The Betoota Advocate signs podcast deal with Acast Australia

Australia’s oldest and most reputable newspaper, The Betoota Advocate, is moving into the podcast space.

The satirical publication, run out of the Queensland town of Betoota (with an official population of zero), has a higher engaged readership than The Australian and The Financial Review, and now its editors will begin making a podcast for Acast Australia.

“Our readers rely on us for much more than the news. They need to be told how to think. They know this too,” said editor Clancy Overell.

“They need to have both their biases and remaining independent thoughts confirmed and validated by our editors and guests.

“This is what we aim to achieve, not only through ad-fuelled online articles, but now also through headphones.

“Through this internet version of radio. We can appeal to our audiences most obscure interests, insecurities and fears – in an accessible and human format!”

Details of the exact nature of the podcast series are yet to be revealed, but Overell hinted that the Advocate will be expanding its sport and crime reporting for the podcast.

It was however revealed that the podcasts will run weekly, and go for between 30 and 40 minutes, with the editors set to feature special guests.

Acast Australia country manager Henrik Isaksson said that the signing of such a trusted news source was a feather in the cap of his Acast.

“The Betoota Advocate podcast represents the most exciting and hotly anticipated Australian podcast of 2018,” he said.

“With flagship podcasts like The Economist and The Financial Times on our platform globally, since launching in Australia in 2017 we’ve been on the hunt for great Aussie influencers that can provide the Australian market with local, entertaining and informative content.

“The quality penmanship of The Betoota Advocate’s journalists will translate perfectly to an audio-on-demand format and it is the content Australians want on their daily commute.”