Technology and web access has changed the flow of a traditional newsroom—each form of media now incorporates segments of writing, broadcast, radio and Internet elements to their content. Within the chapter, ‘From Broadcast to Internet: Repurposing Content,’ by Wilkinson, Grant and Fisher in “Principles of Convergent Journalism,” they discuss the different ways a news publication/ network (specifically broadcast) can maintain their audience by incorporating a multi-media platform, while staying viable with competing news outlets.
The main topic addressed within the chapter was repurposing content or adapting the content to fit a multi-platform news channel. It utilizes different avenues of ‘new journalism,’ by manipulating the story to work in all different stages—whether it is for TV, radio or the Internet. If the raw content already exists then configuring it to be accessible to a wide audience, such as the web, allows the story to reach more people.
Wilkinson, Grant and Fisher focus on specific areas for repurposing content—a user-friendly and up-to-date web layout, images and multi-media reporting, which provides insight into the story and a visual aspect; and a creative angle on the content, so the audience can get the full picture.
The chapter also states that the Internet is a viable resource that allows news to be issued to the viewers/ readers as events unveiled. It provides updated information that can enhance the broadcast story. Because the Internet can be updated rapidly, news footage along with a brief text can not only show, but tell the audience what is occurring.
The authors also discuss the different news outlets and how they can be improved if information was shared among print, the Internet, radio and TV, which would produce a media-packet that is insightful and doesn’t fall into a predictable pattern.
