Thursday, 4:30 PM
Patrick podcast aims to give a glimpse into the governor's office
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
Aside from those people on the third floor of the State House who smelled the smoke, most people probably didn't know that Governor Deval Patrick had a little trouble yesterday the first time he tried to use the fireplace in his office. Nothing burst into flames, but to Patrick's embarrassment, the room filed with smoke.
Starting Friday, people will be able to listen to the behind-the-scenes experiences of the state's new governor in his own voice. Patrick plans to launch a podcast that will be available on the state website at www.mass.gov and will include policy announcements and commentaries on a variety of issues.
"One of the things we did during the campaign which was so important to me was building a direct relationship with people and making a mechanism for me to hear from them and for me to talk directly to them," Patrick said today in an interview on Fox 25.
Podcasts, which are multimedia files that computer users can download from the Internet and put onto a portable music player such as an iPod, exist for topics ranging from poker strategy to calculus. The governors of Minnesota, California, and Arkansas have podcasts, and the president's weekly address is now available through podcasts.
In June, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino launched a podcast that he posts on the city website that includes hip-hop music.
Patrick will record the three to five minute messages with a microphone on the computer in his office with the help of some aides, according to Cyndi Roy, a spokeswoman for the governor's office.
Patrick is excited about the possibility of new ways to connect with constituents, but he admits that he is "pretty primitive" when it comes to using technology himself, Roy said.
The governor hopes to post a new podcast every week, Roy said, and will tackle a range of topics, including mundane experiences such as trouble with an old fire place.
"The governor wanted an outlet for speaking to the residents of Massachusetts directly, pulling them into what has been historically a very closed environment on Beacon Hill," Roy said.
