For the modern journalist, being able to converge with cross-platform media is a must. The near-dominance of the Internet has meant that news is digested in a variety of different ways, and print/TV/radio blueprint is becoming increasingly archaic.
The ability to work with video and audio editing software, online print, and then being able to assimilate the three in an online environment is no longer the prerogative of a journalists trying to become more hireable. Rather, it is a necessity in the age of a modernised mass media.
On a wider scale, convergence can be seen everywhere. Smartphones such as the Blackberry and iPhone can send e-mail, take pictures and video, browse the internet, store and play back MP3 files, act as GPS devices, and so much more. In a relatively short space of time, the average gadget enthusiast has gone from anorak pockets loaded with an array of gizmos, to just the one.
In my mind, the BBC and the Guardian are nationwide, if not worldwide leaders in journalism convergence. Their websites are full of stories incorporating print, audio and video content, as well as linking together stories with informative features and comment sections.
Interestingly, in 2007 the government set up a think-tank to monitor and discuss the implications of media convergence on consumers. The panel's deliberations will help to shape future policy development in the media sector, which may lead to a new Communications Act before the analogue TV signal is switched off in 2012 (Chris Tryhorn – ‘Government thinktank [sic] to tackle media convergence issues’ – The Guardian, 2006).
Practicing convergence in a student environment proved to be, at first, a struggle. I found that people were quite protective over there work, and reluctant to share and share alike, which defeated the object of the days from the get go. The biggest problem I found was the relative inequality of the four disciplines.
Radio, which had the shortest and busiest day, was constantly harassed by the other three disciplines for audio content to be used in the early TV bulletin and as accompaniments for online news stories and features. In contrast, Online News and Features had days longer than any I have experienced working at a local newspaper, and lacked much of the impetus that would be present in a newsroom, such as press releases, and contacts who were willing to actually talk to students.
However, I do not think there is any way possible, aside from actually broadcasting the bulletins and a wider non-student readership of buzz, to encourage sources and contacts to talk more freely to student journalists, and this is just one of those things which will not change.
Over the course of the 8 weeks I found that I was comfortable in both organisational roles, and working semi-independently as a reporter.
When I was Sub-Editor for Online Features, I enjoyed the task of editing pieces of work as they came in, helping people pitch ideas for features and writing my own at the same time. As I said, with the two online days, it was necessary to find ways to flesh out the day to keep active for the full eight hours.
With regards to Radio and Television, I found myself working best either on my own, or with one other person, having been given the time and space to get on with our own story and plan our day accordingly, and to deadline. I believe this is because print is my foremost speciality, and being given breathing space to work things out was necessary for me to put together good packages.
With regards to learning about convergence, I believe that it is essential for student journalists to have training in as many disciplines as possible. This would not only make them more hireable, but also improve the quality of content created no end for the reader, listener or viewer. I am a strong believer in the multi-format media and its benefits to the public.
Were I to run the days differently, I would have included a group work mark. As the point of the exercises was to converge, I think it would have been a good idea to note exactly what was being shared between the groups. Possibly giving marks for each group to have converged with every other group at least once? I think this would have shifted the work ethic of the students over from focussing on getting their own content ready on time, to working more as a group unit and creating a successful working day for the whole team, and the whole year.
I realise that this blueprint would mean increased pressure on the executive editors and a greater level of administrative work, so that the marking would be accurate and representative. However, I genuinely think it would place more emphasis on convergence in practise from the students’ perspective.
From a personal viewpoint, my main problem over the course of the eight weeks was general drop in motivation as the day went on. This was not so much the case in TV and Radio, where deadlines had to be kept. I think the use of deadlines throughout a working day is a good way of generally keeping up students’ work rates. The areas I found this to be more problematic in were the Print days. I think also, it was not just myself who experienced the serious drops in motivation towards the end of the day.
A possible way of combating this would be to do as Dan Hogan did, and take reporters around Bournemouth and Poole. Not only does it break up the day by getting people out of the newsroom – which can be a serious drag – but it also encourages better journalistic practise, and stops students ripping stories from BBC Dorset, The Bournemouth Daily Echo website and press releases found online.
In the future I would like to work harder on my performance in the Broadcast disciplines. It is all too easy to slip back into the medium that you prefer, and I am guilty of doing this. The possibilities available when using cross-platform media for the same piece is endless, and I believe the simple addition of a voice interview attached to a piece of copy, or using video footage to embellish a news article or feature can easily make the difference between readers being bored stiff, and genuinely interested in the piece they are reading.
