Page 16 - Convergent Journalism an Introduction Writing and Producing Across Media

WHAT IS CONVERGENCE AND HOW WILL IT AFFECT MY LIFE?

talkbacks between print reporters and the television partner.
Talkbacks consist of a conversation between the television
anchor and a specialist reporter in the field. Dailey and his
colleagues reported that 29.6 percent of respondents said a
reporter—usually a beat expert—appeared on a partner’s
broadcast to explain a story at least once a month (Saba, 2004).
● Information-gathering convergence. This takes place at the
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reporting level and is Gordon’s term for situations where
media companies require reporters to have multiple skills
(2003, p. 69). In some parts of the world, this represents the
most controversial form of convergence as people debate
whether one person can successfully produce quality content
in all forms of media. Several terms have arisen to describe
this phenomenon, including platypus or Inspector Gadget or
backpack journalism. The single multimedia reporter may be an
appropriate and workable option at small news events or at
small market media organizations. But at a major news event
where groups of mono-media reporters outnumber a single
6 multimedia reporter, this form of reporting is not likely to
produce quality. Digital technology makes the multi-skilled
journalist possible, but we won’t see too many Inspector
Gadgets until journalists are sufficiently trained and equipped.
The type of cross-platform training needed to produce these
journalists has always been a problematic issue in the United
States.
● Storytelling or presentation convergence. Gordon said this type of
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convergence operates at the level of the working journalist,
though it needs management support in terms of purchasing
the most appropriate equipment. He predicted that new
forms of storytelling would emerge from the combination of
computers, portable newsgathering devices, and the interactive
potential of the Web and television, as journalists learned
to appreciate each medium’s unique capabilities (2003,
p. 70). Many journalists are pondering how to do this
form of convergence. Doug Feaver, executive editor of
washingtonpost.com, said his journalists were “inventing a new
medium” as they worked. This form of convergence remains in
the experimental or evolutionary phase in many newsrooms
but we may see it emerge as more and more people graduate
with advanced digital skills.