Open Debate: Ben Shapiro Talks Civility in Podcasting
The Media Roundtable is back! This week, we’ve got a two-part episode for your listening pleasure.
First, Giles Martin (EVP, Strategy & Insights, Oxford Road) shares insights from our new case study, “The Untold Story of the Podcast Election,” where we show how the power of audio, especially audience engagement and riskier content, helped shape the outcome of the presidential election. It’s a must-read for CAOs advocating for more podcast budget.
Next up, Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road & Veritone One) hosts Ben Shapiro, (Co-founder & Editor Emeritus of The Daily Wire, and Host of The Ben Shapiro Show, (the largest conservative podcast and radio show in the nation). Together, they’re talking; open media ecosystems, brand safety and civility, consolidated media ownership, and so much more. These topics couldn’t possibly matter more right now–as echoed in President Biden’s farewell address to the nation. Let’s jump in.
“ Good-natured political debate, I think, is actually–in a way–coming back.”
Ben Shapiro, (Co-founder of The Daily Wire, Host of The Ben Shapiro Show)
Keeping it Civil 🤝 - What if the people we disagreed with weren’t stupid or evil, but we just thought they were wrong? Dan’s favorite podcast episode of the last 20 years was a respectful debate with Sam Harris and Ben, moderated by Bari Weiss. That’s the power of podcasting, and it’s a model for open conversations in the future. The Civility score isn’t a cure-all for brand safety, but it’s a necessary step to foster real conversations while also taking care of advertisers.
An Open Media Landscape 👐 - Wide-ranging podcast conversations thrive in an open media environment. So there’s discomfort about concentrating power over media with only a few people or algorithms. In Ben’s words, “If it turns out that whoever's in power is just going to get to dictate the rules of the game, there are no rules of the game at that point.” Our take: keep an open landscape with transparency in content (nutritional labels) and incentivize civil discussions.
Longform Podcasting ⏳- What could a shift to video podcasting really mean? A preference towards brief, faster-moving content. But since authentic conversations flourish in audio-first (longer) formats, we hope the open idea exchanges that happen in podcasting are protected.
To hear Dan and Ben’s entire thoughtful (and civil) discussion, tune into the full episode below.