"Converged Newsrooms: A Case Study from West Africa" The 2008 Africa Media Leadership Conference: “Doing Digital Media in Africa: Prospects, Promises and Problems”. May 24 to 27, Kampala’s Imperial Royale Hotel,Uganda Kwami Ahiabenu, II [email_address]

Outline Introduction -penplusbytes New media in West Africa and convergence Overview of “converged newsroom” in West Africa Case studies of converged newsroom - Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia Prospects and challenges Leadership Issues Conclusion

Introduction -penplusbytes

New media in West Africa and convergence

Overview of “converged newsroom” in West Africa

Case studies of converged newsroom - Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia

Prospects and challenges

Leadership Issues

Conclusion

Introduction International Institute for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Journalism (Penplusbytes) is a new media organization based in Accra, West Africa with the mandate of promoting ICT Journalism Established on 18 th July 2001 It consists of a network of 300 plus media organizations and journalists interested in using ICTs as a tool for the improvement of journalism. Training –online and f2f, research, publishing, ’ 08- elections project, Ghana, SMS in the newsroom online course (UGC) , communication design and new media book project

International Institute for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Journalism (Penplusbytes) is a new media organization based in Accra, West Africa with the mandate of promoting ICT Journalism

Established on 18 th July 2001

It consists of a network of 300 plus media organizations and journalists interested in using ICTs as a tool for the improvement of journalism.

Training –online and f2f, research, publishing,

’ 08- elections project, Ghana, SMS in the newsroom online course (UGC) , communication design and new media book project

What is media convergence ? According to Dr. Mike Gasher : Media convergence is an economic strategy in which communications companies seek financial benefit by making the various media properties they own work together. The strategy is a product of three elements: Corporate concentration Digitization Government deregulation

According to Dr. Mike Gasher : Media convergence is an economic strategy in which communications companies seek financial benefit by making the various media properties they own work together. The strategy is a product of three elements:

Corporate concentration

Digitization

Government deregulation

What is media convergence ? Graham Murdock (2000) identifies the following three trends of convergence in today's media: the convergence of cultural forms the convergence of communications systems, and the convergence of corporate ownership Others levels of convergence – Marketing partnership Job description Story telling techniques

Graham Murdock (2000) identifies the following three trends of convergence in today's media:

the convergence of cultural forms

the convergence of communications systems, and

the convergence of corporate ownership

Others levels of convergence –

Marketing partnership

Job description

Story telling techniques

Operational definition of converged newsroom Converged newsroom can be described as a content production process which is premised on generation of outputs to multiple news platform. Converged newsroom output can be published on the web, appear on TV, radio, SMS and newspaper etc Converged newsroom means two (or more) platforms are joined together and becoming similar Unified output by a unified team For example, eliminating online department and shifting processes into one main converged newsroom.

Converged newsroom can be described as a content production process which is premised on generation of outputs to multiple news platform.

Converged newsroom output can be published on the web, appear on TV, radio, SMS and newspaper etc

Converged newsroom means two (or more) platforms are joined together and becoming similar

Unified output by a unified team

For example, eliminating online department and shifting processes into one main converged newsroom.

Convergence in West Africa Broader picture – increasing number of media organizations are integrating ICTs in their operations across board A subset of this movement is the gradual evolution of Converged newsroom, which is still at its infancy stage in the sub region Business case not fully developed Challenges exist but the prospects and the future is bright

Broader picture – increasing number of media organizations are integrating ICTs in their operations across board

A subset of this movement is the gradual evolution of Converged newsroom, which is still at its infancy stage in the sub region

Business case not fully developed

Challenges exist but the prospects and the future is bright

Case studies We undertook a quick survey in the following countries : Sierra Leone Nigeria Benin Ghana Senegal The Gambia Cote d’lvoire

We undertook a quick survey in the following countries :

