting is ALL OF US. 20/

I am thankful to have grown up w/ the industry & am blessed to make a living podcasting.

13 yrs ago, I would have never dreamed that this would be my profession. I am one of a handful of pundits & advocates that are cradle podcasters 😜 My presence will always be a reminder 21/

I trust this new non-profit founded w/ great intentions from @hernanlopez @kerriprx @NPR @rekha6 et al looking to honor excellence in podcasting does just that and goes beyond those that can pay for coverage or have existing relationships w/ power players + coastal ties 22/

Said with great love, respect and blessings to all, as I've had the honor to get to know so many of you, magical people, in this medium.

May we harness that magic for the power of innovation and freedom.

And may we be kind to one another. That would be super amazing.

fin/