Multimedia Reporting Seminar: Jane Ellen Stevens

CNPA Multimedia Reporting Seminar

Today I attended a three hour seminar on Multimedia Reporting given by Jane Ellen Stevens, Berkeley Multimedia Reporting & Convergence http://journalism.berkeley.edu/multimedia/course/choose/. The seminar, sponsored by the California Newspaper Publishers Association, was aimed at getting journalists ready to become multimedia reporters.

Jane stressed the need for newspapers to engage in a 2 year plan to become web-centric. She said, “journalism is entering a dicey time right now.” Pointing out that, as journalists, “our role is changing a lot.”

Given the changes occurring in online journalism, she emphasized that “Everybody must be a multimedia reporter.” That includes reporters and photographers. They must be able to tell a story using any or all elements: video, audio, photos, graphics, then text.

She identified three characteristics of online news: immediacy, context and continuity. The Web allows 24/7 updating of news; no need to have the timing of news presentation dictated by when the press runs. The Web also allows providing additional information that gives the user related information enabling background and in-depth context to accompany the latest story. This can then be updated over time providing users with a continually evolving coverage of a story.

Jane listed a number of things that news organizations must do to adapt to new media:

• Disentangle from Wall street. Profit margins have gone down, no more 30 to 50%


• 8 to 15% profits for local papers is enough.


• Don’t think of profit first, journalism first, profit supports journalism


• A Web-centric newsroom. Web first, spin off materials to other mediums – print, TV, radio…


• Publish paper version only 3 or 4 days a week


• Distributed newsroom


• In coffee shops and community locations, more access with community


• Everybody is a multimedia reporter


• Local first, state second, a little national and international as applies locally


• Most stories in context (Web shells). Hold as much related info as possible, member contribution area


• News is a conversation, not one way.


• Blogs from community members. http://www.lawrence.com/


• Journalists’ roles are changing


• Managers of information


• Trusted source, select shell information


• Relevant links to related information

Her message to newspapers: “If local newspapers haven’t made the transition [to Web-centric news] in two years, there’s not much hope, you’ll be marginalized.”

Good and Bad Coverage Examples
Ivory Billed Woodpecker Multimedia coverage

• Done well http://www.nature.org/ivorybill/http://whyflies.com/ivorybilled/


• Missed opportunity http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/115709