In this interview for the Bristol & Bath Amplified Publishing pathfinder, Jasmine Richards Founder of Storymix and Linus Harrison talk about Jasmine’s hopes, research and outcomes for the project. They take a deep dive into changes in the audio space, diversity (or lack thereof) in the audio market, hopes for more representation of regional accents, the importance of kids hearing as well as seeing themselves, organic representation, creating opportunities for writers of colour from different backgrounds and the accessibility/cost of content.

Anxiety about screen time during the pandemic led to a boom in audio

National Literacy Trust

Wider engagement with audiobooks during lockdown: • At the beginning of 2020, 1 in 6 (16.3%) children and young people aged 9 to 18 said that they listen to audiobooks. • During lockdown, nearly 1 in 4 (23.4%) children and young people said that they have listened to audiobooks more than before lockdown.

Audio books help children’s comprehension, vocabulary, reading muscle

Emily Best, Christina Clark and Irene Picton, Children Young People and Audiobooks Before, During and After Lockdown, National Literacy Trust Report, June 2020, <https://cdn.literacytrust.org.uk/media/documents/Children_and_young_peoples_engagement_with_audiobooks_2020_-_before_and_during_MfPBM6D.pdf>

National Literacy trust reported in February 2020 that audiobooks can:

• Improve children and young people’s reading skills and enjoyment of reading • Improve children and young people’s reading comprehension • Widen children and young people’s access to books • Listening to audiobooks has changed the wider literacy engagement of a sizeable percentage of children and young people: 1 in 2 (52.9%) children and young people who listen to audiobooks said that it has increased their interest in reading, and 2 in 5 (42.6%) say that it has made them more interested in writing. • more of those who listen to audiobooks say that they read daily in their free time compared with their peers who don’t listen to audiobooks (40.2% vs. 27.0%). • Audiobooks stimulate the imagination: 7 out of 10 (70.8%) of the children and young people who listen to audiobooks said that they use their imagination more than when they watch videos.

Audio experiences for children improve their feelings of wellbeing:

Emily Best, Christina Clark and Irene Picton, Children Young People and Audiobooks Before, During and After Lockdown, National Literacy Trust Report, June 2020, <https://cdn.literacytrust.org.uk/media/documents/Children_and_young_peoples_engagement_with_audiobooks_2020_-_before_and_during_MfPBM6D.pdf>

• National Literacy trust reported in February 2020 that
• 1 in 3 (31.8%) of children and young people said that listening to audiobooks made them feel better during lockdown.

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• Children with reading difficulties are at greater risk of developing mental health problems later in life, including depression & anxiety, behavioural problems,

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