I’ve been doing a bit of ‘multimedia’ with students including maps and the wonders of Dipity timelines. Whilst picking through the backlog of posts in my reader I came across a few posts with defining moments for online journalism. So, as a bit of fun, I thought I would add them to dipity as an example to use.
Inspired by Mark S. Luckie and his fantastic map of US newspapers using youtube I thought I would give it a go for the UK. The result (nowhere near as nice as Marks) is a real mix of pipes, maps and google docs. So it isn’t neat but it kinda works. If you notice that there is a paper missing then you can use the form at the end of this post to add it.
The map includes regional and national press and there may be some accounts linked to more than one paper as the publisher may only have one website for that area. There may also be some accounts listed that are no longer used or vary rarely updated. They still carry content so they i’ve kept them in as a ‘presence’.
I was interesting to find a number of individuals using their accounts to host the papers video. Nice in the sense that they were having a go but also a little disappointing in the lack of support. Still, I suppose that’s innovation for ya!
I’m slowly formulating a ‘state of the medium address’ on video which I’m hoping to get headspace and time for before xmas and this has added a bit of food for thought. But, in the meantime, you can judge the quality and the effectiveness yourself by taking a look at the the latest 20 videos from these sites below (another pipe which takes a while to show up) which at some point I will try and append with view stats etc.
Michael Rosenblum has been doing his ‘sky is falling in’ schtick again this time at the recent society of editors do. Thanks to some spiffing video from Paul Bradhaw Rosenblum’s view has been stirring up some nodding comments of agreements.
One of the things I like about seeing Michael talk is not because of what he is saying. I like it to see which arcane ‘industry’ from the past he’ll pick to compare the industry to. Last time I saw him it was the ice industry. He’s great value.
But is that why people listen to Rosenblum?
Say what you like about Michael, his message is always pretty consistent and in the best tradition of a good sales pitch contains an unarguable truth - you can’t carry on as you are. But there is nothing unique about that message. A lot of people have been saying for a long time especially with respect to video.
So is it his success rate?
Well, there are certainly those who have benefited from his way of doing things but there are plenty of other projects that have had mixed reaction and success. Michael has as many doubters as fans. I’m a fan but I don’t think he has an answer that works across the board.
So what is it? Here’s my theory.
Like for like
Micheal gets listened to, especially at events like this, because he looks like the majority of people in the room. He is a senior-management/executive talking to a room of senior-management/executives about what they should do.
Is that a poor reflection on Michael? Of course not. He has a view to pitch and aims it really well. It’s more a problem with his audience.
Many people are listening to Rosenblum because they are hearing the message for the first time. That doesnt mean Micheal has anything new to say. It means that, too their shame, the people in the room have not been listening up until that point.
As suprising as it may be to them, there are people in their organisations who are as knowledgable and passionate about video as he is. They may have more experience of the particular problems in their company and more direct suggestions to help solve them.
They may not give as good a show but they may give as good advice.
Are we ready for the future news consumer? – A really interesting round up of research on news consumers – “We need to find ways to make online news appealing to both Net-Newsers and Integrators – perhaps even to Traditionalists”
User-generated content as a form of newsgathering – Alf has a useful round up on the development of UGC via the BBC’s Pete Clifton. I think Alf’s last point about Multimedia is an interesting one. What’s the value of that word in the changing media landscape?
Teaching Journalism Today – Thought provoking stuff on how and what we should teach in J-schools “The best journalism teachers are the ones who understand that talking is not teaching. The best journalism students are the ones who realize that listening is not learning.”
Couch Potatoes Sprout – Group citizen journalism is emerging in local communities as mainstream media reduces its reporting ranks. This book describes how community group journalism operates at adult and youth levels..
The biggest deal for online video this year – “Anyone interested in video on the web – and particularly making money from video on the web – should pay close attention to the partnership between MTV and MySpace” I agree with Paul. But what’s the bet that a number of msm companies try and develop something themselves.
I found myself on the Belfast Telegraph website yesterday looking at their rather nice crime map. A nice mashup but the ability to compare years visually would have really made it for me.
The Belfast Telegraph Crime map
Still, whilst exploring I noticed a slideshow of the recent homecoming parade of The Royal Irish Regiment in Belfast. It’s shame that the slideshow was the the bog standard html click and link job (very old school next to a sexy mashup). An audio slideshow with soeme sound from the event would have been really evocative.
Especially when you have such fantastic shots like this one
Kristene Lowe left a comment on my post about getting out of the office, even it’s just in a virtual way, saying that one of the reasons that journalists get out of the office less is that “online journalism has become centered around traffic, best achieved by volume, and rewriting stories”
She continues:
In fact, in today’s media reality many editors don’t dare to let their journos out of the office, as it might bring down their production due to time spent travelling etc, unless it’s to some big conference they know will generate plenty of copy (in which scenario, you might not find time to actually TALK to people while there).
So it was interesting and timley that Kristine posted a job ad she’d seen on:
Are you dreaming of traveling? Do you want to write long feature stories? Do you enjoy writing comprehensive profile interviews? Are you interested in writing about international politics? Do you think printed newspapers are more exciting than the web? Then you don’t need to apply for a job at Varden.
We are looking for a competent journalist for our newly created central news hub. You have to understand what readers are interested in; have good journalistic instincts and comprehensive local knowledge. High speed, a good attitude and an understanding of new media is a must.
She admits it was a hasty translations. Still perhaps in job ads, as in life, honesty is not always the best policiy.
There is so much great multimedia coverage of the US election out there. But The Washington Post’s TimeSpace beta caught my eye. Fun to navigate and explore and it includes tweets.
