Issues in multimedia journalism

Blogs serve a myriad of purposes, from facilitating conversation, interaction and the spread of information and ideas to allowing those not traditionally able to participate in the world of news and current affairs to publish content accessible to the world.

There is an ongoing debate over whether blogging can constitute true journalism, and questions surrounding the accuracy and credibility of content being published.  However what is becoming increasingly apparant, questions of quality aside, is that blogs are just one of the new tools at the disposal of professional journalists.

(Cartoon by Nick Anderson, The Louisville Courier-Journal)

Blogs enable instant access to ideas, insights, reactions and otherwise unreported and untapped sources of news and knowledge.  Many journalists have now moved from analysing blogs to creating their own, using this interactive platform to gather leads, and to help to develop and enrich existing stories.  Blogs can also be used to engage and retain audiences, and as a sounding boards for ideas, with journalists testing the water for relevant issues, maximising their ability to create newsworthy work.

Journalists who embrace online technology are not only opening themselves up to their audiences, but offering themselves as accountable, accessible and vulnerable.  They are breaking down the traditional concepts of information ‘gatekeepers’, and enriching their knowledge base.

Below is an interview with journalist Kevin Hessel from The Marin Independent Journal discussing how journalists can utilise social media, online communities and new technologies such as Twitter and Tumblelogs to improve their reporting.

For the past two days the internet connection has been down. Access to multimedia journalism is denied.

Presently this blog is being written in a Microsoft Word document and will be transferred to edublogs and updated by adding multimedia effects such as digital pictures, blog and internet page links, video footage, recorded audio and graphics once connection is possible.

But when will this be? It seems multimedia is not as convenient and accessible as most of the readings for this unit ALJ301 have suggested.

Multimedia journalism is captivating and dynamic as it is ever-progressive and integrates multiple forms of new digital technology such as ipods, web cams, MP3 players, mobile phones and wireless internet to produce various forms of intriguing and graphical media coverage like mo-blogs, v-logs, podcasting, wikis and inline reports.

However as fascinating, addictive and powerful as these technologies are they are not always reliable for example a storm can cause interference or excessive use can overload systems delaying processing or access by individuals.

Nevertheless convergence continues to increase as the internet becomes a much more integral part of the overall media experience. (Dobrow 2004)

BBC plans massive online archive:

Megawhat News 12.06.08

Online news will continue to flourish despite mishaps – just look at the success of OhmyNews.

In small industrialised countries such as South Korea wide spread telecommunications and digital technology is delivered instantly as they are a “Hothouse for digital infrastructure development.” (Quinn 2008)

Click here for a list of publications by Steven Quinn.

But in a geographically vast country like Australia digital connection is not so easy.

When multimedia journalism works it is fantastic- look at the site below.

The video below is a joke but poses an interesting situation:

But when it stops, it is very frustrating and somewhat upsetting especially if you have a deadline to meet!

To be a writer,reporter or broadcaster today means to have a sound knowledge of the ethical considerations relating to the media.

 Journalists are guided by codes of ethics like most practitioners of any occupation. New media such as multi media journalism raises many questions about ethics and how it will ever be governed online.

 There is greater expectation of ethics for different publishing mediums where different codes apply and may be tougher for broadcast productions than print. 

“A sound working knowledge of law and ethics should strengthen, rather than shackle, the practices of a professional journalist.” (Pearson, 2007. pp 5).

So where does multimedia journalism come in? This new medium combines print and broadcast journalism and is so accessible it allows anyone to publish material.

 Ethics can come down to the personal values of an individual as to what is going too far and what isn’t. The codes that govern journalists try to set a clear idea of where to draw the line, however even then they can be very difficult to translate to real life situations.  Every ethical situation is different and many variables need to be taken into consideration when analysing different circumstances.

‘…when major events occur, the public can offer us as much new information as we are able to broadcast to them. From now on, news coverage is a partnership.’ Richard Sambrook, BBC News.

July 7, 2005 saw the catalyst event of user generated content, the London bombings. Citizens sent pictures and video footage to media organisations of their eye witness accounts. See below for video footage sent in of this horrific event.

Within six hours of the bombings, the BBC had received more than 1,000 photographs, 20 pieces of amateur video, 4,000 text messages and 20,000 emails. In 2005, the BBC established a user generated content desk to sift through the many things sent in from the public.

In Melbourne, the 2007 CBD shootings were a watersehd moment for citizen journalism in Australia. While citizen journalism is not as prominent in Australia as other countries such as England, media organisations often receive mobile phone stills of dramatic weather events.

The Geelong Advertiser, like many other Australian newspapers has a page where readers can post their own photographs. View this link for more details. http://tools.geelongadvertiser.com.au/photo_gallery/submit.php. The ABC news website, also has a section showing photographs taken by viewers.

Citizen journalism is increasing in our society, but the professional journalist is still needed to ensure information is accurate and of a high quality.

The term ‘multimedia journalism’ connotes the use of new media platforms and technologies to deliver information in innovative and exciting ways.  However this process of adaptation and change does not mean that all aspects of ‘traditional media’ need be lost.

Mark Uechritz, Editor in Chief of Ninemsn, says the challenge facing media operators is to engage the disengaged – to access small fragmented audiences through diversification:

 Content and news value will always win audiences.  Traditional journalists must continue to deliver quality journalistic content in the sense of traditional media values.  However they may need to utilise new delivery platforms.

This shifting landscape clearly presents challenges to traditional media operators.  But changing news consumption patterns and fragmented audiences also open up segmented niche markets open to targeting by savvy operators. The rise of the ‘citizen journalist’ and other new competitive entrants to the media landscape can also be adapted to and utilised. 

Mark Scott, Managing Director for the ABC:

Journalists will remain gatekeepers of information with their traditional advantages of resources, contacts, access, professional skills, legal understanding and so on. It may just require that journalists build on and expand their traditional media skills to become multimedia operators.

MORE RESOURCES ON THE CHANGING FACE OF TRADITIONAL MEDIA:

Video of a debate between Wikipedia co-creator Jimmy Wales and internet cultural critic Andrew Keen on the fate of print journalism in the digital age:

‘New media lessons from election 07 ’  - Article by Margaret Simons on Crikey.com on the impact of citizen journalism during the Australian Federal Election 2007 and the emergence of professional multimedia journalists to combat and utilise the effects of the new media age.