TV journalists deliver news real time. We work with video or live pictures, and most of the time it's the best way to tell a story. No long words needed. TV also has such a wide reach that's why it's a very powerful medium. It makes one famous or infamous quickly, it demands immediate results and pushes officials/people to action.
But news on tv is limited by time. An hour's newscast contains all the stories gathered in day, which means a single report can only run 1-2 minutes max. How much can you say in such a short time? And it's not permanent. If you missed the news on TV,tough luck. Go check the net or the papers tomorrow.
Print's greatest advantage over tv and radio is the fact that it stays. One can always go back to read something that's printed and published. It also gives room for analysis, allowing greater understanding of the news. Unfortunately, it has a decreasing market. Less people have time to read the papers nowadays and only do so when a big story happens.
News online on the otherhand, takes the advantage of both broadcast and print, and makes it even better because of accessibility. It can operate real time or close to real time, since news sites are updated immediately. Images and pictures can also be uploaded. And just like print, what's published online stays.
With all their strengths and weaknesses, I use tv, radio, print and online to get news everyday. Depends on the time I have, the access to internet or the lack of it when I'm mobile. Opportunities for traditional media grow each day because of convergence. But those wary of change can view the same opportunities as threats as well.
Take for example the multi-tasking of journalists. It can open opportunities to deliver news in multiple platforms; but the same opportunity can also be seen as a threat by those who do not want additional work on their hands.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Thoughts on convergence
My first taste of convergence had something to do with an xda-II phone.
A couple of years back, our TV network provided all reporters with an xda. Aside from wanting us to become accessible, they also wanted us to shoot video when cameras aren't allowed. And record short sound bytes. Surf the net while mobile. And write and email scripts on the spot.
I was terrified with the new gadget, and overwhelmed with the additional work expected from us. And I wasn't alone. Some of my colleagues didn't even open and use their new phones for months, and stuck it out with their old and reliable models!
But work was faster and easier afterwards. Not to mention that it looked way cooler than dictating scripts via phone, or worse, doing live reports with scratch paper on hand.
Have to admit though, tv journalists aren't as fast when it comes to adapting to convergence. Or at least those in our newsroom. Aside from using phones in our reports, we also have content sharing with our print and radio partners. And we have an online version of the news, www.abs-cbn.com. But that's about it.
Unlike counterparts in other countries, we are not obliged to service all platforms. We work primarily for our own mediums. Though we are encouraged to write for our online news as well, its not something that's gained much popularity over the years. There's actually a different staff that writes for our news online.
The readings did mention the reluctance of some journalists when it comes to convergence. Its probably the lack of training, or maybe not enough technology. It can even simply be fear of change.
BUT WE HAVE TO CHANGE. Its not only technology that's changing, but even the very same people watching us. News consumers are now faced with so much choices on where to get their information that we have to keep up. We have to make sure our news is available in different platforms, so it can reach as much number of people as possible.
Or else we get left behind. We might as well consider a career shift then.
A couple of years back, our TV network provided all reporters with an xda. Aside from wanting us to become accessible, they also wanted us to shoot video when cameras aren't allowed. And record short sound bytes. Surf the net while mobile. And write and email scripts on the spot.
I was terrified with the new gadget, and overwhelmed with the additional work expected from us. And I wasn't alone. Some of my colleagues didn't even open and use their new phones for months, and stuck it out with their old and reliable models!
But work was faster and easier afterwards. Not to mention that it looked way cooler than dictating scripts via phone, or worse, doing live reports with scratch paper on hand.
Have to admit though, tv journalists aren't as fast when it comes to adapting to convergence. Or at least those in our newsroom. Aside from using phones in our reports, we also have content sharing with our print and radio partners. And we have an online version of the news, www.abs-cbn.com. But that's about it.
Unlike counterparts in other countries, we are not obliged to service all platforms. We work primarily for our own mediums. Though we are encouraged to write for our online news as well, its not something that's gained much popularity over the years. There's actually a different staff that writes for our news online.
The readings did mention the reluctance of some journalists when it comes to convergence. Its probably the lack of training, or maybe not enough technology. It can even simply be fear of change.
BUT WE HAVE TO CHANGE. Its not only technology that's changing, but even the very same people watching us. News consumers are now faced with so much choices on where to get their information that we have to keep up. We have to make sure our news is available in different platforms, so it can reach as much number of people as possible.
Or else we get left behind. We might as well consider a career shift then.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
This is Me
I never thought I'd actually be part of this blogging fever.
You see, I'm not very technology-friendly. I was the last in our group who learned the wonders of e-mail. I cannot even share photos on the net by myself. And my husband created my Friendster account.
But that's why I signed up for this Exploring New Media course.
My name is Marie Antonette T. Pacheco. Marieton or Ton for short. I am a Sr. Reporter and a news anchor for ABS-CBN, one of the biggest TV networks in the Philippines. I have been in media for the past seven years. But I've always wanted to cover and do the news for as long as I can remember.
I love working long hours. My day starts at 6am as I prepare myself for Mornings@anc, a two and a half hour news magazine program on our network's cable channel. Then I'm off to my regular beat as reporter, the Justice Department and the Supreme Court. I cover hearings, press conferences, 10-hour oral arguments and twisted lawyers. And I try to make sense of them in the stories I produce. My normal day ends at about 9pm.
I was also assigned to cover former President Erap's plunder trial at the Sandiganbayan. And I've done my share of general assignment stories as well. Rallies, election coverages, politicians' bickering, typhoons, attempted kudetas...there's really nothing like covering news.
But it's not all work for me because I come home to three people who keep me sane. My husband, Cisco, and our two kids, Anton and Javier.
Other things about me: I'm a frustrated singer. I'm learning how to cook (after 7 years of being married!), I take time out for scrapbooks and I'm a scuba diver.
You see, I'm not very technology-friendly. I was the last in our group who learned the wonders of e-mail. I cannot even share photos on the net by myself. And my husband created my Friendster account.
But that's why I signed up for this Exploring New Media course.
My name is Marie Antonette T. Pacheco. Marieton or Ton for short. I am a Sr. Reporter and a news anchor for ABS-CBN, one of the biggest TV networks in the Philippines. I have been in media for the past seven years. But I've always wanted to cover and do the news for as long as I can remember.
I love working long hours. My day starts at 6am as I prepare myself for Mornings@anc, a two and a half hour news magazine program on our network's cable channel. Then I'm off to my regular beat as reporter, the Justice Department and the Supreme Court. I cover hearings, press conferences, 10-hour oral arguments and twisted lawyers. And I try to make sense of them in the stories I produce. My normal day ends at about 9pm.
I was also assigned to cover former President Erap's plunder trial at the Sandiganbayan. And I've done my share of general assignment stories as well. Rallies, election coverages, politicians' bickering, typhoons, attempted kudetas...there's really nothing like covering news.
But it's not all work for me because I come home to three people who keep me sane. My husband, Cisco, and our two kids, Anton and Javier.
Other things about me: I'm a frustrated singer. I'm learning how to cook (after 7 years of being married!), I take time out for scrapbooks and I'm a scuba diver.
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