Why your radio show should put transcripts online

Bruce Melzer on why NPR.org makes transcripts of its radio stories free online:

There are solid business reasons for making transcripts free. Sales have been dropping over the years. As people search for, discover and share content, offering free transcripts will boost the traffic to NPR.org, traffic that can be monetized with sponsorship. Finally, search engines like text. Many of our stories could not be found by the search engines because they did not have enough text. Now it will be easier for the search engines — and ultimately the users — to find and enjoy NPR’s stories.

On the Media from WYNC puts transcripts of all of its interviews online, and they’re extremely helpful. It’s something we’ve tried on Spark, and would like to do more of. And, as Julien Smith says, “the web is built around text, not sound.”

Update: My pal Rhiannon makes another excellent point:

i like when radio puts up transcripts. it’s really useful for me if i’m listening to something, say on a morning show (especially pre-coffee), and i’m like “wow! this would be great info for my/ someone else’s research!!” listening to the radio is great, but to be able to pass the info along to others (or save it for myself) who can use it at a later time is really useful from an academic’s perspective. i wish cbc did more of this all around.

Peter’s Corner is now open

Peter’s Corner (“Profile of Excellence”) is now officially open for business on the Northeast corner of Queen and Parliament. Hope to try it out soon, if I can wean myself off Pete’s Cajun. I’ve not yet stepped inside, but judging by the menu boards, it has to be better than the previous tenant, Mr. Tasty.

So long, Frog Hollow

Stephanie Domet on Frog Hollow Books closing:

Sadness yesterday. Frog Hollow Books locked its doors for good. I’d been trying to go in there for two weeks to say goodbye, but I just couldn’t make myself do it. Managed to get my act together ten minutes before closing. Went in and had a good cry with Heidi, drank canned wine from a Tim Horton’s cup, bought three books I don’t even know what they are, just to buy them, cried some more, and got the hell out. I will miss that place, and I wish I’d thought to go in there every single week to spend thirty bucks. If there’s an independent bookstore where you live, go there. It makes a difference. My book was always on the shelf at Frog Hollow, but I’ve never seen a single copy in Chapters. At Frog Hollow, they read my book, they loved my book, they put my book in the hands of hundreds and hundreds of readers. At Chapters, I’m just someone who might spend eight bucks on a roll of wrapping paper.

Sad. So, that leaves Bookmark and Woozles. Any others?

Update: Stephanie writes: “Outside the Lines on Quinpool is left. They’re pretty good.”

Update 2: Frances adds: “And Venus Envy. The Jade W sells used and new books.”

Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids on the radio

Earlier this year, I pitched and produced a radio pilot for CBC, based on Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids, the reading series I started a few years ago. The show was a mix of some of my favourite readings from the live events, and some reflection about the role and function of nostalgia in our lives.

Of the things I’ve done in radio so far, this is one of the things I’m most proud of.

Screeching redux

Yup, the screeching is back, as of this morning:

The TTC has scheduled streetcar service to resume along the Queen Street East bridge across the Don River at 5 a.m. today. Construction at Church and Queen Streets continues to disrupt streetcar service.

Via Transit Toronto