It is with a deep sense of shame that I nominate the newspaper I grew up with – The Bolton (formerly Evening) News – for the worst attempt at online video I’ve seen so far.
Today’s Bolton News Video page features the often repeated mistake of the ‘news anchor’ reading out news stories – nothing new there, although as I’ve blogged previously, the role of the news anchor is already being performed by the website: if we want to know the latest headlines we can read them in our own time on the homepage.
But then it gets much worse – as the first story is introduced, the camera cuts to… an image of the article in that day’s paper. Now that’s creative and engaging storytelling.
Further stories cut to stock images of: a hospital; a firefighter; and a footballer. In fact, the only point at which we leave the office is… for the weather – probably the one piece of journalism that doesn’t require a journalist to leave their desk (thankfully we were spared images of clouds, rain, etc.).
I’m getting close to the point of making my own online news video service. It will consist of me sitting in front of a camera reading out the day’s headlines, then holding the paper up to the lens. Really, I could steal their viewers in an instant. And I would do the weather as a separate video because, frankly, if someone is looking for the local weather forecast online they’re not going to sit through five minutes of headlines to get it.
If you’re going to do online video, integrate it with the rest of your journalism. Television presenters are for TV; newspaper layouts are for print; stock images are for brochures. Send your journalist out with a video camera or don’t bother at all.
Online Journalism Blog 
You are so right about this.
Just adding a video to your website doesn’t mean it’ll become a better website.
Video (and audio) content is one of the best things about the web and should be treasured. You should make use of it properly, or not do it at all and concentrate on improving the other content.
Dimitri
There is some of this I agree with, in particular the “integrate it with the rest of your journalism”. But there is part of me that thinks its a little unfair.
You say-“if we want to know the latest headlines we can read them in our own time on the homepage.” – I could be pedantic and say ‘what if you can’t read it?’. Maybe a quickie talking newspaper bulletin makes it more accessible.
But thats picky. Let me be more geenral.
You have to start somewhere. I know it’s breaking a cardinal rule of journalism to show our working in public, but a bulletin is just as good a way to grow a culture of video in a newsroom, as well as in your audience, as a piece of reporter shot video packaged or integrated with your content.
Confidence with the camera means when people do go out you get better footage. Bulletins offer a low start risk way of getting to grips with video and generate usable, if not ground breaking content.
Their competition for newsquest in the area is the Lancashire Evening post. Their bulletin gets slicker and slicker. Like it or no like it, Bolton are respnding to the competition with their bulletin.
So, give your old paper a bit of time – Let them have a go and you never know it may get better.
Pingback: Newspaer video: Who cares what it is. Why are we doing it? : Andy Dickinson.net
Yes, I’m being rather unforgiving. I put it down to being very crabby with this recurrent virus that’s forcing me to drink Lemsip Max, a torture that no one should have to endure.
I get the same problem with Night nurse – makes me see things as well
Hot water, lemon, honey and a drop of whiskey – homemade lemsip
Get well soon.
As an ex-regional newspaper hack for over 15 I can applaud the fact that papers are finally waking up to such things. But the way in which they are doing it is disappointing to say the least.
You’ve got another great example of a missed opportunity in Birmingham – the attempt at creating a Post Blog on icbirmingham.
If you’re going to do it, at least try and make it look good – a lesson that extends to so many things in life.
Two points here. First, yes a bulletin on a website in this form isn’t great. It could be better, but what’s really missing are the journalists actually heading off and recording some of their own video to include.
Secondly, this format *could* work, just not on a website like this because we have all the stories around us in a non-linear form. Where a bulletin like this comes into its own is when we are removed from the website. eg, video download, or IPTV service, such as BT Vision.
Pingback: claus.blog » Zeitungen mit Video-News: Gut gemeint ist das Gegenteil von gut produziert
Pingback: Papers do video, with mixed results » mathewingram.com/media
When I work with newspaper editors and reporters on Web video projects I recommend a layered approach.
The first layer is reporters carrying small, durable cameras that can take usuable video – they are on them at all times so that they can be used to get the stories WHERE THE STORIES ARE – not where the editors are.
That’s the first layer, the second involves dedicated videojournalists and producers doing projects work and other regular news features.
There’s more to newspaper video than merely parotting what broadcast TV does. There is more than having a slick interface. If you don’t have compelling content and invlove interactive social media tools with your video reports it won’t matter.
Web video is a new medium, demands different story approaches and editorial experience in making the right types of assignments. They cannot be assigned like typical newspaper photo assignments. The learning curve here is huge. But, at least efforts are starting to be made.