Thursday 22 April 2010
Tuesday 29 December 2009
Radio Production Blog
Thursday December 10th
I have just handed in my finished Radio package, which I am extremely proud of. Using Adobe Audition as editing software opened up a whole new world of possibilities in creative editing that Burli sorely lacks. I think my training in Music Technology at A level helped me a great deal in making sure the final package was well put together.
I decided on a slower backing track to move the interviews along, called “Do They Ever Return?” by the band Hey Colossus. Hey Colossus is the first band to have material released by Jonson Family, and I think that was an important juxtaposition to make within the package.
Again, I am disappointed that I was unable to collate more interviews from different band members related to Jonson Family, but I believe there is sufficient information from Joe and Bob in the package to make it passable.
I have just handed in my finished Radio package, which I am extremely proud of. Using Adobe Audition as editing software opened up a whole new world of possibilities in creative editing that Burli sorely lacks. I think my training in Music Technology at A level helped me a great deal in making sure the final package was well put together.
I decided on a slower backing track to move the interviews along, called “Do They Ever Return?” by the band Hey Colossus. Hey Colossus is the first band to have material released by Jonson Family, and I think that was an important juxtaposition to make within the package.
Again, I am disappointed that I was unable to collate more interviews from different band members related to Jonson Family, but I believe there is sufficient information from Joe and Bob in the package to make it passable.
Radio Production Blog
Tuesday December 8th
My interviews with Joe and Bob, the two creators of Jonson Family went very smoothly, I got plenty of great quotes and edited them down. I had trouble with all three of the bands I contacted, two were on tour in the USA and one was out of phone signal working in the Brecon Beacons. I hastily tried to organise an interview with Liam from Trencher (another Jonson Family band) but to no avail. I am disappointed that this didn't come through as well as I'd hoped, but am still confident that the original two interviews plus voiceovers would work well.
The second assessed news bulletin saw me taking over the role as editor, which I had hoped for last week. This is a role I enjoyed immensely. I feel I definitely could have made my splashes quieter and better edited, but I think the ideas I used to create them (modern up-tempo music) were perfect for the younger target audience.
I feel my time management was perfect on the day, as we were at times ready to go live 15 minutes before deadline. This owes to a fear of running around with 30 seconds to go and being unprepared. I feel I encouraged my team and got them to work well both with me and together. It was a very egalitarian system we had set up.
The two bulletins were harder to judge, I think, than the previous weeks. It’s ironic that it always seems harder to judge your own market, but I believe we all did our best, and comments from Karen on the selection of stories were particularly useful.
My interviews with Joe and Bob, the two creators of Jonson Family went very smoothly, I got plenty of great quotes and edited them down. I had trouble with all three of the bands I contacted, two were on tour in the USA and one was out of phone signal working in the Brecon Beacons. I hastily tried to organise an interview with Liam from Trencher (another Jonson Family band) but to no avail. I am disappointed that this didn't come through as well as I'd hoped, but am still confident that the original two interviews plus voiceovers would work well.
The second assessed news bulletin saw me taking over the role as editor, which I had hoped for last week. This is a role I enjoyed immensely. I feel I definitely could have made my splashes quieter and better edited, but I think the ideas I used to create them (modern up-tempo music) were perfect for the younger target audience.
I feel my time management was perfect on the day, as we were at times ready to go live 15 minutes before deadline. This owes to a fear of running around with 30 seconds to go and being unprepared. I feel I encouraged my team and got them to work well both with me and together. It was a very egalitarian system we had set up.
The two bulletins were harder to judge, I think, than the previous weeks. It’s ironic that it always seems harder to judge your own market, but I believe we all did our best, and comments from Karen on the selection of stories were particularly useful.
Radio Production Blog
Tuesday December 1st
After two weeks of practice I felt well prepared for the first radio news day. I acted as a roving reporter, getting vox pops on the Editor's chosen stories in Winton, which were topically chosen for our target audience. These included revelations of abuse in care homes, and a planned bypass through the local area of Ringwood Forrest.
Both bulletins were to just about deadline and ran fairly smoothly, though it was a highly stressful atmosphere with a great lack of group cohesion. I could not help but think of how I would change things were I in an editorial role.
This week I also began to research and prepare for my Radio Feature. I decided to aim for a late night Radio 1 slot with a short feature on the birth and death of an independent record label. I decided on Jonson Family Recordings, as they have put out records by some of my favourite bands.
I contacted the two founders of the label, and members of three different bands (Blood Red Shoes, Charlottefield and Reigns) who had had music released by them and organised interviews.
After two weeks of practice I felt well prepared for the first radio news day. I acted as a roving reporter, getting vox pops on the Editor's chosen stories in Winton, which were topically chosen for our target audience. These included revelations of abuse in care homes, and a planned bypass through the local area of Ringwood Forrest.
