The document discusses the evolution of online journalism and the various types of news websites that emerged over the years, highlighting key lessons for effective online storytelling. It emphasizes the importance of engaging users with clear visuals, breaking information into manageable chunks, and using multimedia tools for richer narratives. Additionally, it addresses the shift from traditional print-based journalism to an interactive audience model, where audience participation plays a crucial role in news reporting.

1. University of North TexasDepartment of JournalismOnline Journalism 3340March 2, 2010Types of Convergence

2. Today’s classElection Day newsTypes of convergence

3. Ten Key LessonsDon’t overload them.Create home pages that satisfy.Entice them to keep reading.Summarize stories on the home page.Include visuals with anything that mattersConvey what’s important with a clear visual hierarchy.Beware of too much scrolling and clicking.Provide background, explanation and context.Provide background, explanation and context.Break up information into manageable chunks.Get rid of clutter.

4. The Early Days –News WebsitesThe EvolutionMainly straight text, no graphicsBulletin boards (BBS), forums ruledMinimal investment Late 70s/early 80s: VideoTextMiami Herald: ViewtronBelo: BISON – Belo Information Systems On-lineProgidy: Cowboys ContentKnight Ridder, Tribune: $30 millionRegurgitation: What was in print showed up onlineNo staffs – Gungho geeks who become mavericks of their time

5. The Miami Herald, then owned by Knight-Ridder, invested $17mm in 1984Dedicated keyboard/terminal that could only be used for the videotext service. This equipment cost $600 to $900; later, as personal computing caught on,Viewtron would try to sell its services via IBM, Apple, or Commodore PCs. A television set to display the color images, which took time to load or paint A monthly subscription fee of $12 (the first month was free) A phone line to send information back to a central computer, for which the consumer initially paid $1 an hour Source: Poynter.org: “Before there was the Internet, There was Viewtron”, by Howard Finberg, http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=52769

6. 1993: September 2: Middlesex (Mass.) News launches first Internet gopher-based online newspaper. http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/carlson/history/ScreenShots/Fred_the_computer.jpg

7. January 1994: Salt Lake Tribune opens a BBS called Utah Online.http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/carlson/history/ScreenShots/utah_online.jpg

8. Types of News WebsitesShovelwareWhat you read in the daily newspaper or see on TV is what you see on the websiteCostsStaffingLack of technology/content management systemStrategic decisionAll stories written in traditional inverted pyramid styleWhat are the pros & cons?

9. Types of News WebsitesPeriodic UpdatingMainly shovelware with some exceptionsBreaking NewsSports stories/scoresSome dedicated staff assigned

10. Types of News WebsitesContinuous UpdatingCombination of shovelware and original packagesWire-service (AP, Reuters) operation mentalitySports stories/scoresSpecial ‘web-only’ reportsExtensive interactive features, graphics, including audio and videoFull-time dedicated staff

11. Corporate StructureSpecific newspaper brands tied to the home townDallasnews.comWashingtonpost.comNytimes.comUmbrella sitesNewhouse News’ Regional ApproachAlabamaLive.comNJ.comClevelandLive.comWhich approach is better? Does it matter?

12. Digital Storytelling ToolsShovelware out, Within Media InIt’s no place for lazy journalistsDig deeper, report more, drive to find more sources, quickerNeed to be more accurate and more thoroughSearch, research and verify

13. Integration“Among-media”ShovelwareReproducing newspaper story as-is into newspaperPosting video from newscast onto the web“I think that the great fear was that we were all going to turn into three-headed monsters and do three times as much work in eight hours, and you just can’t. And, furthermore, you probably won’t do it that well; particularly in a market this size you can’t afford to have a mediocre person on TV or a mediocre news writer.” Jim Riley, Director of Operations, of TBO.comhttp://www.ojr.org/ojr/workplace/1017858030.php

14. Integration“Within-media”Great reporting + multimedia using digital media tools: your pen, paper, digital recorder, digital video cameraLong form narrative meets digital story tellingFully integrated into the story assignment processAbility for more in-depth coverageBetter interviewsGreater consciousness of photosSelected use of videoFairness & accuracy still reign

15. Types of ConvergenceStorytelling or presentation: Using digital tools to create new forms of story telling.PrintBroadcastInternet

16. Types of ConvergenceStorytelling or presentation: Using digital tools to create new forms of story telling.BroadcastInternetPrint

18. The Interactive AudienceShorter lines of communication between journalists and audienceTraditional Media:Readers v. Non-readersReaders an ‘amorphous mass’Defined audience – by geographyCirculation, ‘signal’

19. The Interactive AudienceNow:Individual, personalized, directEmail addresses for reportersTracking readers: Story by storyTop DownEditors toReadersReaders in ControlAudience Participation

20. Participatory journalism - “We Media”http://www.hypergene.net/wemedia/weblog.php?id=P36