Media coverage of UK (and Irish) Zoos

[Crowthorne]

Depending on how you listen to podcasts, the apps often have a search function to find relevant podcasts. I use Podcast Addict, which has a pretty good search option which I've used to find numerous zoo and zoology podcasts (but on getting a new phone, lost them all and haven't got round to finding then again yet). Some titles I remember though included Tetrapod Zoology Podcats, The Boozy Zoo, Off Exhibit at the Maryland Zoo, Zoo Logic and Visit the Zoo. I did listen to all the episodes of the short-lived Elmwood Park Zoo Keeper Kast, which was a sweet show but hadn't updated in a long time.

I'm sure there was a zoo podcast thread a while back, will see I'd I can find it...

Edit: found it! Podcasts

Also found that Chester used to do a podcast but is no longer available Podcasts [Chester Zoo]

 

[Andrew Swales]

Depending on how you listen to podcasts, the apps often have a search function to find relevant podcasts. I use Podcast Addict, which has a pretty good search option which I've used to find numerous zoo and zoology podcasts (but on getting a new phone, lost them all and haven't got round to finding then again yet). Some titles I remember though included Tetrapod Zoology Podcats, The Boozy Zoo, Off Exhibit at the Maryland Zoo, Zoo Logic and Visit the Zoo. I did listen to all the episodes of the short-lived Elmwood Park Zoo Keeper Kast, which was a sweet show but hadn't updated in a long time.

I'm sure there was a zoo podcast thread a while back, will see I'd I can find it...

Edit: found it! Podcasts

Also found that Chester used to do a podcast but is no longer available Podcasts [Chester Zoo]

Thank you all for the patient explanations! The Chester link does not load on my pc; am I right to guess that Chester no longer do them?

 

[Zia]

Thank you all for the patient explanations! The Chester link does not load on my pc; am I right to guess that Chester no longer do them?

Yes - that is correct. I imagine the tv show has superceded the podcast as would naturally reach a wider audience.

I personally think starting with a Youtube channel would be the best course of action for a smaller collection. It is somewhat more accessible and easier to promote i.e. you can post Youtube vids to your other social media channels (like Facebook / Twitter) and it takes no effort for people to click and watch. You could look to build a following on Youtube and then expand into doing podcasts once you have an established audience in place. You could then also look to distribute media via patreon which would fund the content. Patreon is a membership based platform - as in people pay a membership fee for access to exclusive content which could be videos / podcasts / written media / photgraphy etc. It is the next step from someone just following you on social media - you could even offer it as an add-on to annual membership / or try it for a month on top of ticket sales.

It would take a good amount of effort up front to get it off the ground - you need to post consistently good content and self publicise it successfully to build a following. You also need to understand who your audience would be and what would appeal to them. The likes of Yorkshire Wildlife Park get a lot of stick on here for their posting style on Twitter - but you can't argue with the amount of engagement their posts receive from the general public.

I also see that there is a lot to be gained from smaller collections engaging with the other 'bigger' collections on social media in a positive way - congratulating them on things / having silly 'post-offs' with funny / cute pictures. Here is an example from a couple of years ago:

Zoos Get Into Brutal #CuteAnimalTweetOff Battle, And It’s Exactly What The Internet Needed

In this way you can engage with a wider audience - but you do need to be authentic and genuine and not just do it for this reason alone.

 

[cliffxdavis]

I too found the podcasts listed but they are all pretty much in the USA. Still very interesting but I think there is still an untapped audience for UK zoo lovers. I would say that podcasts are great for when you are driving, shopping or waiting in a queue.

I agree with Zia that a Youtube channel has a potential to get more hits but I find it difficult to watch when I am driving.

 

[cliffxdavis]

The driving reference was a joke.

 

[taun]

The driving reference was a joke.

I know loads of people that listen to podcasts while driving, obviously playing it through the car audio system and not headphones...although I do see alot of people on my commute with head phones on....

