The use of electronic media has created a significant enhancement in journalism. Television and more recently Internet has allowed for the addition of audio and video to articles. It has required journalists to become technology savvy and be able to capture images, record video and sound bites in addition to the basic role of a reporter. With updated technology, news sources have made video and audio an essential part of their websites and attracting viewers. Here are three different examples of how media outlets have used audio and visual technology to produce a higher quality of journalism and attractive product to the Internet audience.
CNN is the world’s leading producer in news and thrive on staying connected with their viewers. In the last year, they have instituted a revolutionary type of citizen journalism through their iReport webpage. The project allows for people to compose their stories through mobile devices that cover breaking new stories first hand. By providing their own audio and video, it allows for an authentic first-hand report that CNN reporters might not have been able to deliver otherwise. iReport also shows CNN’s dedication to its audience and its belief that news is a conversation, not a lecture by allowing the public to deliver its own images and sound on an event.
Another leading news media that have used digital technology to enhance breaking news are sports mediums. Both ESPN and NFL.com know the popularity of their fantasy football leagues and have worked towards improving them for their users. This year the two organizations have updated their websites by providing in-game video updates of fantasy players. This allows for users to personalize their news by seeing the big plays of their fantasy players and improves the overall quality by showing actual video clips that the audience would likely otherwise not have immediate access too. The addition of video updates has been a huge hit so far among the fantasy league audience, which makes up a huge number of the websites users. By providing streaming visuals, fantasy league owners can personalize their news and receive it first at both these sites producing a better quality journalistic product.
Not only the mass media are using video on their websites. Local media have adapted to the new technology at well. The Missourian, a local college town paper for Columbia, Miss., put together a seven-part video series profiling start University of Missouri football players Jeremy Maclin’s preparation for the NFL draft. The video-feature gave great video and audio sound clips in addition to a written story profiling the star athlete. The video and audio allowed readers to actually see and hear Maclin and his coaches’ perspective on his training.
Through the use of technology, audio and video not only were a part of all these programs, but also enhanced the overall journalistic product and made it attractive to the media’s viewers.
I really like how organized your post was, siting three specific examples. I have never heard of IReport either. What a cool concept. I think it's both a great idea to allow others to post news from around the world, but also a scary concept. I know that as a reporter and webmaster, keeping track of all posts can be a difficult task. If everyone in the world is allowed to post news - it makes organizations possibly less credible. For instance - if outsiders are always breaking the news before the organization or on the other hand, if outsiders are posting incorrect information, in bad style, with bad grammar and poor sources. It's a Catch-22 for sure. I think IReport is kind-of helping it to work by making sure readers realize the posts are from outside sources - so to read it an attitude of 'this is not a reporter, but an outside source.'
ReplyDeleteI also love the video/photography series idea. I think that cutting-edge photography and video is where it's at in news for today's generation. :)
Whoops I didn't realize I talked about the same thing as you. Being able to watch player highlights that are just pertinent to your fantasy team is a really awesome idea. I hope other organizations are able to come up with ways to use video as creatively and usefully as sports have been able to.
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