accessibility and podcasts

Accessibility means that everyone has equal access to services. Read our tips on how you can create linguistically accessible content and how a translation agency can help you.

More and more services are consumed online, which is why the accessibility of content has become an increasingly important criterion. The EU has introduced the Accessibility Directive. In Finland, its requirements are included in the Act on the Provision of Digital Services. The act applies to the public sector and certain private companies. Digital services must meet the accessibility requirements. For instance, it must be possible to access the online service with as many different devices and browsers as possible, also by means of assistive devices, if necessary.

By 2025, the EU’s Accessibility Directive will extend to private companies in certain sectors, such as online stores and audiovisual services. Accessibility is becoming the norm, which is why every online company should plan its digital services to be accessible both technically and linguistically – and a translation agency can help in this.

1. Do not ignore linguistic accessibility

The most important thing for accessibility is clear and comprehensible language. Technically well-executed content is of no use if it is linguistically clumsy or unclear. The text may be unnecessarily difficult to read or written in a wrong language. A website is easy to use when there are no technical challenges and the content is easy to understand.

The easiest way to produce linguistically accessible content is to write it in clear standard language, that is, in easily understandable language without jargon. Clear language is not the same thing as plain language, which is language where the structure and the vocabulary have been adapted to make it easier than standard language. The content and the target group are decisive factors in determining if plain language is needed.

2. Subtitle videos

It is a good idea to subtitle videos even if the law does not require it yet because many people watch videos without sound. The text format is not precisely defined, but the most user-friendly method is adding captions that can be easily followed at the same time as watching the video.

At the moment, accessibility requirements do not require videos to be subtitled in other languages. In other words, the guidelines mandate that a Finnish video is subtitled in Finnish, a Swedish video in Swedish and so on. However, having the content translated strengthens the multicultural dimension of accessibility.

Services must also be accessible to those who speak a language other than the language in which the content was originally published. In Finland, public services are designed primarily for speakers of the national languages; however, in the light of accessibility, there is an increasing need to reach immigrants as well. With the help of translated subtitles, you can also reach a wider, international target audience.

3. Transcribe audio content

In audio recordings, such as podcasts, accessibility could be improved by transcribing them as written text. The accessibility requirements of the Act on the Provision of Digital Services require that audio-only broadcasts, such as podcasts, must also be accessible. According to the legislation, organisations affected by the requirements must provide a text version of the recording within two weeks.

For podcasts, this usually means a transcribed text version of the audio recording. As the text version must fulfil the requirements of accessibility, a simple script or summary of the podcast is not sufficient. In practice, the entire content of the recording must be provided in text form, including background sounds, and the text must also indicate who is speaking at any given time.

Creating a text version of the podcast ensures that everyone can enjoy the podcast. In addition, not everyone has time to listen to a 60-minute podcast, for instance: reading the text version is much faster.

If you are reaching for a larger audience, use a translated transcription, in which the podcast is transcribed into another language. You can also use a voiceover to do the entire podcast in a different language.

Corporate language strategy

A company’s language strategy means you decide on which languages will be used, in which channels and how. This raises a few important questions: is all content available in only one or several languages; which language is used on social media; is your website available in Finnish, English or both; and, in addition to Finnish and English, do you need other languages? In addition, the question of who writes, translates and maintains the foreign-language content is also an integral part of the language strategy. Corporate communications should be linguistically consistent, that is, logical. Choose a language strategy and stick to it.

Although the Act on the Provision of Digital Services mainly applies to public online services, accessibility also benefits other digital service providers. Issues such as the equal treatment of customers, a better user experience and access to a wider market should interest all companies and organisations. Accessibility is a key advantage for a company!

The accessibility requirements of the Act on the Provision of Digital Services require that audio-only broadcasts, such as podcasts, must also be accessible. According to the legislation, organisations affected by the requirements must provide text alternatives for time-based media within two weeks.

Of course, it is to be hoped that accessibility will also be promoted by parties other than those expressly required to do so by law. Not to mention that the EU’s Accessibility Directive is likely to be extended to all public digital services in 2025, whether or not they are published by private or public operators.

Transcription of podcasts

For podcasts, the text alternative referred to in the legislation usually means a transcribed text version of the audio recording. As the text alternative must fulfill the requirements of accessibility, a simple script or summary of the podcast is not sufficient.

In practice, the entire content of the recording must be provided in text form, and the text must also indicate who is speaking at any given time. Any background noise, such as the sound of a doorbell or laughter, must also appear in the text. Repetition and filler words are not required in the text; however, in other respects, the transcription should be as precise as possible.

The text version should be available in the immediate vicinity of the audio file. The text itself can be either part of the content of the accessible webpage or a separate file that can be accessed easily from a link.

Why is it important to write a text version of a podcast?

Whether required by law or not, making a text version of a podcast is always a good idea. We’ve listed five reasons why you should write a text version of a podcast.

1. Everyone can enjoy the podcast

Podcasts may contain essential information, clever tips or great entertainment. Preparing a text alternative for a podcast makes the podcast accessible and gives everyone an equal opportunity to benefit from and enjoy the content. You can write the text alternative yourself, use available software or order a transcription from a service provider. In terms of accessibility, it may be a good idea to order the transcription from a service provider, who can also provide editing, a plain language version or a translation, if necessary.

2. The podcast is easier to find

In addition to high-quality accessible content, it is important that the podcast is easy to find online. When you add a text alternative to a podcast on your website, you considerably improve the discoverability of both the podcast and your whole site in search engines.

3. Reading is faster

While listening to a podcast is pleasant, our lives are very busy. If you don’t have the time to listen to a 60-minute podcast, you can find the same information in the text version much faster. The text version can be browsed quickly, and reading it may be faster than listening; studies show that people can read close to 10,000 words an hour.

4. You can find old content more easily

Do you remember what you said about spring trends in episode 15 of your podcast? It is usually quite difficult to remember what was said in each episode. If there are text alternatives of your episodes, you can search the text and stay more aware of what has already been said.

5. Increase your audience with a translation

If you are reaching for a larger audience, use a translated transcription. The speech in the podcast is transcribed into another language. You can also use a voiceover to do the entire podcast in a different language. Multilingual podcasts have already become a global trend.

The most important element in podcast accessibility and discoverability is the text alternative. Translations are a route to even larger audiences and better accessibility. If you want to go even further, you can also publish the podcast as a video. For that, you will need subtitles, and they can also be made in multiple languages.

accessibility and podcasts

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