Defense Media Activity Launches Podcast Widget

By Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

May 10, 2010 - The Pentagon Channel, the Defense's Department's broadcast vehicle for the latest Defense Department news, has unveiled its latest "widget" for podcasts.

Available under the Widgets tab on Defense.gov, the widget allows users to receive the latest Defense Department podcasts on their own Web sites or social networking pages by cutting and pasting a short line of code.

The Pentagon Channel is part of Defense Media Activity, which has produced two previous widgets -- one for American Forces Press Service news articles and another for Defense Department photography – which also are available by clicking on Defense.gov's Widgets tab.

The latest widget features nine different podcasts, ranging from "This Week in the Pentagon" to audio versions of American Forces Press Service articles. The podcasts widget is the latest step in facilitating access to the latest news and information from the Defense Department, Defense Media Activity and other military assets stationed around the globe, DMA officials said.

"This widget is another tool in our tool box to communicate the Defense Department's news and information," said Brian Natwick, Pentagon Channel general manager.

The Pentagon Channel, the Department of Defense's satellite television channel, broadcasts military news and information for and about the 2.6 million members of the U.S. armed forces -- active duty, National Guard and reserves -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Pentagon Channel programming is streamed live at http://www.pentagonchannel.mil, where video on demand and both audio and video podcasts also are available.

"We are trying to communicate to our audience, all age groups, and actually engage with them in the spaces they are visiting, sharing and discussing," Natwick said. "We want to just have a conversation. We want to add to that conversation, and believe these tools help us to do so."