Media Convergence

Introduction to multimedia reporting

Blogs

Blog posting 2: Write a 300-word (minimum) blog posting about winter in the Panhandle.

Some suggested areas to explore:

Do you enjoy the cold? Do you still stay active during the cold weather days? Does winter weather energize you or depress you? What do you do for fun during the winter weeks?

What's a southerner to do when the sun doesn't shine and the wind on the beach is too cold to endure?

(Yes, this blog posting is a bit longer than the last assignment)

Deadline: Post to your blog by the start of class Tuesday, Jan. 18.

What makes a good blog?

High quality blogs share four fundamental qualities:

They have a well-defined and narrow topic

They provide brief, incremental updates They are well reported Their authors engage with the audience

(Source: Producing Online News: Ryan M. Thornburg)

What do I blog about?

A personal blog is like a diary An opinion blog advocates A beat blog covers a specific topic

and follows journalistic standards and ethics

A breaking news blog provides quick updates about live events for consumption by a general audience


All blogs must…

Be free of grammar and punctuation errors

Follow Associated Press Style regarding all usage…from abbreviations to the use of numerals.

Contain paragraphs of 1-3 sentences Sentences 20-25 words (on average) Be accurate with facts Be carefully edited before posting

Online news revolution

Online journalism provides multiple platforms to tell compelling stories that outstrip print and broadcasting products.

The Web frees up the restrictions of the “news hole.”

The Web allows online news web sites, newspaper and TV/Radio newsrooms to go 24/7 if they have the resources.

The Web levels the playing field. All can compete.


Definition: A multimedia news story is any piece that uses two or more media to tell it.

“Media” is the plural of “medium.” A medium is the substance which

information is transmitted and stored. Paper is a medium. Computer screens

are a medium. Video broadcasts or DVDS are a medium. The Internet is a medium.


There are degrees of multimedia integration. The degree of multimedia integration is called convergence.

When journalists use one medium to tell one aspect of a story and other media to tell other aspects of the same story, they are achieving high levels of media convergence.



On the Web, journalists can blend a variety of media to break stories.

Example: The mass killings in Tucson as covered by the hometown newspaper.

Watch: http://azstarnet.com/

As covered by Politico. Watch:http://www.politico.com/news/stories/

0111/47414.html

Small news operations

Can compete with the “big boys” if they have the technology, bandwidth and desire

Even small newspapers can achieve high levels of convergence.

www.pnj.com


Feature stories now can be enhanced with photo galleries and video.

The melding of mediums has a great impact on the imagination

It furthers our understanding of the human condition

Watch: http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/with-crocodiles-and-alligators-

gatorama-lives-as-old-style-roadside/1125356


Convergence is costly and problematic Convergence can make or break a news

operation Equipment, training, reshifting of resources,

layoffs of staff unable to cope with online technology

Bandwidth needs, hackers, ethical concerns Younger staff with proficiency but lacking

traditional journalistic standards and training.

Media Convergence

Documents

Transcript of Media Convergence