Ga Ga Over the Idea of an Audio GV

Driving down to Cedar City today we were listening to Queen at full volume in the car. The song Radio Ga Ga came on and while I was singing at full volume to it I started thinking about how the lyrics applied to a recent conversation that we were having on the GV authors list about an audio version of GV.

We watch the shows -- we watch the stars
On videos for hours and hours
We hardly need to use our ears
How music changes through the years

The concern that started the debate was that an audio version of the GV site could be a benefit to those with disabilities...and not only those with visual impairments would benefit. My little brother has a learning disability and reading comes very hard to him. When I mentioned the idea to him (of reading individual posts from GV) he was all over it. He wants to know more about what I do, but he doesn't have the stamina to read though it. I recorded a demo reading of a post that I did (it is a very rough demo--the ceiling fan interfered with the audio) but he really enjoyed it.

Let's hope you never leave old friend
Like all good things on you we depend
So stick around cos we might miss you
When we grow tired of all this visual
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour

The real problem is how to implement an audio version of GV? It would be ideal to have each post read....but the man power and time would be a huge labor of love. I wouldn't mind doing some of it, but I know that I don't have the time to record every post. However, I have a couple ideas of what could be done to include more audio on GV.

1. A story of the day podcast. NPR has a similar podcast that I subscribe to in which a story is singled out as the most interesting of the day. This could be done for GV, and it would be an opportunity to not only showcase featured stories, but we could feature stories from the other GV franchises: Lingua, Advocacy, Voices Without Votes, and Rising Voices.
2. A weekly show about what was featured on GV. This wouldn't have to be re-reading of the stories but a short summary of them, much like a regular radio show, and music could be included and all of that.

Next issue, is who would do the two things above? Most likely the podcast editor, who has had a difficult job already trying to find podcast content from around the world (It requires alot of listening!) . These two ideas would make the podcast editor's job a little easier with finding content and being able to supply consistent content, while compiling other information for a world podcast roundup.

I think that I will leave it here for the moment, but I welcome thoughts and comments.