Podcasts now count towards research impact in world first for Altmetric

Altmetric adds podcasts as an attention source, offering a more complete view of research influence

LONDON, Oct. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a major step forward for tracking the real-world impact of research, Digital Science today announces that Altmetric has added a new attention source: Podcasts.

Altmetric is the first in the world to include podcasts among its measures of research impact.

Podcasts will now be reflected in the distinctive Altmetric Badges – appearing as a purple color – as well as in Altmetric Attention Scores, with more detail displayed in Altmetric Explorer.

In addition to podcasts, Altmetric’s many attention sources include select social media channels, news, blogs, public policy sites, patents, clinical guidelines, and more.

A complete view of research influence

Miguel Garcia, VP of Product, Digital Science, said: “Altmetric is about tuning in to where research conversations are really happening, and understanding how that research is being received, discussed, debated, and shared. A complete view of research influence isn’t possible without podcasts.

“With Altmetric podcast tracking, we recognize that these real-world conversations play a critical role in shaping public understanding and acceptance of research. Podcasts add rich, narrative-driven evidence to the impact story, offering a more complete view of research influence across scholarly, professional, and public domains.

“With more than half a billion people listening to podcasts for information, and at a time when podcasts are growing as a communication and educational platform, we feel the moment is right to include these conversations as an attention source. Publishers, academics, industry, governments, and funders will all now benefit from better understanding the impact of research.”

Benefits of podcast tracking

By adding podcasts as an attention source, Altmetric will enable users to:

• Strengthen reporting on research impact
• Capture a broader, more complete attention landscape
• Gain deeper public engagement insights
• Diversify research impact data sources

All user segments within the research ecosystem will benefit from Altmetric’s podcast tracking:

• Academics: Strengthen submissions that demonstrate the real-world impact and influence of research
• Enterprise: Identify emerging Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and track therapeutic-area conversations, even outside traditional publishing
• Publishers: Highlight where journals are discussed in accessible, mainstream forums that boost author engagement
• Funders: Ensure research funded is making an impact in broader public discourse, justifying investment

Find out more about Altmetric’s podcast tracking

See a YouTube video about Podcasts in Altmetric

About Altmetric

Altmetric is a leading provider of alternative research metrics, helping everyone involved in research gauge the impact of their work. We serve diverse markets including universities, institutions, government, publishers, corporations, and those who fund research. Our powerful technology searches thousands of online sources, revealing where research is being shared and discussed. Teams can use our powerful Altmetric Explorer application to interrogate the data themselves, embed our dynamic ‘badges’ into their webpages, or get expert insights from Altmetric’s consultants. Altmetric is part of the Digital Science group, dedicated to making the research experience simpler and more productive by applying pioneering technology solutions. Find out more at altmetric.com and follow @altmetric on X and @altmetric.com on Bluesky.

About Digital Science

Digital Science is an AI-focused technology company providing innovative solutions to complex challenges faced by researchers, universities, funders, industry and publishers. We work in partnership to advance global research for the benefit of society. Through our brands – Altmetric, Dimensions, Figshare, IFI CLAIMS Patent Services, metaphacts, Overleaf, ReadCube, Symplectic, and Writefull – we believe when we solve problems together, we drive progress for all. Visit digital-science.com and follow Digital Science on Bluesky, on X or on LinkedIn.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b0d3c3c1-fd50-43a0-9470-5ca75029d63b

Media Contact David Ellis, Press, PR & Social Manager, Digital Science: Mobile +61 447 783 023, d.ellis@digital-science.com