http://buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk/

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.

Non assessed television newsday

'Buzz TV News'; Bringing all the latest news to Dorset and the New Forest

Bournemouth Crown Court being a key source of news, television reporter Nick Summers and myself went to the court and sat in on a number of cases.

Accompanied by News reporter, Stephen Johns, we attended an actual bodily harm (ABH) case and filmed a report on the case outside of the Crown Court.

Having sat in on the case and acquired an in depth account of the case, we returned to the newsroom to edit the court report for the 4pm news programme.

1pm News programme:

• MP Expenses


• Farmer shot at his home


• I-Max meeting to dicuss demolition


• Bournemouth ranked 7th worse in the country for sex crimes

The News Programme at 1pm was a 60 second news update, presented by Lauren Thomas. As it was simply a news update, there was little time to include audio and images. Therefore, the main television programme, featuring images and television packages was the 4pm programme.

4pm News programme:

The 4pm News programme was a five minute news programme.

• Toyota dilemma


• Disabled student grants put on hold


• unbreakable glass proposed for nightclubs


• Court story


• Football screens to be put in Bournemouth gardens for this years World Cup
  

Improvements:

• The main improvement that was highlighted as a result of the news bulletins, was the need to acquire original news.

Assessed television newsday

'Buzz TV News'; Up-to-date news, when you want it

As general reporters, covering an event to improve cyclists safety, Nick Summers and myself produced a television package for the 4pm news programme.

The event, being held at Muscliffe Youth Shack, aimed to improve the safety of cyclists by giving away free bike lights and subsidised bike lights.

Taking a camera, we acquired shots of the Youth Shack, supporting business, 'On Yer Bike' and a new found danger hotspot on Talbot Avenue.

On returning to the newsroom, we conducted phone interviews with two Councillors involved in the scheme and edited together a television package, which was broadcast on the 4pm news programme.

Nick Summers presented the television package report and filming and editing was achieved collaboratively.

1pm News programme:

• Seat belt safety


• Dumming down lecturer


• Arson attacks on speed cameras
  

4pm News programme:

• Seat belt safety


• Court story


• Alice in Wonderland


• Fire in Poole


• Arson attacks on speed cameras


• Obesity


• Cyclists safety
  

Improvements:

• Time must be put aside to ensure that a run through takes place before going live


• Organisational skills were lacking


• writing skills could have been improved and introductions to each news story should aim to be at least 2-3 sentences.

This week, the team did struggle due to a lack of equipment and a lack of technical support. As a result, our performance was not to the standard that we would have hoped. However, under the circumstances, we, as a team worked together to ensure that the best could be made of the situation.

Non assessed features newsday

'Buzz Media' goes online

Assigned the role as Editor, there were a number of responsibilities, in which to fulfill.

An editor should ensure that the entire operation of the newsroom is successful. An editor should delegate responsibilities amongst the team, check through copy for errors, set the running order of news programmes, oversee the operation of the newsroom, and ensure that all reporters are happy and are contributing to the team effectively. etc.

Buzz Online does not require news bulletins to be produced on the hour, as radio and television does. Online news and feature websites, simply require a constant flow of news and features throughout the day, in which is up-to-date and offers a full account.

Feature articles in particular should offer something different, inspiring, fun and fresh. Features enable a reporter to think outside the box and to be creative.

Features should not be simply copy, they can be given variety via producing timelines, FAQ's Q&A's, polls, slide shows. etc. Thus, giving a news website colour and vigor.

Features of the Day:

• Timeline of Mary Shelley


• Alexander McQueen's death and career


• Heart diamond ice sculpture


• Art work by Emmerdale actor displayed


• Half term activities guide


• Pavillion dance studio

Improvements:

• Although there was a good range of original features, there was a lack of audio to support and add colour to the features.

Assessed features newsday

'Buzz Online'; Bringing more to the online community

As Editor, the personal production of work is not always viable. The responsibilities that lie within the role of editor requires the focus to remain on the team and on achieving the responsibilities.

An editor is the decision maker, is the support, the operation engineer of the newsroom, the advice, the delegation. etc. The editor is an important role and is the key to the success of a newsroom and media company.

Improving the operation of the team from the previous week, I aimed to get each reporter to write two features, with supporting images and audio. Thus, ensuring that a variety of features were produced and uploaded. Providing the readers of Buzz with something for everyone.

Features of the Day:

• Cyber safety


• Mothers Day


• Women power


• 'Bos Vegas' developments


• Sport Relief


• The weirdest food


• Strange driving offenses


• Barbies 51st Anniversary


• The death of Corey Haim


• Summer Fashion

Non assessed news newsday

'Buzz.ac.uk'; the online way to access news

As a general reporter, aiming to improve on the ability to source original news, a number of news reporters went to Poole, in search of news stories.

At the centre of Poole's entertainment and arts culture, is Poole Lighthouse Centre.

On arriving at the centre, an exhibition was set up, in which photographs of struggling Africa were displayed, as part of a campaign to combat poverty and hunger in Africa.

Talking to the receptionist's also uncovered that the centre had recently introduced a scheme whereby young people can attend certain shows for free, in a bid to keep young people interested in theatre and the arts.

Going to Poole, certainly enabled, us as reporters to gain confidence in souring original news stories and enabled us to produce an array of original news stories for the Buzz website.

On returning to the newsroom, reporters followed up their stories by making phone calls and acquiring phone interviews with key people. Thus, providing audio to the news stories.

As there are not set news bulletins in which to work towards, again, reporters have the responsibility of providing a constant flow of news throughout the day.

Buzz should have the top stories of the day uploaded as soon as possible and following stories should be uploaded throughout the day, accompanied by audio and images.

Communicating with the radio and television newsrooms, a sufficient amount of audio and video footage should be available to the news team and the process of convergence is thus a success.

News of the Day:

• African art exhibition to combat poverty and hunger


• Poole Lighthouse Centre giving out free tickets to young people

Assessed news newsday

Buzz your way to news

As a general reporter, covering the top story of the university budget cuts, it required me to be efficient in getting the copy uploaded with accompanying audio and images.

A top story should always be uploaded as quickly as possible, in order to have a chance of competing effectively with the other news organisations.

Another story covered by myself was the New Forest Conservation Grant, in which received the biggest grant that has ever been given to a conservation area.

In order to support the story, acquiring interviews was key and therefore I conducted interviews with spokesmen from The Forestry Comission and The New Forest National Park Authority.

News of the Day:

• Rising fuel prices


• BAMMJAM Gig


• Phil Jupitus


• New Forest £16 million grant


• University budget cuts


• 6music to go


• Poole bridge built
  

Improvements:

• Top stories should have been uploaded quicker


• All news stories should have present the main focus of the story, in the first sentence.

Progression

Converged journalism enables media organisations to develop their skills and abilities further.

As a journalist, the last eight weeks of converged journalism newsdays, have enabled me to gain understanding of the new and ever developing converged journalism.

In order to be a successful journalist, becoming familiar and staying up to date with new media developments is key.

The newsdays, have uncovered both the advantages and disadvantages of convergence. It has also highlighted the rapidly changing industry that journalism is and the need to face new challenges in order to progress.

A journalist must continue to develop their skills and the converged newsdays have certainly enhanced my progression as a journalist.