Jeff’s Words

Technology has changed the way we get news. The internet has provided us with an unprecedented amount of information. Never before have we been able to access the latest news from at home, to the other side of the world with just a click. The evolution of connection speeds through broadband internet has improved this already mind-boggling to the point where we can now set the news agenda.

Through new technology we can capture breaking news events on our own mobile phones and send them to major news outlets who publish the content. This was demonstrated in the terrorist attacks on London in 2005.

However, the internet has given us the ability to take the news agenda from the big boys. We can become sources of news if we want, and many have, eg OhMy News in Korea.

Speedy connections have broken down walls. Footage is available quicker than ever before, and the sending and filing of content has never been quicker. This benefits traditional journalists, and citizen journalists alike. Transport delays, weather etc no longer prevent deadlines being met. As a result news benefits and we’re all able to be better informed of the going ons in our world.

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Fast and efficient connections are the key to success in the new world of multimedia journalism. Broadband internet and the 3G mobile phone network allows for the rapid transmission of data, allowing news to be filed quicker than ever before.

Tech savvy users demand speedy access to data and want hassle free ways to upload content. With news gathering technology available to a mass market, anyone is potentially a multimedia journalist, or MoJo. Traditional media outlets realise this and have learned to embrace this. In Singapore, up to 85 per cent of Stomp’s content is gathered from users who capture news stories on their mobile phones. This has cemented Stomp as one of Singapore’s most popular news sites and provides coverage to stories that may otherwise be ignored. Stomp’s owners have also benefited through the ability to source more content for it’s traditional outlets.

The evolution of wireless internet provides journalists, professional and citizen alike, to overcome barriers and get published within minutes of an event breaking or data being received. There is no longer any waiting in traffic to get back to the office to file – it can be done on the road.

Hurricane Ike in the last week menaced much of the Caribbean before slamming in to Texas on Saturday (Australian time). Ike whipped up strong winds and a huge storm surge when it hit, but also whipped up another frenzy – content generated by citizen journalists embedded in the storm’s path.
A plethora of user generated content has already hit the web, ranging from pictures and video on the websites of broadcasters, to humble videos on YouTube. The Hurricane once again proved that user generated content (UGC) is now a vital tool in news gathering. Amateur footage provides news organisations with footage and content they would not otherwise have which enhances their own stories and brings the audience more of the story. We are able to get a better feel for a story when we can see content that was produced right there and then, by those experiencing the story.
User generated content took off following the London bombings, and now some organisations have dedicated websites for UGC. CNN has I-report while Fox News has launched U-Report. Both offer the user the ability to upload and distribute their videos and photos worldwide, with some making it to air.

The technological revolution has spawned a new medium of communication. Ipods, and other mp3players took the market by storm earlier this decade.

Most people under thirty now have an mp3player of some sort.

Mp3 players gave the consumer choice – they could put their music on small, compact machines capable of holding hundreds of songs. There was no need to carry bulky Discmans or walkmans, if you were still on tape.

The radio industry wised on to this and saw that their programming was not being listened to and came up with a way to penetrate an ever elusive market. The podcast was born and allows segments to be downloaded and listened to – no need to listen live. People could catch the highlights and stay connected to a programme and be more inclined to return.

Technology has evolved further and video features are becoming the norm too. Vodcasting is a growing sphere. The TV industry is slowly adapting to this, and has made TV series available for download, allowing people to watch their favourite show while commuting (eg, ABC, “Lateline”). The Nine Network has launched a daily news bulletin to tap in to this market and promote its brand.