´óÏó´«Ã½

Pods and Blogs has been running for quite a frighteningly long time now, nearly 3 years by my calculation. We've been podcasting for rather less time (since August 07) and I'd like to make that element of what we do a priority as it represents a new audience for the programme and the network. With that in mind I'm considering a few changes. I'd like your thoughts on what I'm planning, please add them to the comments, or email them to me at podsandblogs [at] bbc.co.uk

• Have a stronger focus on stories that are generating interest in the blogging / podcasting community, even if that means doing more news about blogging/podcasting, and fewer stories which react to the traditional news agenda.
• Do fewer interviews over phone-lines, more where I or Jamillah, or one of our contributors record the interviews in person or via skype or a studio. My feeling is that phone-lines are a hard listen on headphones
• Cut the length to 30mins and run from 0230 to 0200. This is really required by the above. At present the 0210 start forces us to lead with an item reflecting the main news of the day which may date too quickly for the podcast. Starting at 0230 would allow me to run more in-depth features that wouldn't date so quickly. It also means that I can devote more time to the stories we do run, and to developing them online
• Use more podcast specific show furniture. Rather than use the standard Five Live radio idents, encourage more podcasters to create show furniture for us
• Do more on podcasting! Which as a listener mentioned to us the other night, we have rather neglected.

I'd be interested in knowing what you think about these ideas. As well as these changes I'd love to know what you like about the segment, and what you don't like about it. What do you want to hear more of? Constructive criticism is very welcome.

UPDATE: Comments not really working so please email. asks that we continue to reflect the wider world of blogging. Of course, that's central to what we're about. P&B isn't going to become a pure tech show, but I would like to dig a little deeper into "off-diary" stories not covered elsewhere.

If you'd like to subscribe to the podcast, by far the easiest way to get it, click here: This week we featured:

• joined us to talk about Firefox, Netscape and the browser wars


• spoke about YouTube in Pakistan


• An interview with (not on the podcast but you can find it here)


• The Britblog Roundup with


• Geography2.0 with


• Ebay Boycott with b


• Blind podcasters and (in which some sheep make a guest appearance)

If you have a suggestion for next week's programme please email podsandblogs [at] bbc.co.uk

You can suscribe to the podcast via iTunes: MyYahoo: Googlereader

Please note the podcasts are only available for 7-days - so please download early for your later listening pleasure.

If you'd like to subscribe to the podcast, by far the easiest way to get it, click here: This week we featured:

• Reaction to events in Pakistan with bloggers behind and


• reflects on Kosovo's declaration of independence


• Sex and Silicon Valley with obviously adult themes dealt with in Melissa's blog so click advisedly


• Britblog roundup with . You can see the video mentioned in the round-up on his site


• Fighting the botnets. Longer versions of the interviews we played available here


• Gay bloggers in Africa. A with a clip of one of the


• Clark Boyd looks at the

If you have a suggestion for next week's programme please email podsandblogs [at] bbc.co.uk

You can suscribe to the podcast via iTunes: MyYahoo: Googlereader

Please note the podcasts are only available for 7-days - so please download early for your later listening pleasure.

If you'd like to subscribe to the podcast, by far the easiest way to get it, click here: This week we featured:

• Research from , very timely following The Times Green Paper leak


• Neil Gaiman on blogging as an author and why he is


• Amira Al Hussaini editor of Global Voices/Reuters new project provided a global perspective on continuing developments in the US primary race


• Matt Wardman did this week's


• Peter McGrath spoke . More on that here. The picture is of one of Darwin's pigeon specimens at the Natural History Museum


• An evening of food blogging thanks to the folks at the . We heard from , , and
  
• And how a podcast about made it into the podcasting premiership

If you have a suggestion for next week's programme please email podsandblogs [at] bbc.co.uk

You can suscribe to the podcast via iTunes: MyYahoo: Googlereader

Please note the podcasts are only available for 7-days - so please download early for your later listening pleasure.

If you'd like to subscribe to the podcast, by far the easiest way to get it, click here: This week we featured:

• Stephan Beckert of TeleGeography spoke about the


• Chris and Joanne of talk about breaking the


• talks about the and tells us about working in Afghan radio (apologies for saying Sanjay on the tape - as slip of the mind I'm afraid)


• Amira Al Hussaini editor of Global Voices/Reuters New project provided a global perspective to Super Tuesday. We hope this will be a regular feature as the race continues


• of the spoke about


• Jamillah Knowles spoke with Jamie King, the director of


• And a short feature with who is part of

If you have a suggestion for next week's programme please email podsandblogs [at] bbc.co.uk

You can suscribe to the podcast via iTunes: MyYahoo: Googlereader It's always available in itunes first thing in Tuesday morning. Ideal for the Web2.0 commuter.

Sadly the powers that be will not let you "Steal this Podcast" and they are only available for 7-days - so please download early for your later listening pleasure.

If you've an idea for the next edition of Pods and Blogs please feel free to leave a note in the comments below or email me at podsandblog [at] bbc.co.uk I do read all the emails that I get sent, and do really value your ideas for stories. Generally speaking we're looking for news stories under-reported in the traditional media, coverage of major breaking news in the blogs which throws a different light on the issue and good human interest stories. If you run a blog, vlog or podcast which you think merits coverage do please get in touch.

You can see the other stories I'm looking at, which may make the programme, by checking our del.icio.us links below: