News in Multimedia

Multimedia is an emerging reporting tool. Despite more hassle in the preparation, it turns out to be the most effective tool in reporting. Viewers not only getting the verbal information, but getting more understanding by looking at video or slideshows or images.

Multimedia is a very good example of “show, don’t tell”.

How do the news outlets cope with the demand on multimedia, especially on their websites?

Some big news corporation has their own section of video (it ranges from news, sport to opinion or editorial).

For example, The Seattle Times published its special report on Elwha River in written stories, timeline, photo gallery and a 3-minute slideshow with audio. It starts with an overview on the history of the dam, what good did the dam give to people and the process of deconstruction of the dam. I think it gives more option to users. If you don’t like reading too much text, at least you can watch a slideshow video.

The New York Times has a better interface for their website. One interesting section is called Opinion. Apart from seeing caricature on the print edition, readers can also watch video. The most recent one is opinion from the Op-Ed columnist Nicholas D. Kristof on what the conviction of Charles Taylor means for Sierra Leone and for current brutal dictators and warlords. Instead of writing his opinion, Kristof is sitting at the studio, telling his opinion about the conviction in a 2-minute video. I should say it is a good way to engage both readers and viewers.

So, if students want to empower multimedia as their reporting tool, what should be considered?

As in written news, try to find a way to engage viewers. Interesting introduction or title might help people to stop and click ‘play’.

Think like a video maker: plot, opening, ending, etc. Play with creativity to make a news story a ‘story’, not just a random compilation of pictures or footage.

Timing is important. Doing multimedia can be fun and there is a chance that you just want to tell more information in it. But be careful on the duration of the video or slideshow or interview. The effective multimedia should not exceed 3 minutes, in my opinion. That is probably the average time people can put their attention on a website. Because news in multimedia might not as engaging as a film, put in mind that users might move to another page quickly if they think they have got the information they want.

With those things in minds, next thing to do is : go out and shoot (a lot)!