Both bulletins were to just about deadline and ran fairly smoothly, though it was a highly stressful atmosphere with a great lack of group cohesion. I could not help but think of how I would change things were I in an editorial role.
This week I also began to research and prepare for my Radio Feature. I decided to aim for a late night Radio 1 slot with a short feature on the birth and death of an independent record label. I decided on Jonson Family Recordings, as they have put out records by some of my favourite bands.
I contacted the two founders of the label, and members of three different bands (Blood Red Shoes, Charlottefield and Reigns) who had had music released by them and organised interviews.
Thursday 5 November 2009
TV Production Blog - Documentary
Wednesday November 4th
Production group met early in university to begin more animation and edit what we had so far. This went very well, with each member of the group submitting ideas and creating a cohesive unit.
Obtained live video footage of interviewee #2, which was split from the audio and not used, however the audio is a constant throughout the piece. It lends a motorik and hypnotic quality that aligns itself well with the interview footage.
Found new interview space to break up continuity, and used previous footage to gauge the line of questioning for interview #2.
Conducted interview #2 at 5:30pm, which disappointingly did not go as well as #1. A very nervous interviewee coupled with slightly uninspiring interview technique on my part.
We began editing the final package at around 8pm, with two group members creating the credits, two editing the footage, and two planning the next youth TV project.
I edited sound perfectly at 2am, but this was changed to the detriment of the quality the next morning. The group assumed I had left everything slightly quiet and at different levels by accident, then complained when on television the sound quality was all over the place. This was a rare lack of unity within the group, and I was slightly upset that they did not trust my judgment.
Thursday November 5th
We are overall very happy with finished project, and even happier that Tom seemed to 'get it' after every additional watch.
His comments have been taken on board by the group and will be dealt with.
At the end of the day, this is a piece that I feel has great artistic merit and, as a group, we should all be very proud of it, I certainly am.
Production group met early in university to begin more animation and edit what we had so far. This went very well, with each member of the group submitting ideas and creating a cohesive unit.
Obtained live video footage of interviewee #2, which was split from the audio and not used, however the audio is a constant throughout the piece. It lends a motorik and hypnotic quality that aligns itself well with the interview footage.
Found new interview space to break up continuity, and used previous footage to gauge the line of questioning for interview #2.
Conducted interview #2 at 5:30pm, which disappointingly did not go as well as #1. A very nervous interviewee coupled with slightly uninspiring interview technique on my part.
We began editing the final package at around 8pm, with two group members creating the credits, two editing the footage, and two planning the next youth TV project.
I edited sound perfectly at 2am, but this was changed to the detriment of the quality the next morning. The group assumed I had left everything slightly quiet and at different levels by accident, then complained when on television the sound quality was all over the place. This was a rare lack of unity within the group, and I was slightly upset that they did not trust my judgment.
Thursday November 5th
We are overall very happy with finished project, and even happier that Tom seemed to 'get it' after every additional watch.
His comments have been taken on board by the group and will be dealt with.
At the end of the day, this is a piece that I feel has great artistic merit and, as a group, we should all be very proud of it, I certainly am.
TV Production Blog - Documentary
Tuesday November 3rd
Brainstormed ideas for the Youth show as a group and came up with some great stop-motion animation titles that were painstaking, but very worth the final product.
Conducted interview #1 with Alan Read, head of Krayon records. Got excellent quotes, along with excellent camera close ups.
There was a very good team feeling at the end of the day, and we edited in the newsroom until just after 6pm.
Brainstormed ideas for the Youth show as a group and came up with some great stop-motion animation titles that were painstaking, but very worth the final product.
Conducted interview #1 with Alan Read, head of Krayon records. Got excellent quotes, along with excellent camera close ups.
There was a very good team feeling at the end of the day, and we edited in the newsroom until just after 6pm.
Thursday 29 October 2009
TV News Production Blog
Wednesday October 28th
Spent the afternoon being technical help for group member on location in Littledown, and I acquired greater appreciation of camera and pre-production techniques that I applied to my own package.
I filmed all 3 pieces to camera on location in Weymouth house, using the backdrop of the newsrooms to give the air of Channel 4 News. Edited material between 6 and 11pm, only finishing touches needed for Thursday and the live show.
Spent the afternoon being technical help for group member on location in Littledown, and I acquired greater appreciation of camera and pre-production techniques that I applied to my own package.
I filmed all 3 pieces to camera on location in Weymouth house, using the backdrop of the newsrooms to give the air of Channel 4 News. Edited material between 6 and 11pm, only finishing touches needed for Thursday and the live show.
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