Presentation - Week 11

1. +
Multimedia and
Convergence
Online Journalism Presentation
17/04/2009

2. +
Multimedia and Convergence
Patrick Kavanagh – Chairperson

Maríosa Molloy - Thurman, N. & Lupton, B.

2008, quot;Convergence Calls: Multimedia Storytelling at British
News Websitesquot;, Convergence, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 439-455.
Sean Carroll - Martyn, P.H. 2009, quot;THE MOJO IN THE THIRD

MILLENNIUMquot;, Journalism Practice, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 196.
Shaun Dunne - Friend and Singer, Ch. 8: (cross-platform

journalism)

3. +
What is media convergence?
―phenomenon involving the interlocking of computing and
information technology companies, telecommunications
networks, and content providers from the publishing worlds of
newspapers, magazines, music, radio, television, films, and
entertainment software. Media convergence brings together the
―three Cs‖—
computing, communications, and
content.‖
- Britannica Online Encyclopedia

4. +
Cross-platform Journalism
Friend and Singer
Shaun Dunne

5. +
Introduction
Reading deals with pros and cons of convergence of television,

print and interactivity
The effect it has on journalists

―I believe that it is going to distract journalists, journalism

teachers and students away from that single most important
imperative of the craft – to create an informed society capable
of intelligently governing itself.‖
- Robert Haiman

6. +
It is important to ―establish a
delicate balance between finding
your own voice as a journalist and
engaging with active users in their
dialogue.‖
Mark Deuze

7. +
The challenges ahead
from writing to editing will prove to be
Shift
a big ethical challenge
print and online journalism each
Television,
have their own culture
should be unified, despite differences
They
in approach, by objectivity and public
service

8. +
Salary Problems for Journalists
Payrise?

Unemployed?

Salaries are not being increased for the amount of extra work

going on
Exploitation goes on everywhere but is self-defeating – Mark

Deuze
Change should be made that ensures additional work that

comes with convergence is dealt with respectfully

9. +
quot;Convergence Calls: Multimedia
Storytelling at British News
Websites‖
Thurman, N. & Lupton, B.
Maríosa Molloy

10. +
Convergence Calls: Multimedia
Storytelling at British News
Websites
9 editors from different online news sites about the use of

multimedia within online news sites.
General consensus - multimedia has a huge influence on the

online sites today.
The Guardian invested 15 million pounds so their websites

could ‗play videos off the page.‘

11. +
Is video use central to online
publishing?
don‘t think we should pretend it‘s the
―I
first point of all our stories. The core of
what we do is content.‖
- Anne Spackman
Editor, The Times Online

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Necessity of Video on News Sites
The Times – no flash video box embedded on the homepage of

the website, link to video content in the tool bar at the top of the
page
Sky News - video box on the homepage with stories available

in a column down the right hand side
12 online news sites – all had links to video news

Sites consider video stories necessary for online news sites


13. +
The Core Skills of a Journalist
Being able to write quickly, clearly and accurately.

Being able to spell and having excellent grammar,

Being able to write snappy headlines

Possessing the ability to spot a strong story.

Nowadays, are they enough?


14. +
Do journalists need to be ‗all
rounders‘?
―If you want a video journalist you probably ought to hire one.‖

Footage can be taken on phonesopportunity for viewers to

send in their experiences – Steve Purcell from The Mirror
Uploading of videos by all citizens undermine the position of

journalists in society

15. +
Does the addition of
multimedia to text
stories make them
better?

16. +
The Mojo in the Third Millennium
P.H. Martyn
Sean Carroll

17. +
The changing face of journalism
is moving towards a more
Journalism
multimedia based means of
transmitting information.
are expected to be
Journalists
proficient with filming, editing,
photography and internet publication.

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New breeds of journalist
– Mobile Journalist
―Mojo‖
– Solo Journalist
―Sojo‖
Independent journalists doing the job of a whole news team


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―The mobile journalist concept has
been embraced by management at
many newspapers trying to keep
their corporations profitable in an
era of increasingly fractured and
declining audiences‖.
P.H. Martyn

20. +
The advantages of Mojos and Sojos
Cheaper then sending out entire news crews

Can cover a greater amount of news then their traditional

counterparts
Mojos may increase news readership among a younger

demographic
Sojos can report live, upload copy virtually instantaneously and

almost cover the world in real time

21. +
―Sojos have had a devastating
impact on the immediacy and depth
of television and web coverage …
News junkies across the globe have
responded … by tripling the traffic to
key websites. In some cases, such
as CNN, traffic has leapt tenfold‖.
Mark Hollands
The Australian

22. +
Speed over depth?
1991 Gulf War – television the accepted medium for breaking

new
Newspapers respond by adding graphics, maps and

―explainers‖ to their product
Reporters on the field filed copy on what they

witnessed, editors added context at home
Today the emphasis is on speed of information rather than

depth
Contextualisationof news is not always carried out


23. +
Pros and cons of high speed
technologies
it possible to deliver
Make
information in record time
the amount of time available
Reduce
for the working journalist to think,
reflect, evaluate, shape, craft and
contextualize the news

24. +
The threat of Mojos and Sojos to
Traditional Media
Critical role of the media could be under threat as journalists

increasingly simply relay the line of self-interested parties
Gatekeeper role of the media under threat from mojo and

sojojournalists
Solo video journalists today – preoccupied with camera angles

and technicalities rather than critical facts?

25. +
Combining media creates a better
package
run by journalist Kevin Sites –
Website
good example
story telling coming together
Multifaceted
to create a completely immersive
package.
one media falters,another will
Where
balance it

26. +
The impact for local news
 Hyper-local news - constant updating of news on
the internet in local areas by journalists
 Often done by citizen journalists and bloggers
 Succeedswhere newspapers fail: keeping
people aware of local news at all times
 Community members with specialized skills can
contribute
 Agreat advance in investigative journalism or a
loss of respect for the industry?

27. +
―These technologies ought to be
employed by experienced
journalists and media managers
should ensure that the traditional
gatekeeper roles not be bypassed.‖
Martyn

28. +
In conclusion…
 Technologyis simply a means for journalists to
do what they have always done only better
 Critical
analysis should not be sacrificed in
favour of speed
 Finding balance between the increase in the
need casting a critical eye over those in power
is journalism‘s next big challenge.

29. +
Thank you
Now what do you think?