Media Convergence
Jenkins article on convergence talked about technological convergence as the tools used to produce and distribute the news. Technology is also a key factor in the acceleration of convergence. Through Jenkins and the textbook, the interactivity of convergence was also discussed. With convergence, journalism is no longer linear, but instead a conversation between journalists and their readers. The readers are given a chance to respond to reporting and even become a part of it. The New York Times coverage of the 2012 election is an example of technological convergence as well as an example of the interactivity of convergence.
The “Politics” page of the NY Times website shows readers the different technological tools they can consumer the news from. There is the “Election 2012” iPhone App (shown in image) as well as a twitter feed specifically for politics. The iPhone App provides news, opinions, polls and live election night results. This kind of distribution is new to journalism and a part of the technological convergence journalism is undergoing.
The NY Times also provides various interactive outlets for their readers. Shown in the image above is a link to an interactive graphic of the “super PACs” and a side menu of various interactive links for the reader. These include a poll watch of the current election, a primary calendar, and an interactive feature called “Inside Congress.” This last interactive feature allows readers to view major voting inside the Congress with an interactive map allowing them to see which way each member voted.
NY Times Politics Page
Multimedia Journalism
Multimedia journalism is the process of gathering news and reporting it across different media platforms to effectively tell a story. It can include such media platforms as print, photography, radio, and television broadcast. One example of multimedia journalism is seen in the NY Times coverage of North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-il.
The NY Times compiled a slide show of images depicting Mr. Kim in his youth, with his family and as a leader. With a photo gallery, the journalist has the ability to evoke more emotion within the reader by showing the various images of Mr. Kim’s life. It also allows views to look at photos for as long or as little as they like. This is beneficial for the reader because photographs are like art; therefore, different images will speak to different people and they then have the opportunity to view the photos they want to. A photo gallery also allows many different tones of a person’s life to been seen much easier than through a print story.
Linked to the slide show is the NY Times article covering Kim Jong-il’s death. The article was very long and provided an in-depth background and history on Mr. Kim. Written as sort of a profile piece, the article described everything from Mr. Kim’s hairstyle and preference of shoes, to his political tactics. Playing less on the emotions of the reader, the print coverage of this story allowed a reader who may not know much about Mr. Kim, to fully understand his life and his death.
The NY Times compiled a slide show of images depicting Mr. Kim in his youth, with his family and as a leader. With a photo gallery, the journalist has the ability to evoke more emotion within the reader by showing the various images of Mr. Kim’s life. It also allows views to look at photos for as long or as little as they like. This is beneficial for the reader because photographs are like art; therefore, different images will speak to different people and they then have the opportunity to view the photos they want to. A photo gallery also allows many different tones of a person’s life to been seen much easier than through a print story.
Linked to the slide show is the NY Times article covering Kim Jong-il’s death. The article was very long and provided an in-depth background and history on Mr. Kim. Written as sort of a profile piece, the article described everything from Mr. Kim’s hairstyle and preference of shoes, to his political tactics. Playing less on the emotions of the reader, the print coverage of this story allowed a reader who may not know much about Mr. Kim, to fully understand his life and his death.
-Posted by Cosette Macari
Good examples. I plan to check out the interactive feature on SuperPACS!
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