Wednesday, October 15, 2003
The Future of the Platypus
Journalists that plan to survive in the news industry must learn to adapt. The faster they are able to do so the better. The digital journalist, video journalist or the platypus all fundamentally are the same they are the ultimate multi tasker.
The internet and changing technology has brought this change to the news industry and will continue to encourage change and innovation.
The photojournalist of today better be able to handle a video camera and a still camera. Any journalists that hope to remain in the field better adjust and learn to be able to do more than one job.
Journalists that plan to survive in the news industry must learn to adapt. The faster they are able to do so the better. The digital journalist, video journalist or the platypus all fundamentally are the same they are the ultimate multi tasker.
The internet and changing technology has brought this change to the news industry and will continue to encourage change and innovation.
The photojournalist of today better be able to handle a video camera and a still camera. Any journalists that hope to remain in the field better adjust and learn to be able to do more than one job.
Friday, October 10, 2003
Where does the Platypus stand?
The Platypus Papers by Dirck Halstead outline his views on the platypus and how the idea came about.
Halstead joined a group in a start-up venture called Video News International. After experimenting with the digital hi-8 video camera and discovering the advantages of covering news this way, VNI had enough backing to begin some official training.
For two years VNI hosted hosted three-week long classes for photo, print and radio journalists the skills they would need to begin careers as video journalists. The first week of class was spent learning how to use their new digital cameras. The second week was learning the principles behind sound and how to use their recorders. The third week was spent making news pieces that they had produced solely on their own.
Video News International was sold in 1995 and eventually went under within the next year.
There are still many of these trained video journalists spread throughout the world and selling their stories and material to different media outlets.
Major media companies today are using as many of these platypuses to save them personnel costs when doing story assignments.
Online newspapers are already using digital video and sound clips to add to their websites. The Washington Post is one paper with an online version that frequently uses sound and video to enhance stories. Other major online newspapers are catching on. Sooner than later all online news outlets will uses video and sound with their current print and still images.
The Platypus Papers by Dirck Halstead outline his views on the platypus and how the idea came about.
Halstead joined a group in a start-up venture called Video News International. After experimenting with the digital hi-8 video camera and discovering the advantages of covering news this way, VNI had enough backing to begin some official training.
For two years VNI hosted hosted three-week long classes for photo, print and radio journalists the skills they would need to begin careers as video journalists. The first week of class was spent learning how to use their new digital cameras. The second week was learning the principles behind sound and how to use their recorders. The third week was spent making news pieces that they had produced solely on their own.
Video News International was sold in 1995 and eventually went under within the next year.
There are still many of these trained video journalists spread throughout the world and selling their stories and material to different media outlets.
Major media companies today are using as many of these platypuses to save them personnel costs when doing story assignments.
Online newspapers are already using digital video and sound clips to add to their websites. The Washington Post is one paper with an online version that frequently uses sound and video to enhance stories. Other major online newspapers are catching on. Sooner than later all online news outlets will uses video and sound with their current print and still images.
Thursday, October 02, 2003
Is The Digital Journalist just cheap labour??
The “platypus” can do many jobs which in some cases eliminates the need for many people to cover one story. Media Coorporations can send one person to do the job of three and pay them the same salary.
Are the corporate news groups just being cheap? They are now only paying one salary instead of three and the “platypus” hasn’t seen the extra cash for doing more than one job.
The new digital journalist that will shoot still and video for their employers get paid the same salary as though were still doing only one job. These salary journalists have security but they are not being paid for the extra work they are required to do.
The freelance visual journalist has the opportunity to make more money if they can chase down a story using all their skills. The markets for their material is much larger. Any newspaper, T.V. station or online publication is a possiblilty. The online magazines and news sights will more than likely choose a story with still and video images over the same story that utilizes only one of the mediums.
Because there will be people out there that are willing to do both jobs for one salary and media corporations always want to save money photojournalists will have to eventually adapt to become a platypus.
The “platypus” can do many jobs which in some cases eliminates the need for many people to cover one story. Media Coorporations can send one person to do the job of three and pay them the same salary.
Are the corporate news groups just being cheap? They are now only paying one salary instead of three and the “platypus” hasn’t seen the extra cash for doing more than one job.
The new digital journalist that will shoot still and video for their employers get paid the same salary as though were still doing only one job. These salary journalists have security but they are not being paid for the extra work they are required to do.
The freelance visual journalist has the opportunity to make more money if they can chase down a story using all their skills. The markets for their material is much larger. Any newspaper, T.V. station or online publication is a possiblilty. The online magazines and news sights will more than likely choose a story with still and video images over the same story that utilizes only one of the mediums.
Because there will be people out there that are willing to do both jobs for one salary and media corporations always want to save money photojournalists will have to eventually adapt to become a platypus.
