From M/Cyclopedia of New Media
MaryCampbell 09:04, 9 Sep 2004 (EST)
== The Changing Newsroom ==
Electronic Journalism
- The implementation of new media technologies has dramatically altered the manner in which both broadcast and print newsrooms operate (Alysen et al, 2003: 224). Such technologies have not only revolutionised the organisational side of newsrooms but have also impacted on the production values within newsrooms.
Broadcast Newsroom Automation Systems
- The early 1980’s brought with it the computerisation of Australian Broadcast newsrooms.
- Basys, one if the original computerised newsroom systems, was developed to organise incoming wire reports, formatted reporters copy and bulletin rundowns and structures. Developed in California, it quickly became the system of choice for many newsrooms wishing to modernise (Alysen, 2000: 11).
- Since then, more comprehensive automation systems have been developed to organise broadcast newsrooms such as ENPS (Electronic News Production System) for television news networks and NewsBoss for radio stations (Alysen, 2000: 11).
- These newsroom automation systems function as an easy way to distribute materials including footage, reporter’s stories and incoming wire copy to all the work stations and computers in a newsroom.
NewsBoss
- The NewsBoss system is the one of the leading radio newsroom automation systems in the world and includes wire and audio capture, a flexible database, word processing, audio editing and on air text and audio presentation. The advanced technology of NewsBoss created the world’s first radio prompter and continues to lead in radio automation systems technology.
Electronic News Production System (EPNS)
- Developed by the Associated Press, ENPS has become television broadcasting’s premier production system. It provides a Windows based system which allows a user to monitor incoming wire service copy, write stories, insert video and audio clips, access the internet and work on and monitor the progress of the broadcast run down from the one system (Alysen, 2000: 11). The program also works as an open-architecture system – thus enabling news networks to attach other technologies as they please (Alysen, 2000: 11). Today, more than five hundred newsrooms in forty eight different countries world wide operate on ENPS systems.
Independent Television News (ITN)
- Independent Television News (ITN) is considered one of the heavy weights in television news in the United Kingdom.
- Since its establishment in 1955, ITN has become renowned worldwide for its innovative approach to news coverage and broadcast journalism techniques (Boyd, 2001: 288). It has become one of the world leaders in incorporating new media technologies in the newsroom.
- The ITN lead the way for the use of satellite newsgathering trucks, computerised graphics and Electronic News Gathering (ENG), using videotape as opposed to film (Boyd, 2001: 288).
- Most recently, ITN has undergone a digital transformation and revolutionised its production values. It has established a totally digital newsroom, where all data, footage, images, information, reports and packages are kept stored on computers and available for instant recall (Boyd, 2001: 289).
- The ITN created the world’s first digital newsroom in 1996. With digital techniques now well established, ITN's journalists function in a completely tapeless newsroom where packages are composed and edited on desktops using the most up-to-date automation systems and server-based technology.
- The ITN digital newsroom has also recognised the significance of graphics and the importance of visuals in reporting for television. ITN utilises a VT80 machine, which can be programmed with graphics, including tables, data and maps, which can be recalled for use at any time (Boyd, 2001: 288).
- The newly established ITN information department has also embraced what technology can offer. It maintains one of the largest news archives in the world. While it retains a collection of reference books, cuttings and background material it has also established a comprehensive digital library. This digital library stores original camera crew footage, as well as thousands of images. Here, each item is cross referenced on computers for easy access (Boyd, 2001: 289).
Related Wiki Entries
Go back to Digital Journalism
MaryCampbell 14:04, 25 Oct 2004 (EST)
Bibliography
- Alysen, B., Oakham, M., Patching, R. and Sedorkin, G. (2003). Reporting in a Multimedia World, Sydney: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1865089109
- Alysen, B. (2000) The Electronic Reporter – Broadcast Journalism in Australia, Victoria: Deakin University Press. ISBN 0949823848
- Boyd, A. (2002). Broadcast Journalism: Techniques of Radio and Television News, Oxford:Focal Press. ISBN 0240515714
MaryCampbell 14:04, 25 Oct 2004 (EST)
