Convergence in the media Matthew Buckland, GM: New Media www.mg.co.za www.matthewbuckland.com [email_address]

Matthew Buckland, GM: New Media

www.mg.co.za

www.matthewbuckland.com

[email_address]

Weekly paper Daily website

m.mg.co.za www.mg.co.za/podcast

Convergence means many things 1 Creation ( Multi-media stories; print-online; production) 2 Distribution (Cellphones; multiple platforms) 3 Consumption (Blurring between reader & publisher)

1 Creation ( Multi-media stories; print-online; production)

2 Distribution (Cellphones; multiple platforms)

3 Consumption (Blurring between reader & publisher)

“… where old and new media collide, where grassroots and corporate media intersect, where the power of the media producer and the power of the media consumer interact in unpredictable ways." Henry Jenkins, author “ Convergence culture ”

“… where old and new media collide, where grassroots and corporate media intersect, where the power of the media producer and the power of the media consumer interact in unpredictable ways."

Henry Jenkins, author “ Convergence culture ”

#1 Integration @ M&G… Online a separate business: value of focus & specialisation Separate online editor, subs, journos, even sales staff Create drive and “online culture” Degree of competition between online & print is healthy

Online a separate business: value of focus & specialisation

Separate online editor, subs, journos, even sales staff

Create drive and “online culture”

Degree of competition between online & print is healthy

Weekly vs daily… Different cultures, deadlines, type of content Economies of scale different to daily No immediate plans to push into multimedia Strong focus on social media platforms to attract audience

Different cultures, deadlines, type of content

Economies of scale different to daily

No immediate plans to push into multimedia

Strong focus on social media platforms to attract audience

Weekly vs daily… Problems: Communication, “us” vs “them”, lack of synergy Solutions: Build bridges via forums, meetings, print journalists more involved in website Now: Convergence an ideal, slow & cautious approach; multimedia the driver for convergence push

Problems: Communication, “us” vs “them”, lack of synergy

Solutions: Build bridges via forums, meetings, print journalists more involved in website

Now: Convergence an ideal, slow & cautious approach; multimedia the driver for convergence push

#3 Reader power… Readers elevated from letters pages to micro-publishers Bloggers mini-media owners earning online ad revenue Blogging, cit reporters & cit photographers taking off

Readers elevated from letters pages to micro-publishers

Bloggers mini-media owners earning online ad revenue

Blogging, cit reporters & cit photographers taking off

In a global context, the advance of the digital age is making media creation & production & distribution cheaper, easier and more accessible. Quality issues? But it also means that media increasingly no longer have monopoly on publishing: Readers are publishers & broadcasters too. In a nutshell…

In a global context, the advance of the digital age is making media creation & production & distribution cheaper, easier and more accessible. Quality issues?

But it also means that media increasingly no longer have monopoly on publishing: Readers are publishers & broadcasters too.

www.thoughtleader.co.za

Best of blog & best of media Print journalists blogging with Leaders, commentators & upcomers “ Editorial blog” with gatekeeping Joint agenda-setting: blogger & editor Site attracts strong writing The hybrid…

Best of blog & best of media

Print journalists blogging with

Leaders, commentators & upcomers

“ Editorial blog” with gatekeeping

Joint agenda-setting: blogger & editor

Site attracts strong writing

In about two weeks: 65 writers 300 articles 500 comments

In about two weeks:

65 writers

300 articles

500 comments

Questions? He must be very ignorant for he answers every question he is asked. - Voltaire

Questions?

He must be very ignorant for

he answers every question he is asked.

- Voltaire