New Technologies Media Industry Changes and Implications for

New Technologies, Media Industry Changes, and Implications for Journalism/Media Education Clement Y. K. So School of Journalism & Communication Chinese University of Hong Kong Salzburg Global Seminar, 30 July – 2 August, 2010 1

Presentation Outline 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Technological changes Media industry and social changes What the US and European media have been doing: lessons learned from 2 study trips Journalists as knowledge workers Implications for journalism/media education 2

Technological Changes 3

Technological Changes n Rise of new media technologies: Wi-Fi (1985), WWW (1989), Yahoo! (1994), IE (1995), online news (1995), HD TV (1996), Google (1997), Blog (1997), Facebook (2004), You. Tube (2005), Twitter (2006), i. Phone (2007), Internet users (1. 67 billion in June 2009), i. Pad (2010)… 4

Technological Changes n n n Society is technologically driven or “interactive technology”, not “determined technology” Rise of new media formats: n newspaper free dailies, online news n TV cable, webcast, podcast Media convergence: breaking media and geographical boundaries, increasing competitions 5

Technological Changes Traditional Media vs. New Media 1 Unidirectional flow Interactive 2 Mass audience 3 Territory bound Segmented/ individualized Globalization 4 Time bound Immediate 5 Individual media as platforms Authoritative reporter Multimedia platforms 6 Empowered audience 6

Media Industry and Social Changes 7

Social Changes n n Changes in people’s lifestyle Other non-media activities compete with media for people’s time and attention Different taste strata Youngsters have different media habits 8

Media Economic Crisis n n 2008 -09, global financial crisis hit all fields, including journalism In 2009, New York Times laid off journalists, cut salaries, sold part of its building, 1 billion in debt, print sales below 1 million but had over 20 million free Web subscribers Many US newspapers folded Similar situations all over the world 9

What the US media Have Been Doing 10

Visiting US News Media n n In May 2008, a JEF delegation of Hong Kong journalists visited New York and Washington, D. C. for 2 weeks News media visited: AM New York, ABC News, NBC News, Fox News, American Press Institute, College of Journalism at U of Maryland… 11

Multimedia Operation n n A TV station has morning news, entertainment programs, evening news, free news website If there is an exclusive news, where and when to air? How to manage them under one umbrella? Needs a “news portfolio manager” to coordinate and balance, with knowledge of different media and understanding of company’s basic interests “Break down the silos” 12

NBC News n n n NBC’s Today Show: 4 hours daily, 7 -11 am, news + information + entertainment Unified news team different platforms (evening news, Web, cable, blog) Again: “Break down the silos” 13

ABC News 1 -person correspondent in overseas stations n Digital reporter n Establish digital platforms to increase revenue n 14

Fox News Use a lot of graphics n Presenters talk to (not down to) audience, not relying on celebrity anchors n 15

Free Newspaper: AM New York Strategy: care about the neighborhood events n “Connect to people in gut-level” n 16

American Press Institute (API) Specialized in training print journalists n “Newspaper Next 2. 0” program to help newspapers survive n Expand from print, include other formats n 17

American Press Institute (API) Mobile Journalist: “Mojo” n Journalists are not elites, but have to “breath with the audience” n News and information: must be useful and relevant to readers n 18

Philip Merrill College of Journalism, U of Maryland Journalism is no longer “one size fits all” n Rise of citizen journalism (cf. traditional journalists) n 19

Philip Merrill College of Journalism, U of Maryland n Impact of new technologies: Online journalism (Journalism 2. 0) n Breakdown of boundaries n Multimedia operations n Multimedia transmission n “Mojo” courses (different ways to express oneself) n 20

Philip Merrill College of Journalism, U of Maryland n What is “good journalism”? Let users’ customize news products n Let users participate in the process n Use of multimedia n Information has width and depth n With brand name effect n Guaranteed source of income n 21

Philip Merrill College of Journalism, U of Maryland n News media must: Become “part of the mix” n Has credibility n Has creativity (multiple perspectives and interactive) n Print media: explain n Multimedia: show n Interactive media: demonstrate, link n n Link up with readers 22

Philip Merrill College of Journalism, U of Maryland n Content: n Web 2. 0 n New reporting methods n How to blog n How to report news for the Web n Digital audio and podcasting 23

Philip Merrill College of Journalism, U of Maryland n Content: n Shooting and managing digital photos n Shooting video for news & features stories n Basic video editing n Writing scripts, doing voice-overs n Putting it all together 24

The State of the News Media n n n Started from 2004, yearly report, available on the Web Published by Project for Excellence in Journalism Methods: n Content analysis (70, 737 news items) n Journalist survey (N = 585) 25

Findings: General American news industry was worse and more complicated n Major problems: n Separation of advertising and news n News on the Web cannot find advertisers n 26

Findings: Newspapers Lose advertising (7% drop per year) and readers (2. 5% drop per year) n Cut back on work force, outsourcing n “I’m past bleeding, we’re into amputation now” n 27

Findings: News Websites Have more viewers n Good use of technologies n But does not have good business /revenue model n Major strategies: assimilation, acquisition, partnership n 28

Findings: TV Network TV still stable in viewers, but slight decline in advertising n Form Web partnership with others n Reduced staff: 1 -person station n Cable TV on the rise, but not its impact in major news n 29