Sierra Leone

Nigeria

Benin

Ghana

Senegal

The Gambia

Cote d’lvoire

Factors for and against –converged newsroom Conservatism Lack of resources –financial and human Lack of leadership Lack of understanding/know how Demand on time Competitive edge Trend Widespread availability of user friendly technologies Business Sense/value added Promote stories Reasons Against Reasons for

Conservatism

Lack of resources –financial and human

Lack of leadership

Lack of understanding/know how

Demand on time

Competitive edge

Trend

Widespread availability of user friendly technologies

Business Sense/value added

Promote stories

Converged newsroom - outputs Generally in West Africa outputs from converged newsroom are directly or indirectly delivered to the following platforms : Print Online Radio TV SMS Fon TV - voice telephony – mobile or line as a platform is not popular

Generally in West Africa outputs from converged newsroom are directly or indirectly delivered to the following platforms :

Print

Online

Radio

TV

SMS

Fon TV -

voice telephony – mobile or line as a platform is not popular

Advantages of converged newsroom Technology Transmission of news in different formats Audience Ability to reach beyond usual geographical coverage Variety of options for accessing news by the audience Ease of accessibility More interaction with audience More news for audience Increased audience numbers Access to news is quick

Technology

Transmission of news in different formats

Audience

Ability to reach beyond usual geographical coverage

Variety of options for accessing news by the audience

Ease of accessibility

More interaction with audience

More news for audience

Increased audience numbers

Access to news is quick

Advantages of converged newsroom Content Ability to adapt news headlines Breaking news More information for news research Team Sharing of ideas/learning from each other Facilitate team work and makes the job easier It gives the opportunity of different individuals with diverse ideas to work as a team Availability of more newsroom team to bring more news Diversification of opinions and sharing views on news topic

Content

Ability to adapt news headlines

Breaking news

More information for news research

Team

Sharing of ideas/learning from each other

Facilitate team work and makes the job easier

It gives the opportunity of different individuals with diverse ideas to work as a team

Availability of more newsroom team to bring more news

Diversification of opinions and sharing views on news topic

Challenges of converged newsroom Converged newsroom equipment is expensive Unstable GSM network Internet facility erratic and services limited to urban areas. Network problems Competitive factors Difficult working relationship Less sales of the paper since audience have access to news on TV, radio and Internet Lack of human capacity in ICT for news room players

Converged newsroom equipment is expensive

Unstable GSM network

Internet facility erratic and services limited to urban areas.

Network problems

Competitive factors

Difficult working relationship

Less sales of the paper since audience have access to news on TV, radio and Internet

Lack of human capacity in ICT for news room players

Looking ahead Converged newsroom in West Africa is ready for a take off and the prospects are bright Respondents said : Despite the challenges there is always a fulfillment after production Converged newsroom helps and it stimulate everyone to prove him/herself Despite the challenges it is good to have a converged newsroom

Converged newsroom in West Africa is ready for a take off and the prospects are bright

Respondents said :

Despite the challenges there is always a fulfillment after production

Converged newsroom helps and it stimulate everyone to prove him/herself

Despite the challenges it is good to have a converged newsroom

Leadership issues Change Champions People management is crucial You do not need to be an ICT guru to drive a converged newsroom it is more of leadership and managerial role Calls for restructuring of newsroom ‘ business case’ Develop a workable plan

Change

Champions

People management is crucial

You do not need to be an ICT guru to drive a converged newsroom it is more of leadership and managerial role

Calls for restructuring of newsroom

‘ business case’

Develop a workable plan

Conclusion Converged newsroom is here to stay with us though it growth is slow, its prospects are bright and there is no doubt it is going to be the face of future newsrooms not only in West Africa but across the continent.

Converged newsroom is here to stay with us though it growth is slow, its prospects are bright and there is no doubt it is going to be the face of future newsrooms not only in West Africa but across the continent.

Thank You Kwami Ahiabenu, II International Institute for ICT Journalism –penplusbytes www.penplusbytes.net [email_address]

Kwami Ahiabenu, II

International Institute for ICT Journalism –penplusbytes

www.penplusbytes.net

[email_address]