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What is convergence in media?

Convergence is the process of coming together and creating something new.

Convergence in media is combining and bringing together different types of media such as radio, television and the Internet.

Convergence is a rather new method within the media industry, which has slowly been evolving and will continue to evolve.

The Interchangeable use of computers, television and radio is something that is becoming an increasing public demand and in a continual effort to make improvements and to consolidate, convergence continues to develop.

Why convergence is important?

Convergence is the future of media studies, enhancing the media industry and our audience.

Today, we cannot think about television, without considering computer technology and it is common now that we read a newspaper in conjunction with the newspapers website.

Media convergence provides not only a technological shift but it also creates shifts in industry, culture and society.

Media convergence creates new experiences, new forms, improved social connections and ensures competition between media organisations, in a bid for dominance.

Delegating roles

Working as a team can be successful if each individual contributes to the work.

Allocating roles, ensures that each individual knows how they are participating and the expert skills that each member possesses is allowed to flourish.

Allocating roles within a team means that all aspects of work are being attended to and ensures that work is done quickly.

Each role has specified responsibilities and ensures that no one individual has a heavy burden of work.

The main roles allocated for the newsdays were:

• Editor


• Sub Editor


• Convergence Co-ordinator

Additional roles for television and radio newsdays were:

• Presenter


• Sports Presenter

Working to time

Any journalist will be aware that time dictates. Media organisations acquire structure via keeping to time.

Accuracy is timing. Working by the clock successfully, displays professionalism and competence as a journalist.

Punctuality is key to the running and general operation of a news organisation.

Journalists should be prepared to work under the pressure of time and must be able to make decisions aptly.

Non-assessed radio newsday

'Buzz Radio'; A modern and upbeat radio station for Dorset and the New Forest

As a general reporter, covering the development of a new dementia care home, in Kinson, I went to Kinson to acquire interviews with neighbours to the proposed care home site and to talk to the local community. Accompanied by television reporter, Charlotte Pugh.

Whilst in Kinson, we received a phone call from the radio and television Editors, whom required us to go to Kube art gallery, in Poole. The art gallery, set to close, had caused anger amongst those who work at and use the gallery. Therefore, we acquired some interviews from the local community and from those who work at the gallery.

Having acquired a variety of interviews, we went back to the newsrooms to edit down the audio and video footage for the upcoming news bulletins.

The 2pm news bulletin:

• Mother confessed to murder of children in East Sussex


• Haiti Earthquake


• International Summit: Afghanistan


• New dementia care home development, in Kinson


• Knife point robbery


• Pay cuts for councils


• I-max to re-open


• Money to re-develop Bournemouth

The 3pm news bulletin:

• Car accident, in Verwood


• I-Max to re-open


• Closure of Kube art gallery


• Charities in Dorset helping Haiti


• New sales strategy; name your own price


• New plans from Barack Obama


• Father's maternity leave


• 31st Anniversary of bird wildlife


• New Years resolutions


• Davina's entrance into the Big Brother House

Improvements:

• Legal insecurities presented in some of the news stories, calls upon the need to check the facts thoroughly.


• The top story should be a local story, unless there is good reason to do otherwise.

Assessed radio newsday

'Buzz Radio'; A modern and Upbeat Radio Station for those aged between 18 and 40 years old

As a general reporter, accompanied by other radio reporters, Lauren Archell and Isobel Smith, we attended several Council meetings. The first meeting addressed the issue of taxi facilities for the disabled community, in Dorset.

After the meeting we acquired interviews with the Councillor who led the meeting and a key interview with a wheelchair user who had prompted the meeting.

A second Council meeting, addressed the issue of licensing for a new convenience store, set to open on Castle Lane. After uproar from concerned residents, the licensing meeting was set up to grant or restrict licensing. The business owner was granted licensing to sell alcohol.

Having attended the meetings and gained enough audio, we returned to the newsroom to edit down the audio for the upcoming news bulletins.

The 2pm News Bulletin:

• New sex offender scheme


• Young people leaving Dorset


• Bournemouth Triangle revamp development


• Taxi facilities for the disabled


• Bank of England development


• Etiquette decreasing among young people
  

Improvements:

• The angles of the news stories could have been stronger and therefore, the team needs to address news values. Some stories needed to be made fresh and a new angle posed.


• The placement of stories needs to be addressed and decided with care, as some stories where not appropriately placed within the news bulletin.
  

The 3pm News Bulletin:

• Palmair reducing flights during the winter


• New sex offenders scheme


• Dorset Steam Fair


• Taxi facilities for the disabled


• RNLI Celebrates


• Long Island sold for £3 million


• Etiquette decreasing among young people
  

Improvements:

Although a big improvement on the previous bulletin, with stronger news stories, offering fresh angles and stories placed appropriately, there were still faults.

• The first sentence of the Palmair story could have been simplified, as the presenter read it with difficulty.


• The first sentence of the sex offenders story should have specified the relevance to Dorset and thus highlighted the local significance.


• Be aware of repetition of words.


• Ensure that at least one of the headlines is from a story which comes later on in the bulletin, in order to keep hold of the listeners throughout the bulletin.