Becoming ‘convergent’ Or how to capitalize on the Web without killing yourself

But first, some definitions What aspects of news do these media capture best? Newspapers TV Radio Still Photos The Web

The Web is not a catch all Interactivity Uses and gratifications

At … It’s the 90-second rule

Usability We muddle through We satisfice We like things to be self-evident

Multimedia’s most important characteristics Context Continuity 

Why Yahoo! News?

Models of Backpack Journalism Producer-driven The reporters file what's in front of them, and don't know how much of their contribution will end up being published, or in what form. Reporter-driven a reporter or small team of reporters puts together a package whose content they essentially control from beginning to end.

Either way, it starts with … Planning Decide what media work best Decide what story you want to tell Find ways to add context and continuity

Video Tips Notice the light Note the sequences Capture motion

Video tips Get the interview Pair it with examples of what the interview mentions (B roll)

Video Conventions AVOID Panning, zooming AVOID Jump cuts Action progression Audio and video work together. Online video is small. Fill the frame.

Editing Piece story together almost as you would an inverted pyramid Start with an anecdote, not an ID Follow with a ‘nut graph’ through a standup, voice over, or explanatory quote Center other edits around topics, NOT interview subjects

Editing Add motion to nearly every edit Make edits quick Avoid transitions (wipes, fades) Make cuts frequent

Audio Slideshows Provide a clear relationships between what we hear and what we see. Tell a story. Give captions that provide additional information. Use ambient sound

Stand-alone audio Audio clips should be like direct quotes Only the most emotional, best said statements belong

Conclusion We are not necessarily moving into an era when a single journalist needs to do it all. There will always be a need for specialists “But in the converged media organizations of the future, the journalists who best understand the unique capabilities of multiple media will be the ones who are most successful, drive the greatest innovations and become the leaders of tomorrow.” Rich Gordon “Convergence Defined”

Any questions? meyerh@ohio.edu Twitter: OhJProf This presentation is available (including links and videos) at bit.ly/adad