 

[cliffxdavis]

Taun, me too. I was joking about watching YouTube AND DRIVING. Although apparently some people do.

Don't get me started on cyclists wearing headphones.

 

[Andy B]

Yes - that is correct. I imagine the tv show has superceded the podcast as would naturally reach a wider audience.

I personally think starting with a Youtube channel would be the best course of action for a smaller collection. It is somewhat more accessible and easier to promote i.e. you can post Youtube vids to your other social media channels (like Facebook / Twitter) and it takes no effort for people to click and watch. You could look to build a following on Youtube and then expand into doing podcasts once you have an established audience in place. You could then also look to distribute media via patreon which would fund the content. Patreon is a membership based platform - as in people pay a membership fee for access to exclusive content which could be videos / podcasts / written media / photgraphy etc. It is the next step from someone just following you on social media - you could even offer it as an add-on to annual membership / or try it for a month on top of ticket sales.

It would take a good amount of effort up front to get it off the ground - you need to post consistently good content and self publicise it successfully to build a following. You also need to understand who your audience would be and what would appeal to them. The likes of Yorkshire Wildlife Park get a lot of stick on here for their posting style on Twitter - but you can't argue with the amount of engagement their posts receive from the general public.

I also see that there is a lot to be gained from smaller collections engaging with the other 'bigger' collections on social media in a positive way - congratulating them on things / having silly 'post-offs' with funny / cute pictures. Here is an example from a couple of years ago:

Zoos Get Into Brutal #CuteAnimalTweetOff Battle, And It’s Exactly What The Internet Needed

In this way you can engage with a wider audience - but you do need to be authentic and genuine and not just do it for this reason alone.

I fully agree this is exactly what I was trying to suggest when this thread initially split.
Maybe a live feed at certain times of certain interesting animals. I’m pretty sure this can be done through various social media channels & I'm also sure it could be expanded on.
Just ideas, but no UK zoos seem to be using this to anywhere near its potential.

 

[Andrew Swales]

I’m glad we agree on modern communication; I’ll look forward to seeing what use zoos of all sizes make of it.
I also agree that mainstream media will ‘usually’ & naturally head for the ‘big players’ as you put it, but not always. If my memory serves me correctly wasn’t there a 5 weeks series, hour long episodes based from YWP (I’m not sure if you’d class them as ‘big players’ or not; a place I’ve never visited but hopefully will), that featured numerous smaller collections each week?
The only reason I responded to your post initially was because it was factually incorrect & you seemed to have another agenda which you attempted to back up with outrage from the license fee payer (I’m not sure but this could fall into modern day society’s “fake news” category). Anyway back on topic being a begrudging license fee payer I duly responded; as I’d rather when the evidence is put forward & good reason is given to abolish the fee altogether, would like it to be correct

I’m glad we agree on modern communication; I’ll look forward to seeing what use zoos of all sizes make of it.
I also agree that mainstream media will ‘usually’ & naturally head for the ‘big players’ as you put it, but not always. If my memory serves me correctly wasn’t there a 5 weeks series, hour long episodes based from YWP (I’m not sure if you’d class them as ‘big players’ or not; a place I’ve never visited but hopefully will), that featured numerous smaller collections each week?
The only reason I responded to your post initially was because it was factually incorrect & you seemed to have another agenda which you attempted to back up with outrage from the license fee payer (I’m not sure but this could fall into modern day society’s “fake news” category). Anyway back on topic being a begrudging license fee payer I duly responded; as I’d rather when the evidence is put forward & good reason is given to abolish the fee altogether, would like it to be correct

I'm not sure we do agree on modern communication as you assume, and certainly others on this thread advise going back to using the post.

 

[Andrew Swales]

If you want a shortened version, IMO complaining that someone else has more than you is rarely a successful way of getting the same as they have.
I’m not saying that’s right or wrong by the way it’s purely my opinion.

