Page 157 - Convergent Journalism an Introduction Writing and Producing Across Media

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Multimedia Journalism: Putting It

All Together

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A combination of sound, image, text, and interactivity—hereafter
referred to as multimedia journalism—gives media practitioners a new
way to tell stories, using the strengths of each medium to produce a
more compelling package. From the outset, a multimedia journalist
must appreciate the potential and power of each medium and capital-
ize on those strengths. In doing so the multimedia reporter produces
journalism that is well beyond what a single medium can do. The mul-
timedia reporter needs to know how to use a variety of digital tools,
but the essential requirement is a multimedia mind-set. Loosely artic-
ulated, this mind-set requires the ability to conceive of stories that
go beyond a single medium when it is appropriate to use more than
one medium. Sometimes one medium is sufficient to provide what
audiences need. Implicit in this statement is an understanding of audi-
ences (note the plural form) and an acceptance that the fundamental
role of journalism remains constant, which is to inform, educate, and
entertain.
The multimedia form of reporting was relatively rare as of mid-2005.
Similarly, the kind of reporter who is comfortable and proficient in
all media tends to be rare. The good ones attract better salaries and