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.
Monday, September 29, 2003
Old Idea or New?
The idea that a still photographer could do the second job of shooting video as well as provide still images for their paper has been around a long time. With the convergence newspaper and T.V. stations in the 60’s and 70’s it wasn’t technologically possible. It became possible with the invent of small digital video cameras that could be used with minimal training.
Technology has made so many things acheivable for journalists today. Without the advancement of digitized images, video and sound bytes the platypus never would have come to fruition.
It is an old idea but it is only in the last ten years that it has been made possible.
http://www.canondv.com/
>http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/dvimag/
>http://www.jvc.com/
The idea that a still photographer could do the second job of shooting video as well as provide still images for their paper has been around a long time. With the convergence newspaper and T.V. stations in the 60’s and 70’s it wasn’t technologically possible. It became possible with the invent of small digital video cameras that could be used with minimal training.
Technology has made so many things acheivable for journalists today. Without the advancement of digitized images, video and sound bytes the platypus never would have come to fruition.
It is an old idea but it is only in the last ten years that it has been made possible.
http://www.canondv.com/
>http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/dvimag/
>http://www.jvc.com/
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Dirck Halstead has been in the Journalism Industry for three decades. He is the innovator behind the platypus or the digital journalist.
He began his career as a photographer for United Press. He spent some time in Saigon as the bureau chief before being offered a position at TIME magazine. In 29 years at the publication he became senior White House photographer and has had 51 cover photos published.
Is Dirck Halstead the visionary behind the idea of the "platypus" a multi tasking photojournalist or is he just the one who named these pioneers after the strange Australian mammal? Who was the first platypus?
This researcher is not sure it seems that in 1994 everyone just suddenly realized that it could be done and started slowly sending photographers to shoot still images and video.
We can view Halsteads portfolio online at www.americanphotojournalist.com or his resume is posted at his online magazine The Digital Journalist.
He began his career as a photographer for United Press. He spent some time in Saigon as the bureau chief before being offered a position at TIME magazine. In 29 years at the publication he became senior White House photographer and has had 51 cover photos published.
Is Dirck Halstead the visionary behind the idea of the "platypus" a multi tasking photojournalist or is he just the one who named these pioneers after the strange Australian mammal? Who was the first platypus?
This researcher is not sure it seems that in 1994 everyone just suddenly realized that it could be done and started slowly sending photographers to shoot still images and video.
We can view Halsteads portfolio online at www.americanphotojournalist.com or his resume is posted at his online magazine The Digital Journalist.
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
The Digital Journalist - The Platypus
The Platypus is a strange Australian mammal. That is not, however, the kind of platypus that I am interested in. The platypus that is my focus is a type of journalist.
The ultimate multi-tasker, an intelligent versatile reporter and a hardworking digital journalist is my definition of the "platypus". The new wave of reporters who must be able to utilize still and video digital cameras are taking the Internet by storm. In today's fast paced news world, where broadcasts are instantaneous, journalists who can perform all tasks for their story are becoming invaluable.
Many newsrooms have begun to use their photojournalists to shoot video for affiliated television stations. At first it wasn't all that accepted by 'old school' photojournalists but as they realized the power of video, most begin to accept the change. News corporations have discovered that they can save a lot of money by sending these one-person news teams on assignment.
The Internet is the perfect place for the platypus to freelance. Web pages containing video, audio, still and written material are far more interesting than one containing only one of those elements. The Internet allows for stories to be posted almost as soon as they happen. News is constantly updated and current.
The term "platypus" was created by Dirck Halstead. Halstead is the publisher of the online magazine "The Digital Journalist". He created the platypus workshops and is a pioneer in digital journalism.
The Platypus is a strange Australian mammal. That is not, however, the kind of platypus that I am interested in. The platypus that is my focus is a type of journalist.
The ultimate multi-tasker, an intelligent versatile reporter and a hardworking digital journalist is my definition of the "platypus". The new wave of reporters who must be able to utilize still and video digital cameras are taking the Internet by storm. In today's fast paced news world, where broadcasts are instantaneous, journalists who can perform all tasks for their story are becoming invaluable.
Many newsrooms have begun to use their photojournalists to shoot video for affiliated television stations. At first it wasn't all that accepted by 'old school' photojournalists but as they realized the power of video, most begin to accept the change. News corporations have discovered that they can save a lot of money by sending these one-person news teams on assignment.
The Internet is the perfect place for the platypus to freelance. Web pages containing video, audio, still and written material are far more interesting than one containing only one of those elements. The Internet allows for stories to be posted almost as soon as they happen. News is constantly updated and current.
The term "platypus" was created by Dirck Halstead. Halstead is the publisher of the online magazine "The Digital Journalist". He created the platypus workshops and is a pioneer in digital journalism.