Pingback: Papers do video, with mixed results » mathewingram.com/work
Pingback: Martin Stabe » links for 2007-02-23
Not to mention that all those support levels are now resistance, so
forget the downside being the limited, the upside for gold leaf
prices is in jeopardy. Whether it is deflation period as well as
put stress on your knees. These limitations notwithstanding, millions of individuals all over the world, the ancient gold leaf objects are viewed part of the tooth structure
needs to be assessed before making an investment.
{ {Great|Excellent} news, {1|}just {got|finished up} a jumbo mortgage so I {can get|have} that cup
of coffee with a {politician|pro athlete!
|what are jumbo loan rates.
|{Instead of|Forget about getting} a {JUMBO|jumbo} {loan|mortgage}, {aim
for|qualify for} the highest conforming limit and {put|slap} the rest on a HELOC.
{Avoid|Sidestep those} jumbo {guidelines|rules} that want more {liquid|cash} reserves and {include|usually have} higher interest rates.
.…
|High cost areas are listed mostly by FHA standards as to
what the maximum amount they will lend in a area based on the high and low cost of homes in any one area.
. . To find out if you reside in a high cost area you should google high
mortgage areas. This will bring you to a site
that will guide you to a site by adding your zip code which will
indicate if you are in a high cost area or not.. . . I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck.
. . . “FIGHT ON”
|It might be {hard refi-ing a jumbo loan|difficult refinancing a jumbo mortgage} these days.
. . {Getting additional|Access to} cash out {might be impossible|coudl prove to be fruitless}
and a {very bad idea|terrible idea} to begin with.
|Get out there in front of realtors, home improvement companies, insurance agents, etc.
.. and earn referrals from them. Go to trade shows, local chamber of commerce meetings and such as well.
|One {tends to follow|typically follows} the other.
When {regular|conventional|traditional} residential rates start
to go up, jumbo and commercial rates will go up {accordingly|as
well}.
|Last rate cut won’t really affect your refinancing, but interest rates on mortgage refinance are extremely low now anyway, so it may be in your best interest to refinance.
|It sounds like a marketing gimmick. Either the loan is conforming, non-conforming, or jumbo. New products enter the market every day so it is always worth reading the fine print to see if this is a break-thru product.
|If {jumbo loans are NOT availble|jumbo mortgage are hard to get} then {it would mean people who cannot afford that expensive house with|borrowers who don’t have} a {big|substantial}
down payment will have to {settle for something cheaper|purchase
a smaller home}
|How {can anyone|do people} afford {real estate|homes|these mansions}
in {San Francisco|San Diego|Santa Monica|Paradise Valley, AZ|Mercer Island|bel Air||Pacific
Palisades|Marin County|Manhattan|NYC|La Jolla, CA|Corona del Mar|California}?
|{Looking for|Searching for|I am in need of|Realtor seeking} {well known|a solid and established} jumbo {mortgage|}
lenders in {AZ|CA|CO|WA|OR|Hawaii}. Need to find
{lowest|best} jumbo mortgage rate. Can {someone|anybody} help?
|I’m looking to try and {find|secure} {a low|the best} rate on a jumbo mortgage in {california|SoCal. If anyone can {provide|give me} some {feedback|tips} on jumbo {mortgage|loan} rates in {CA|NorCal|SoCal|San Diego} I’d appreciate it.
Thanks!.
|what is a jumbo mortgage and is it a good {option|choice} for purchasing a {house|home}?
|looking to compare traditional mortgage rates to jumbo mortgage rates.
|”The jumbo mortgage market traditionally has been a very profitable part of the mortgage market with low default rates,” he (Treasury Secretary Paulson) said in
written testimony. “For that reason, it seems logical that this market will right itself in the weeks and months ahead. Therefore, consideration … should be limited to a provision that is temporary and is part of legislation strengthen the regulatory structure.”.
. OK, tell me…what underlying premise is flawed in this
assumption?.
|How many middle class people would it take to purchase this home if they pooled their funds ?
|Any good mortgage lender in DC and Virginia?
|Hi,. . Im looking for some really good mortgage brokers
in {DC and or Virginia|the northeast|Boston|New
Jersey|new York}. Better is if they deal in jumbo
{mortgage|home} loans.. If you know anyone, please, {let me
know|get in touch with me}!.
|{How can I find out”Where online do I go to see} if my city {qualifies|is eligible} as a “high-cost” area for “conforming jumbo” {interest|mortgage} rates?
|I want to refinance a house but it’s not worth it unless I can get a “conforming jumbo” mortgage instead of a “jumbo”. Where can I find out if my area qualifies? Is there a published set of maps, or zip code information? This seems like such an obvious question, yet several searches have turned up nothing, almost as if this is embargoed information of some sort..
|What questions should you ask your mortgage broker or lender when applying for a mortgage?…. Such as {fees|costs}, points, {prepayment|prepay penalties}, {appraisal|title insurance}, and so on…
|How do I {get my PMI removed|remove mortgage insurance|get rid of MI} from my mortgage?
