The Take is a daily news podcast like no other. Every day, you can tune in to learn about the most critical issues facing the globe. Whether it is the war in Gaza, political upheaval in Bangladesh, or the rise of the far right in Argentina, we strive to tell the stories of those directly affected. Very few podcasts, if any, are genuinely global, like The Take, a feat of its own. And for Al Jazeera’s audience, this is not just news. The voices of the Global South are often overlooked, but we believe in amplifying them, making their experiences seen, heard, and known.
The people who have felt the bombs drop know firsthand what happens when the war starts and doesn’t end. Those are the stories we strive to tell and the people we try to include in every episode.
2024 was a big year for The Take. After six years of steady growth, we pushed further. Initially a weekly podcast, then bi-weekly, we now release new episodes daily. But this year, we took an even bolder step—introducing video.
The Take has been available on YouTube for years, but we have been putting out a fully produced video show for the past five months. You can still hear the voices and sounds of people affected by world events across the globe, but now you can see them, too. When it comes to the war in Gaza, you can see the destruction and the faces of the families returning to their homes. When the regime of Bashar al-Assad fell in Syria, we saw families searching for any sign of their loved ones in the notorious Sedenaya prison, where the Assad regime held so many. When a South Korean adoptee returned to Korea, we saw him, a grown man, burst with joy when a woman on the side of the road offered to make a few phone calls to help in his quest.
Bringing a daily video news podcast to life was a significant undertaking, one that had not been done before. However, we at The Take felt it was essential to share as much as possible about the lives of those who live the news every day. Despite the challenges, including a relatively small staff and the need to merge video and audio production, we persevered. Recreating and learning workflows was a daily challenge, but we couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved. The dedication of our team and the enthusiastic response from our audience reaffirmed our mission.
Every day, we see the direct results of what we bring to our audience. They are highly engaged, and hundreds of YouTube comments are typical. Now that we have ventured into video, our viewers have exceeded our podcast listens by tenfold in some cases. Episodes can also get hundreds of comments, each engaging with what they are watching and the community of viewers watching with them. Most of those comments were very encouraging. “Excellent discussion!” “Independent thinking is refreshing” and “Beautiful interview. Thanks.” But the numbers and even the direct engagement only tell part of the story. The true success of The Take lies in connecting people, allowing them to hear each other's stories and what is happening beyond the headlines. This commitment keeps our audience engaged and connected, and it's the heart of what we do.