Convergence ExplainedConvergence Explained

Playing Catch-up Playing Catch-up WithWith

News ConsumersNews Consumers

Why Convergence Is Like Why Convergence Is Like Teenage SexTeenage Sex

No one knows what it is but thinks that it must be No one knows what it is but thinks that it must be great. great.

Everyone thinks that everyone else is doing it. Everyone thinks that everyone else is doing it. Those who say they are doing it are probably Those who say they are doing it are probably

lying. lying. The few who are doing it aren't doing it well. The few who are doing it aren't doing it well. Once they start doing it, they realize that it's Once they start doing it, they realize that it's

going to take them a long time to do it right.going to take them a long time to do it right. They'll also soon start realizing that there is no They'll also soon start realizing that there is no

"right" way to do it"right" way to do it

WHY CONVERGENCE?WHY CONVERGENCE?

Because our news audiences expect it.Because our news audiences expect it.

Because our news audiences are Because our news audiences are convergent.convergent.

How have news audiences How have news audiences changed?changed?

Time starvedTime starvedMulti-taskingMulti-taskingMultimedia / Techno-richMultimedia / Techno-richDiversified interestsDiversified interests ““Niche-ified”Niche-ified”

Hungry for TimeHungry for Time

28 percent of all workers work 40+ hours per 28 percent of all workers work 40+ hours per week week

Average commute 25 minutes but 7 percent Average commute 25 minutes but 7 percent have 1 hour+ commutehave 1 hour+ commute

One fifth of all workers head to work between One fifth of all workers head to work between midnight and 6:30 a.m.midnight and 6:30 a.m.

Average time spent w/ news media DROPPING. Average time spent w/ news media DROPPING. Under 25s spend least amount of time w/ news Under 25s spend least amount of time w/ news

media.media.

Multi-tasking & MultimediaMulti-tasking & Multimedia

Ball State study of media use finds people Ball State study of media use finds people multi-task with media one-quarter of the multi-task with media one-quarter of the time.time.

Most multi-tasking media: reading and TVMost multi-tasking media: reading and TVUse of multiple media and multimedia Use of multiple media and multimedia

growing, especially among the younggrowing, especially among the youngComputer & TV use (jointly & separately) Computer & TV use (jointly & separately)

growing in children under the age of 6growing in children under the age of 6

Kids and Media Use: News Kids and Media Use: News Consumers of the FutureConsumers of the Future

““Children and teens are spending an Children and teens are spending an increasing amount of time using ‘new increasing amount of time using ‘new

media’ like computers, the Internet and media’ like computers, the Internet and video games, without cutting back on the video games, without cutting back on the time they spend with ‘old’ media like TV, time they spend with ‘old’ media like TV,

print and music.” print and music.”

Source:“Media Multi-tasking” Changing the Source:“Media Multi-tasking” Changing the Amount and Nature of Young People’s Media use,” Kaiser Family Amount and Nature of Young People’s Media use,” Kaiser Family Foundation, 2003 Foundation, 2003

Children & MediaChildren & Media

Using media on Using media on average 6.5 average 6.5 hours/dayhours/day

Squeezing 8.5 hours Squeezing 8.5 hours worth of media use in worth of media use in 6.5 hours/day6.5 hours/day

Media multitasking in Media multitasking in 1999 = 16 percent1999 = 16 percent

Media multitasking Media multitasking 2003 = 26 percent2003 = 26 percent

What is Convergence What is Convergence Journalism?Journalism?

Convergence Journalism is a new way of Convergence Journalism is a new way of thinking, producing and delivering the news, thinking, producing and delivering the news,

using all media to their fullest potential to using all media to their fullest potential to reach diverse and diffuse audiences.reach diverse and diffuse audiences.

Convergence ThinkingConvergence Thinking

““We have to get away We have to get away from the notion that from the notion that we put stuff out there we put stuff out there and news consumers and news consumers can take it or leave it.” can take it or leave it.” – Dean Wright, – Dean Wright, Reuters, formerly Reuters, formerly MSNBC.com editorMSNBC.com editor

Consumers as ProducersConsumers as Producers

We MediaWe Media

Citizen JournalismCitizen Journalism

Participatory JournalismParticipatory Journalism

We Media/London BombingWe Media/London Bombing

CONVERGENCE/ WE MEDIA CONVERGENCE/ WE MEDIA EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

http://www.news-record.comhttp://www.news-record.com//http://backfence.com/home/index.cfm?mychttp://backfence.com/home/index.cfm?myc

omm=MComm=MChttp://h2otown.infohttp://h2otown.infohttp://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/

Convergence / We Media Convergence / We Media ExamplesExamples

http://http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoicescyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoices//

http://http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_vview.asp?at_codeiew.asp?at_code=282387&no=249695&rel_no=1=282387&no=249695&rel_no=1

Nicholas NegroponteNicholas Negroponte

““Without innovation we are doomed – by Without innovation we are doomed – by boredom and monotony – to decline.”boredom and monotony – to decline.”

New ideas need diversity, risk, openness New ideas need diversity, risk, openness and idea sharing to thrive. and idea sharing to thrive.