Baghdad: The Dubai Press Club has successfully concluded the first week of the third edition of its “Arabic Podcast Program,” which commenced on July 13 at the club’s premises. This initiative is aimed at equipping participants with the necessary skills to transform their ideas into professional and compelling podcast projects, integrating both theoretical learning and practical experience.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the program’s initial week emphasized the foundational stage and identity creation, crucial elements in developing distinctive and enduring podcast projects. The sessions and workshops delved into the essentials of podcast production, covering everything from conceptualization and audience targeting to building an editorial, audio, and visual identity, as well as honing storytelling and media performance skills.

Specialized workshops and sessions led by industry experts and pioneers in audio and video content were a highlight of the week. Charbel Issa, Customer Success Manager and certified trainer at Podeo, conducted three workshops: “Introduction to Podcasting – Concept Engineering and Identity Building,” “From Idea to Script: Steps to Building a Podcast Episode,” and “Professional Skills.” These sessions educated participants on modern podcasting concepts, topic selection, and audience identification.

Rahaf Khaled Al-Halabi, a certified vocal performance and elocution specialist, presented the workshop “Building a Vocal Signature: Tools and Strategies,” emphasizing the significance of voice in audience engagement. This included enhancing delivery skills, tone control, and vocal performance to convey the podcast’s personality and identity effectively.

On creating a visual identity, Mohammed Abdel Aziz, a visual artist and expert in logo and visual identity design, led the workshop “How to Create a Professional Visual Identity for a Podcast.” This session explored designing a comprehensive and appealing visual identity, focusing on color and font selection, episode cover design, and promotional template creation to ensure a clear and distinctive visual presence on digital platforms.

The week wrapped up with two workshops: “The Charisma of Appearance: Performance Arts and Managing Media Dialogue” and “The Art of Storytelling: From Abstract Idea to Inspiring Content.” Led by Chantal Saliba, Head of Training and Media at the IMI Media Academy, these workshops aimed at enhancing participants’ skills in on-camera presence, managing media dialogue confidently and professionally, and crafting storytelling content that inspires and captivates audiences.