Redefining Multimedia Toward A More Packaged Journalism Online By Amy Zerba.
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Transcript of Redefining Multimedia Toward A More Packaged Journalism Online By Amy Zerba.
Redefining Multimedia Toward A More Packaged Journalism Online
By Amy Zerba
Multimedia Online
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/
• http://www.heraldsun.com/gallery/elvis.html
Why define multimedia on news sites?
• No clear definition of multimedia
• What does it look like?
• What does it do?
• Purpose: Operational definition for future studies.
What is a medium?
• Medium is a means of communication, a tool, to transmit a message.
• A photograph is a medium(text, audio, video, graphics)
• A newspaper is a medium (film, TV, radio, magazine, Internet, books)
• Surface level: All transmit messages
Multimedia Literature
• Integration of more than one medium
• Predates computers
• Classroom learning
• Purpose: Increases understanding of information using additional channels.
Method
• Deconstruct concept into units
• Previous literature on multimedia
• Interviewed seven multimedia journalists
• Snowball method for in-depth interviews
• 1-2 hour interviews in Sept.-Oct. 2002
Method
• Washingtonpost.com• NYTimes.com• LATimes.com• South Florida Sun-Sentinel• Herald-Sun• Myrtlebeachonline.com• Freelance multimedia journalist/lecturer at
UC Berkeley
Research Questions
• RQ1. What is a multimedia feature?
• RQ2. What is a multimedia package?
• RQ3. What can multimedia online give readers that they cannot get from reading text?
What is a multimedia feature?
• Text
• Photographs
• Audio
• Video
• Graphics
Tangible media – we can see and hear
What is a multimedia feature?
• Interactivity repeatedly mentioned as a multimedia feature.
• Use of “multimedia” as a noun or adjective
• Something is multimedia; and
• Something acts like multimedia
What is a multimedia feature?
• A photo slideshow without audio?
• An interactive map without audio?
What is a multimedia feature?
• A lot of “I-think-so,” “probably” “technically, it’s just one [medium].”
• Uncertainty about multimedia concept
• Examples above part of larger context
Interactivity
• No clear definition
• Requires a related response component in the communication exchange.(3-step communication process)
• A hyperlink is the simplest level of interactivity.
What is a multimedia package?
• More than one medium (static, dynamic)
• Context
• Interactivity
A multimedia package consists of more than one medium in combination with interactivity that is related to a story, event or information.
Model of Multimedia Package
Fig. 1.1 Pre-Computer model of Multimedia Package
Fig. 1.2 News site model of Multimedia Package
What does multimedia give readers that text cannot?
• Purpose: Additional ways to understand information.
• Theme: User Involvement(heightened user experience)
User involvement with multimedia
• “I got this email before that said, ‘I’ll never look at a computer the same way again. … … For some people this was the first emotional experience they’ve ever had with a computer that didn’t involve a member of the family or email with a grandfather, and that’s sort of a new thing.” (J. Weiss, Sept. 27, 2002, Herald-Sun)
What does multimedia give readers that text cannot?
• Theme: Extension of reporting
• Some things better told with added media.
• The art of multimedia: Picking and choosing of media to tell a story.
Extension of multimedia
• “I did a story about an … Elvis tribute artist … that had to be done in video. I mean I couldn’t see that any other way. You had to see this guy move. And so, it doesn’t feel like it’s actually a decision, it just sort of feels like well, that’s the way I should have done it.”
(J. Weiss, Sept. 27, 2002, Herald-Sun)
In summary
• Multimedia feature is the integration of more than one medium.
• Multimedia features on news sites: text, photographs, graphics, audio and video(static or dynamic)
• Multimedia package consists of more than one medium combined with interactivity that is related to a story, event or information.
In summary
• Primary purpose of multimedia on news Web sites is to give users additional ways to understand a story.
• Heightened user involvement in a story
• Extension of reporting
Closing Remarks
• Purpose of study: Definition of multimedia package
• Young adults? Non-readers?
• Different learning styles?
• Time multimedia journalists put into producing packages – users even care?
• Future Study: Dimensions of multimedia?
• Future Study: Uses and Gratifications?