Newsroom tools stretch to the web
Cory Bergman March 25th, 2007
Vendors that produce TV graphics, editing and newsroom systems are hard at work expanding the applications to incorporate the web and mobile. “The next wave that’s coming up is people trying to figure out how to competently and effectively do online communications and web production from the same newsroom,” said AP Director of Broadcast Technology Lee Perryman. “In most stations, it’s still a separate guy in the corner. But that’s changing with the interoperability of the newsgathering and production processes. That’s the next growth area.” One of the critical success factors will be tapping the unique strengths of interactive media instead of simply translating TV to the web. TV vendors need to consult with web management — not TV news directors and chief engineers — when developing new web functionality and pitching new web products. In my personal experience, this isn’t happening yet.
4 Comments Add your own
1. Macthomson | March 26th, 2007 at 6:05 am
Several years ago at the IBC event in Amsterdam I came across a software suite called VisualCommunicator developed by the company SeriousMagic. This was, I reckoned, the perfect tool to organize short-form webcasts including graphics, captions, even PowerPoint presentations and pre-produced video.
It seemed the ideal tool to complement the Rosenblum style of video journalism without demanding advanced post-production skills. As a bonus, it facilitated high-quality green-screen work with a patented ‘vector keying’ technology.
The only real weakness I saw was the rather ‘last century’ style of the template options, but I’m a design snob!
It seems to me that SeriousMagic was doing a great job selling this product in both the corporate and ‘house of worship’ sectors (the latter being one not to be underestimated as a market demanding user friendly, simple tools).
When Adobe bought SeriousMagic last November I was delighted that the software’s potential had been recognized by a major player.
Unfortunately I was also obliged to cancel a project for which I need several sets of the SeriousMagic software, since the product was withdrawn pending re-packaging by Adobe.
The project configuration involved several VJ ‘contributors’ all using a designed set of greenscreen backgrounds and graphic overlay style to lend coherence to their packages which would originate from all over the world.
We’re talking about a $300 software investment per workstation only… and free file transfer via Pando from anywhere with email connectivity. ‘Do-it-yourself low-budget media’ (the term I prefer to user-generated content) aggregated for a daily feed via Brightcove.
Okay, if ideas like this can work for a guy with precious little to invest they can work for newsoperations- television, print or radio - looking to migrate to Media 2.0.
Now I’m waiting to see how Adobe finds the right fit for the SeriousMagic software in their range of applications. It should, I think, be interesting.
2. invitedmedia | March 26th, 2007 at 6:16 am
” ‘newsroom tools’ stretch to the web”
and here i thought we had another story of traditional anchormen going web.
3. The Tony | March 26th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
“Web Management?”
Heh, not at my station, pal. The buck stops with out-of-touch old men scrambling wildly to play catch-up with the rest of the web-savvy world.
4. Tim | March 26th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
(disclosure: I don’t work at a TV station I just watch them)
The people who make software used by television operations are hoping to sell you their new ‘integrated’ extensions to their existing products. They may or may not suit your needs - but don’t forget that digital video standards for the net are supported by a great many tools, a lot of them free. Don’t get into the ‘nobody gets fired for recommending IBM (now Microsoft)’ trap - use the tools which work well for you; and if you can use the least expensive ones: these things change so fast you don’t want to be worried about “losing your investment”.
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