About the Author
Jill Olmsted is a full-time associate professor of Journalism at the American University School of Communication in Washington, D.C. She has taught communication courses for 35+ years, specializing in audio and video storytelling and public affairs reporting.
She also writes and comments on media issues, does freelance voice-over work, and has conducted media training for law enforcement and government agencies. Over her career, she has worked as an on-air television and radio news anchor, reporter, editorialist, producer, editor, photographer, and news manager. As a former Washington, D.C., correspondent for nationally syndicated programs, she covered federal agencies and the White House.
Olmsted has been a member of professional organizations including the Online News Association (ONA), Radio-Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and Association for Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC).
A pioneer in podcast education, Olmsted recognized early that podcasting was more than a media trend — it was a literacy, a skill set, and a democratized form of expression that required structured, accessible guidance. She authored Tools for Podcasting, the first comprehensive podcasting e-book in the Open Textbook Library. At a time when high-quality, affordable training materials were scarce, her book provided practical, pedagogically sound guidance that educators could adapt freely.
Olmsted’s approach bridges industry know-how with educational clarity. She distills the technical, editorial, and creative dimensions of podcasting into a format that new learners can use effectively, covering recording techniques, story structure, interviewing fundamentals, audio ethics, and the broader media landscape.
To navigate her e-book, scroll to the bottom of the page and use the white text on the black bar at the far right to move forward. Chapters can also be accessed via the left-hand menu, and sections expanded by clicking the + sign.
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