What inspires me the most in "Frontline"'s episode of "What's Happening to the News" is the story about the embattled newsroom.
Consolidation is the word. Everyone is talking about it. We have been hearing about it for several years indeed. Smaller companies consolidate to become a big giant media group but the industry is shrinking on the way too. Who are behind all these and who are the ones to blame?
The episode tells the story about that the Los Angeles Times, one of the few only papers still covering major national issues, was told to lay off more reporters. Those big companies who own the papers care only about money, something totally evil and conflict with the original purpose of media to serve the public. Under this kind of pressure, bet who will still be holding the firm stance on the qualities of being an honorable, decent, professional journalist? And who will still be there to uphold the values, ethics and principles of our journalism? In the story, managing editor Dean Baquet of L.A. times was definitely qualified to be such one but the result of his decision not to fire anyone was he himself getting fired indeed.
Definitely, things learned under the tower of ivory are not applicable in a real-world newsroom. Something sounds ridiculous but true.
It is a domino effect. Fewer people equal to lower quality news. And news organizations who choose not to produce any content (websites like google news) are only recycling what has already been published. This leads to fewer news gatekeepers and fewer different points of views. Like we used to expect so much from the digital boom that it would bring more different voices against the mainstream did actually cause marginalization of voices of small papers, radio stations or even local broadcasters. How ironic.
We need a profession. Bloggers may tell us some truth (in some cases) but they are not the people who are going out and knocking on doors and rummaging through records and covering events and so on. They are not trained to do so. Yes, a 12-year-old can put up a video on youtube but that is a media product, not journalism. Journalism is the witnesses of the event and the first draft of history. That is something gained not only by education but experiences throughout years and years of practice.
However, the least respected profession has become even more undervalued these days.
And all they need are just some respects.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Defining Multimedia
The concept of mulitmedia is the most important concept for me in these chapters.
Multimedia is often used to be defined as using various forms and combinations of media - sound, text, video, animations - and presenting them to users/consumers of that content. Web site tools and technology enable news organizations to gather and present story accounts of events - as well as images, sounds, and even analysis of the events - as never before.
But here is the question - so what?
When we are given "multiple" choices to decide in what way we can present our story, journalists are obligated to transform seemingly mundane events into something meaningful. Through multimedia, the media organizations can provide a sense of depth, togetherness, interaction or even localism, depending on how the content can be created and presented. And they have to be creative, if not, the function of multimedia will not be fully utilized and pitifully wasted.
A one-way road becomes two-way.
The limitless permutations of content and delivery can be involved but the goal of the multimedia story telling is to serve to inspire both the writer and the readers to become involved and make a difference in the community and to break down the barriers between the consumer of news and journalist.
There are these key points often convergent journalists need to keep in mind:
- The active nature of Web consumption means users are less likely to simply sit and watch television on the computer.
- Convergence means rich content can now be produced and presented in multiple forms on the Web. In many cases, text remains the glue that sticks the content together. All segments of rich media must be adequately labeled and described.
- Slug, or brief description, any media content to be experienced in real time should include the total time so the user can decide whether it is worth the time to experience what has been provided.
- Text is the foundation, but nontext material is also common and popular, especially images, sound, moving images, animations and graphics, interactives, and combinations thereof.
But the most important to remember is that although the tools constantly change, the basic function - telling the story in the best way - will always remain. Everyone wants to hear a good story that brings out the best of the human condition. It is rare for an individual to become expert using all of these tools, it is imperative to find the ones that seem to work best with and practice the craft.
There are no shortcuts.
Each of the authors learned by reading the principles first and then going out and doing them. The best and only way to do best is to do it. Practice makes perfect.
All roads lead to Rome.
You can choose the best way to achieve the point you want but Rome won't come to you even if the car is not started.
Multimedia is often used to be defined as using various forms and combinations of media - sound, text, video, animations - and presenting them to users/consumers of that content. Web site tools and technology enable news organizations to gather and present story accounts of events - as well as images, sounds, and even analysis of the events - as never before.
But here is the question - so what?
When we are given "multiple" choices to decide in what way we can present our story, journalists are obligated to transform seemingly mundane events into something meaningful. Through multimedia, the media organizations can provide a sense of depth, togetherness, interaction or even localism, depending on how the content can be created and presented. And they have to be creative, if not, the function of multimedia will not be fully utilized and pitifully wasted.
A one-way road becomes two-way.
The limitless permutations of content and delivery can be involved but the goal of the multimedia story telling is to serve to inspire both the writer and the readers to become involved and make a difference in the community and to break down the barriers between the consumer of news and journalist.
There are these key points often convergent journalists need to keep in mind:
- The active nature of Web consumption means users are less likely to simply sit and watch television on the computer.
- Convergence means rich content can now be produced and presented in multiple forms on the Web. In many cases, text remains the glue that sticks the content together. All segments of rich media must be adequately labeled and described.
- Slug, or brief description, any media content to be experienced in real time should include the total time so the user can decide whether it is worth the time to experience what has been provided.
- Text is the foundation, but nontext material is also common and popular, especially images, sound, moving images, animations and graphics, interactives, and combinations thereof.
But the most important to remember is that although the tools constantly change, the basic function - telling the story in the best way - will always remain. Everyone wants to hear a good story that brings out the best of the human condition. It is rare for an individual to become expert using all of these tools, it is imperative to find the ones that seem to work best with and practice the craft.