I was simply pointing out some of our own experience. You have chosen to interpret that as 'complaining', and that certainly is 'purely your own opinion'.

 

[wayne4swfc]

I'm not sure we do agree on modern communication as you assume, and certainly others on this thread advise going back to using the post.

I’ve not wanted to get involved in this conversation and without wishing to take sides. I find a combination of both is useful. I work in a commercial role in a professional sports club and we have found that the use of technology and social media is the best way to reach and involve the “average” fan, however in terms of contacting the media and businesses for sponsorship etc. We have had more success with a traditional mail drop.

I understand these are very different business models but the personal, more formal tone of a letter through the post has certainly seemed to get better results than when we have sent out emails and social media requests.

 

[SHAVINGTONZOO]

I’ve not wanted to get involved in this conversation and without wishing to take sides. I find a combination of both is useful. I work in a commercial role in a professional sports club and we have found that the use of technology and social media is the best way to reach and involve the “average” fan, however in terms of contacting the media and businesses for sponsorship etc. We have had more success with a traditional mail drop.

I understand these are very different business models but the personal, more formal tone of a letter through the post has certainly seemed to get better results than when we have sent out emails and social media requests.

I think I am the person Andrew Swales was referring to, and what I actually said was that, in my experience, hard copy still has a role. I note that you have had the same experience.

 

[Andy B]

I’ve not wanted to get involved in this conversation and without wishing to take sides. I find a combination of both is useful. I work in a commercial role in a professional sports club and we have found that the use of technology and social media is the best way to reach and involve the “average” fan, however in terms of contacting the media and businesses for sponsorship etc. We have had more success with a traditional mail drop.

I understand these are very different business models but the personal, more formal tone of a letter through the post has certainly seemed to get better results than when we have sent out emails and social media requests.

I whole heartedly agree, I think if you’re trying to promote something to it’s potential then you should use all the useful marketing tools available.
I’ve promoted musicians / DJs & also events over 25+ years. When I started it was leaflet drops, posters, magazine adverts, word of mouth. These days it’s largely social media but there’s still a need (even if it’s in lesser quantities) to utilise the more traditional methods.

 

[Goura]

From the Guardian

Have zoos had their day?

 

[SHAVINGTONZOO]

From the Guardian

Have zoos had their day?

A review of a no doubt interesting book, topped and tailed by lightweight opinion, complete with use of the word "gawk".

 

[FunkyGibbon]

Sometimes with Guardian 'zoo pieces' you get the distinct impression they are somehow pro-zoo articles dressed up to appeal to a presumed anti-zoo readership.

 

[Jurek7]

The problem is that the older generation grew up in the 1980s, when zoos were much worse and small cages were still a common sight. Their mental image of a zoo simply no longer exists. When this generation of people moves away the image of zoos in newspapers will be much better.

 

[littleRedPanda]

The problem is that the older generation grew up in the 1980s, when zoos were much worse and small cages were still a common sight. Their mental image of a zoo simply no longer exists. When this generation of people moves away the image of zoos in newspapers will be much better.

Haha! I think there are plenty of forum members even older than that! But as someone who did go to a few zoos as a child in the 70/80s but didn't return until the last few years, I still see reminders of what turned me off zoos for three decades.

 

[Andrew Swales]

The problem is that the older generation grew up in the 1980s (so anyone over the age of 40?) , when zoos were much worse and small cages were still a common sight. Their mental image of a zoo simply no longer exists. When this generation of people moves away (do you mean dies - or is just maybe found secure accommodation, out of sight somewhere?) the image of zoos in newspapers will be much better.

 

[Zia]

The problem is that the older generation grew up in the 1980s, when zoos were much worse and small cages were still a common sight. Their mental image of a zoo simply no longer exists. When this generation of people moves away the image of zoos in newspapers will be much better.

Golly... I didn't realise being 40 made me completely ignorant of progress and changing standards.

Tbh I also didn't realise being 40 qualified me as 'the older generation'