Comments on: Tools that may help redefine beatblogging and reporting (and get reporters out of the office) http://beatblogging.org/2009/06/10/tools-that-may-redefine-beatblogging-and-reporting-and-get-reporters-out-of-the-office/ Pushing the practice of beat reporting Mon, 14 May 2012 12:11:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: The untethered journalist (pt 1.326) « Kalamazoogle http://beatblogging.org/2009/06/10/tools-that-may-redefine-beatblogging-and-reporting-and-get-reporters-out-of-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-5610 The untethered journalist (pt 1.326) « Kalamazoogle Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:08:03 +0000 http://beatblogging.org/?p=3948#comment-5610 [...] tools journalists could use to untether themselves. But, then Patrick Thornton at BeatBlogging.org beat me to the punch (which is probably a good [...] [...] tools journalists could use to untether themselves. But, then Patrick Thornton at BeatBlogging.org beat me to the punch (which is probably a good [...]

]]> By: links for 2009-06-14 « Glenna DeRoy http://beatblogging.org/2009/06/10/tools-that-may-redefine-beatblogging-and-reporting-and-get-reporters-out-of-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-5540 links for 2009-06-14 « Glenna DeRoy Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:27:49 +0000 http://beatblogging.org/?p=3948#comment-5540 [...] Tools that may help redefine beatblogging and reporting (and get reporters out of the office) | Beat... (tags: tools onlinejournalism workflow) [...] [...] Tools that may help redefine beatblogging and reporting (and get reporters out of the office) | Beat… (tags: tools onlinejournalism workflow) [...]

]]> By: Patrick Thornton http://beatblogging.org/2009/06/10/tools-that-may-redefine-beatblogging-and-reporting-and-get-reporters-out-of-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-5482 Patrick Thornton Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:37:01 +0000 http://beatblogging.org/?p=3948#comment-5482 @Jeffrey, I'm a pragmatist, and in this era of diminishing resources more journalists will be asked to do more with more mediums. They'll simply have to. I'm not talking about trying to do a lot of multitasking here though. If you're a writer, you'll still primarily write, but if you go cover some breaking news, you may need to grab some photos or quick video. At big events, many news organizations should still send dedicated writers, photographers, etc. Specialized content producers like photographers should increasingly be producing big photo galleries and other content that makes their content shine. The era of sending a photographer to an event to grab a photo or two is over. @Jeffrey,

I’m a pragmatist, and in this era of diminishing resources more journalists will be asked to do more with more mediums. They’ll simply have to.

I’m not talking about trying to do a lot of multitasking here though. If you’re a writer, you’ll still primarily write, but if you go cover some breaking news, you may need to grab some photos or quick video. At big events, many news organizations should still send dedicated writers, photographers, etc.

Specialized content producers like photographers should increasingly be producing big photo galleries and other content that makes their content shine. The era of sending a photographer to an event to grab a photo or two is over.

]]> By: Patrick Thornton http://beatblogging.org/2009/06/10/tools-that-may-redefine-beatblogging-and-reporting-and-get-reporters-out-of-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-5481 Patrick Thornton Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:15:44 +0000 http://beatblogging.org/?p=3948#comment-5481 @Chip, I agree about using Skype to spend less on a cell plan. I have the smallest AT&T plan on my iPhone because of Skype. If I'm interviewing someone, I use Skype, with my $2.95 plan. Plus, Skype makes it really easy to record calls, which is how we do our podcasts at BeatBlogging.Org. And Skype call quality is much better than a cell phone. But my cell phone is much better for people to reach me it, which is why I don't think journalists can give up their cell phones any time soon for a VoIP solution. I don't get, however, why so many journalists still have landlines. @Chip,

I agree about using Skype to spend less on a cell plan. I have the smallest AT&T plan on my iPhone because of Skype. If I’m interviewing someone, I use Skype, with my $2.95 plan.

Plus, Skype makes it really easy to record calls, which is how we do our podcasts at BeatBlogging.Org. And Skype call quality is much better than a cell phone.

But my cell phone is much better for people to reach me it, which is why I don’t think journalists can give up their cell phones any time soon for a VoIP solution.

I don’t get, however, why so many journalists still have landlines.

]]> By: Jeffrey Weiss http://beatblogging.org/2009/06/10/tools-that-may-redefine-beatblogging-and-reporting-and-get-reporters-out-of-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-5475 Jeffrey Weiss Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:15:00 +0000 http://beatblogging.org/?p=3948#comment-5475 "Less specialized employees"= less good content. It is not possible for one person to do remotely as good a job multitasking the images and words for a news event. Leave aside the issue that some people really are better at visuals and some are better with words. There's the practical challenge of trying to listen, take notes, and take pictures/videos at the same time. I'm not saying it's impossible. I'm saying it's extremely difficult to do well. (Not enough hands, for one thing...) Which means, inevitably, that a lot of it will not be done well. And crappy content is a good way to prod an online consumer to find a better link. I think you make stronger arguments about office phones and desktop computers, though. “Less specialized employees”= less good content. It is not possible for one person to do remotely as good a job multitasking the images and words for a news event. Leave aside the issue that some people really are better at visuals and some are better with words. There’s the practical challenge of trying to listen, take notes, and take pictures/videos at the same time. I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m saying it’s extremely difficult to do well. (Not enough hands, for one thing…) Which means, inevitably, that a lot of it will not be done well. And crappy content is a good way to prod an online consumer to find a better link.

I think you make stronger arguments about office phones and desktop computers, though.

]]> By: Chip Oglesby http://beatblogging.org/2009/06/10/tools-that-may-redefine-beatblogging-and-reporting-and-get-reporters-out-of-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-5469 Chip Oglesby Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:15:49 +0000 http://beatblogging.org/?p=3948#comment-5469 Sorry Zac's link should go to this post: http://blog-o-blog.com/31/05/2008/tools-for-streamlining-reportin/ instead of the other one I posted. Sorry Zac’s link should go to this post: http://blog-o-blog.com/31/05/2008/tools-for-streamlining-reportin/ instead of the other one I posted.

]]> By: Chip Oglesby http://beatblogging.org/2009/06/10/tools-that-may-redefine-beatblogging-and-reporting-and-get-reporters-out-of-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-5468 Chip Oglesby Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:13:56 +0000 http://beatblogging.org/?p=3948#comment-5468 I would also add, that by having a MiFi you could also use Skype on the iPhone and greatly reduce your cell phone bill by getting a plan with lower minutes. I would also be interested to see what happens for Qik, Kyte, and other online video streaming services when the new iPhone 3G S is released. Zac Echola has a great post that would accompany this piece on his version of an ideal newsroom: http://blog-o-blog.com/08/07/2008/the-new-ideal-newsroom-part-2/ Just an idea. I would also add, that by having a MiFi you could also use Skype on the iPhone and greatly reduce your cell phone bill by getting a plan with lower minutes.

I would also be interested to see what happens for Qik, Kyte, and other online video streaming services when the new iPhone 3G S is released.

Zac Echola has a great post that would accompany this piece on his version of an ideal newsroom: http://blog-o-blog.com/08/07/2008/the-new-ideal-newsroom-part-2/

Just an idea.

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