There are no shortcuts.
Each of the authors learned by reading the principles first and then going out and doing them. The best and only way to do best is to do it. Practice makes perfect.
All roads lead to Rome.
You can choose the best way to achieve the point you want but Rome won't come to you even if the car is not started.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Video Story Telling - Nov. 4th
Repurposed broadcast script published on the web
It is taking what has been produced for one medium and tailoring it for another. This means not only streaming the newscast online but placing story text versions online or even raw, unedited video of an event.
A "new type of content" used by a broadcast news operation
- Material relating to news events.
- Material reflecting the reporter's or individual's opinion, view, critique, or analysis of an issue or topic.
- Material primarily geared toward promoting the organization "brand" or any of the people working there ("personalities").
- Material designed to involve the public in the news gathering and editing process, such as allowing people to post their own photos during the game.
A VO/SOT, package or live report
- Stress the visual - Television is a visual medium, and regardless of what the reporter wants to emphasize, the pictures generally dominate.
- Stress the moment - The strength of broadcast news has always been the timeliness element - the notion "this just happened."
- Stress the simple - The viewer can only process the information only in the way we present it. The linear presentation has good points but also some constraints. It forces the writer to tell the story as simply as possible.
It is taking what has been produced for one medium and tailoring it for another. This means not only streaming the newscast online but placing story text versions online or even raw, unedited video of an event.
A "new type of content" used by a broadcast news operation
- Material relating to news events.
- Material reflecting the reporter's or individual's opinion, view, critique, or analysis of an issue or topic.
- Material primarily geared toward promoting the organization "brand" or any of the people working there ("personalities").
- Material designed to involve the public in the news gathering and editing process, such as allowing people to post their own photos during the game.
A VO/SOT, package or live report
- Stress the visual - Television is a visual medium, and regardless of what the reporter wants to emphasize, the pictures generally dominate.
- Stress the moment - The strength of broadcast news has always been the timeliness element - the notion "this just happened."
- Stress the simple - The viewer can only process the information only in the way we present it. The linear presentation has good points but also some constraints. It forces the writer to tell the story as simply as possible.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Introduction to Convergent Journalism
What is a multiskilled journalist?
The term multiskilled journalist describes reporters skilled at two or more of these tasks: interviewing; collecting audio, video, and still images; editing those images; producing interactive elements (such as graphics and online-accessible databases); and writing stories for delivery across multiple media.
A multiskilled journalist should know writing and editing across media, interviewing, photography, video creation and editing, public speaking, creating simple graphics, and creating interactive elements and should have some technical knowledge of how to use wired or wireless networking to port or send material remotely.
However, the most important role of the journalist in a converged environment is still to be able to look at a situation and determine what elements are needed for the various ways that media might be used to disseminate the story.
The perspective of the multiskilled journalist is vital for being able to look at all the possible forms a story may take and how each would best be disseminated. In practice, that means the ability to identify all of the elements of a story , including interview sources, photographic subjects, video or audio opportunities, documentary sources, etc.
The next skill is the ability to tell the story in the appropriate format, ranging from an inverted pyramid for newspapers or Web text to a linear broadcast narrative. Writing across media may be one of the most difficult skills to master, but the task is made easier by the presence of story builders, editors, and others who can help refine the story for presentation.
Multiskilled journalists must also have the skills to capture still and video images as well as sound. Each reporter need not be an authority on photography and other technical skills, but in the absence of a photographer, videographer, or audio engineer, the multiskilled journalist must be capable of capturing the images and sounds that will help tell the story.
Jack of all trades, master of none.
Very few journalists are considered masters of all, but each person has a set of skills he or she is better at than others. But journalists need to make sure to practice each of the skills discussed to be able to do the job comfortably.
The term multiskilled journalist describes reporters skilled at two or more of these tasks: interviewing; collecting audio, video, and still images; editing those images; producing interactive elements (such as graphics and online-accessible databases); and writing stories for delivery across multiple media.
A multiskilled journalist should know writing and editing across media, interviewing, photography, video creation and editing, public speaking, creating simple graphics, and creating interactive elements and should have some technical knowledge of how to use wired or wireless networking to port or send material remotely.
However, the most important role of the journalist in a converged environment is still to be able to look at a situation and determine what elements are needed for the various ways that media might be used to disseminate the story.
The perspective of the multiskilled journalist is vital for being able to look at all the possible forms a story may take and how each would best be disseminated. In practice, that means the ability to identify all of the elements of a story , including interview sources, photographic subjects, video or audio opportunities, documentary sources, etc.
The next skill is the ability to tell the story in the appropriate format, ranging from an inverted pyramid for newspapers or Web text to a linear broadcast narrative. Writing across media may be one of the most difficult skills to master, but the task is made easier by the presence of story builders, editors, and others who can help refine the story for presentation.
Multiskilled journalists must also have the skills to capture still and video images as well as sound. Each reporter need not be an authority on photography and other technical skills, but in the absence of a photographer, videographer, or audio engineer, the multiskilled journalist must be capable of capturing the images and sounds that will help tell the story.
Jack of all trades, master of none.
Very few journalists are considered masters of all, but each person has a set of skills he or she is better at than others. But journalists need to make sure to practice each of the skills discussed to be able to do the job comfortably.
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