|I {want|woud like} to {Refinance|refi} and go from {a jumbo loan|our current jumbo size} to a {standard|conventional|conforming} loan?
|What is the difference between a conforming mortgage loan and a jumbo mortgage loan?
|I {am new to|just got into} the Mortgage industry, what are some {ways|methods|techniques} to {generate|create|get} new business?
|What is the {maximum|highest} mortgage amount you can borrow on a home these days?
|Which is {a good|the best} {forum|place online|website} to {discuss the|learn about} deals on mortgage rates and are there any good deals right now?
|I am looking for a place online where people {discuss|talk about} the {different deals|various loan programs} offered by the banks. Are there any current good deals on mortgages?.
|Will jumbo mortgage rates {jump|go up} when the Fed stops buying Mortgage-backed securities?
|Your thoughts on the special deal that the Obamas got on their jumbo mortgage-was this fair?
|How do I {know|find out} if jumbo mortgage loans are available {in my area|where I live}?
|Is anyone planning to refinanace their home since rates {have gone down|are so low}?
|I am not in the mortgage crisis. I bought a home that I could afford. Yes, the {right|proper} way to buy a home..
|How to {choose|pick} the {correct|proper} type of Mortgage and Terms of Loan?
|{How expensive of a|What’s the highest price} house can I afford?
|{How do I|what is the best way to} {lower|reduce} the {mortgage|interest} rate on a jumbo loan?
|Can I take two conforming loans for {a single|one} property?
|{How Should I Figure Out If|What is a good indicator that} I Should {Refinance|Refi} My Jumbo {Mortgage|Loan}?
|I {am looking|want} to refinance {within a year|in the next 12 months}..
|How do I Modificate my Jumbo loan from Wells Fargo?
|I am {doing|involved in} {a loan modification|modifying my loan} with {citi mortgage|chase|US Bank|B of A|Wells Fargo} {due to|because of} a {necessary|horrible} divorce. How do they {figure out what|calculate the} interest?
|Want to know what interest rate they will give me and how do they calculate it?.
|When will Fanny mae change the {mortgage|mortgage interest} rates for jumbo {mortgages|loans}?
|Does it make sense that no matter how high a mortgage is the Interest rate is the same?
|Let me clear things up. Isn’t there more of a risk involved in lending out more money and therefore there should be a higher interest rate? I’m {a senior in high school|still in high school|a freshman in college} if that {gives you an idea how to explain it to me|helps you to explain it better}..
|Is High Conforming Loan same thing as Jumbo {Loan?|mortgage}
|What {percentage do you need down|down payment percent is needed} for a jumbo loan {these days|nowadays}?
|Is it true That to qualifiy for jumbo loan, I had to prove income and have good score, if not than am I stuck?
|Which {lender|mortgage company} has easy home {refi|refinance} terms in {Los Angeles|Orange County|San Diego|Scottsdale|Paradise Valley|Seattle|Bellevue} ?
|Is getting a mortgage this hard for everyone?
|Can you refinance a jumbo loan into a combo loan to {eliminate|get rid of} {pmi|mortgage insurance} and the higher jumbo rate?
|Will the {monthly|mortgage} payment be lower if Our {fico|credit} scores are {excellent|760 plus}…?
|We are in California and our purchase agreement states, “the loan contingency shall remain in effect until the loans are funded”. We are thinking of backing out. Would we get our good faith deposit back? . . The bank approved us for the loan, but the {loan officer said that he made a mistake|said he made an error} and {“locked” us in for a conforming loan amount|put us on a conforming loan}, whereas, we needed a jumbo loan. We {suspect foul play|believe they just screwed up} and don’t think he {knows about|is aware of} our loan contingency…..
|Do you have to have a down payment to {take out|get} a {home|mortgage|residential} loan?
|What is a considered a {super|jumbo} {loan|mortgage}?
|Do closing costs count in this balance?
|{Are there mortgage companies|Is there a lender} that will {give|offer} a jumbo {refi|refinance} to {someone|a borrower} with a new {job|career|profession}?
Wow, {amazing|wonderful|awesome|incredible|marvelous|superb|fantastic} blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you {make|made} blogging look easy. The overall look of your {site|web site|website} is {great|wonderful|fantastic|magnificent|excellent}, {let alone|as well as} the content!|
Wow, {amazing|wonderful|awesome|incredible|marvelous|superb|fantastic} {blog|weblog} {layout|format|structure}! How {long|lengthy} {have you|have you ever} been {blogging|running a blog} for? you {make|made} {blogging|running a blog} {glance|look} easy. {The total|The entire|The whole|The full|The overall} {glance|look} of your {site|web site|website} is {great|wonderful|fantastic|magnificent|excellent}, {let alone|as {smartly|well|neatly} as} the {content|content material}!
}