Serial: The Best Podcast of All Time



Serial: The Best Podcast of All Time
         Every morning, I wake up at 5:40, make myself a cup of coffee and sit in the chair in my living room where I can rest my feet on the windowsill and stare out at my quiet street. While I adjust and wake up, I put in my earbuds and listen to Serial, an investigative non-fiction podcast narrated by Sarah Koenig and co-produced by Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder. It won a Peabody Award after rising to popularity in 2014 by studying the murder of Hae Min Lee and the mishandling of the subsequent trial.
         This is a quality piece of journalism because the producers present as much information as possible by guiding listeners through the events without forcing an opinion down their throat. Koenig and Snyder present conclusions, analyze evidence, and sympathize with all parties without making their opinions explicitly clear.
         This is the kind of journalism that “the Media” needs. Koenig and Snyder do an excellent job of making it clear that they have their opinions about the cases but that those opinions can only be made when presented with a wide array of evidence. Even acknowledging the validity of arguments on both sides is scarce in modern writing so their ability to do that so seamlessly suggests the caliber of their writing.

         I also admire Koenig and Snyder’s ability to make political comments and study controversial stories in a way that humanizes everything. They do this by being clear and up front that there is racism, poor law enforcement, and corrupt officials. Koenig does this by retaining her ethos. She remains calm and calculated, discussing lots of little injustices and slowly painting a picture without blatantly naming it “RACISM.” In not utilizing these words until the conclusion, she presents legitimacy to the argument and proves the issue has diversity beyond its title.
    The podcast, Serial, is a reminder to aspiring authors that journalism can be interesting and respectable. Each of its three seasons are excellent and enticing and I recommend that anyone who loves a good puzzle listens with open ears.

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