Findings: Radio n n n Multiple listening platforms (AM, FM, satellite, HD, Internet, MP 3, podcasting, mobile phone) Segmented listeners, diversified programs Put more resources on the Web, establish social networks and ondemand news 30

Special Report: “The Changing Newspaper Newsroom” Reduced manpower and news n New recruits have to have multiple talents, eagerness, know technology n Newspaper websites: source of hope and also source of fear (declining news quality) n 31

Implications for JLM Education n Rise of new media / digital reporter students need technological literacy and sophistication Media convergence do not limit oneself to 1 or 2 media formats Empowered audience understand changing roles of reporter, not elite, breath with audience 32

Implications for JLM Education n Social changes know the society and audience, connect to people, diversified needs Rise of citizen journalism know and use the social media Financial crisis need economics and finance knowledge 33

Implications for JLM Education n n Break down the silos ability to become multimedia, work in a team 1 -person correspondent do it all by oneself, need multi-skills, be a “mojo” “Multiple” as keyword: media, skill, operation, transmission, audience “Newspaper Next 2. 0” be part of the future (journalist 2. 0 / 3. 0) 34

What the European media Have Been Doing: Print 35

Visiting European News Media n n Another delegation went to 4 cities in Europe, May 15 -28, 2010 Visited a number of news media organizations and international agencies 36

News Media Visited Newspapers： 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. TV： 1. 2. 3. Axel Springer Der Spiegel Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Dow Jones / Wall Street Journal Financial Times Deutsche Welle TV (DW-TV) Sky News BBC: Persian Service, BBC Future Media 37

Axel Springer n n n One of Europe’s major newspaper groups, has more than 250 publications in 30 countries In Germany, has a newspaper market share of 24%, including Die Welt and the tabloid Bild Face different types of readers, with both serious and sensational contents 38

Axel Springer n n n Die Welt group has 6 newspapers In the past, 6 separate editorial and marketing units, now become 1 Matrix organization: synergy operations under same umbrella: for better efficiency and competitiveness Reporter: “write one story for all” Future directions: mobile media, digitized content, Internet development 39

Der Spiegel n n Der Speigel has 1 million circulation in Europe Ownership model: staff has 50. 5%, the rest belongs to 2 companies Joining staff will get shares according to rank and year of service, sell it back to company when leaving Senior staff are appointed through election 40

Der Spiegel n n Success formula: revenue mainly through subscription (60%)，few web readers, but will have paid i. Pad version Never has financial loss, has to avoid it (otherwise the staff will be responsible) With 100+ editors and reporters, but another 60 full-time “fact checkers” Publishes lots of investigative reporting, has to keep the information accurate 41

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung n n n A national newspaper in Germany, distributed in more than 100 countries 280 news staff, daily circulation = 370, 000 copies Has 85 local and overseas correspondents, making contents more varied and unique (3 in Beijing) No owner or chief editor, owned by a foundation Run by 5 independent “publishers” New publisher to be appointed by existing ones collectively 42

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung n n n Social news page has its publisher and commentary, so does the finance page Commentaries may contradict each other Advantage: diversity, internal competition High-end product, can still make profit, survivable in a large enough segmented market Facing new technology and market changes 43

Dow Jones / Wall Street Journal n Dow Jones is an American financial service with global presence, including the Wall Street Journal n n n 3 parts: newswire, website, newspaper Designed to maximize resources, contents in different parts partially overlap but not totally Top of “pyramid”: provide instant financial information to a few customers at very high premium prices (“freshness” of information) 44

Dow Jones / Wall Street Journal n n Arrangement of work flow is based on speed (as life line) Different time of delivery: huge difference in pricing Premium clients: in milli-seconds (only 0. 2 second delay is tolerated) Established incentive system: reporters’ number of exclusive stories shown to all 45

Financial Times n Financial Times is a British international finance newspaper, major competitor of Wall Street Journal n n n Focus: global presence, fee-charging model, premium products To employ the best people, to produce firstrate content in order to generate revenue Integrated newsroom and marketing department 46

Financial Times n n n Multiple platforms/outlets: newspaper, website, i. Pad, Kindle, etc. Try to have a new model for information distribution and revenue generation “i. Pad is a game changer” Reading traditional newspaper: “lean back” experience; Web reading: “lean forward” Historical task: slowly move from print to Web platform 47

Implications for JLM Education n “One story for all” ability to meet different tastes and demands Fact checkers be as accurate as can be, professionalism Different ownership and operation systems adaptive power 48

Implications for JLM Education n “Pyramid” structure and emphasis on speed know one’s priority and ability to deliver on time Employ the best people having quality, be the best professional “Lean forward” experience be progressive, forward looking, global vision 49

What the European media Have Been Doing: TV 50

Deutsche Welle TV n n Established in 1992, a German broadcaster for non-local audiences With 3, 000 staff (radio, TV and website) Free of charge, supported by German government Broadcast in German, English, Arabic and Spanish language 51

Deutsche Welle TV n n Provide news, information and cultural programs Target audience: upper/middle class & young people, overseas Germans, those who need information 25 million audience per week Try to “educate the mass”, provide quality programs 52

Deutsche Welle TV n n n Purposes: 1. Promote Germany and its culture 2. Provide news and information A satellite free service, hard to measure ratings and performance Gets 300, 00 emails per year Problem of public broadcaster: low efficiency Public media with government support still has its role and characteristics 53

Sky News n n n n First British station to offer 24 hours satellite news Has 10 million subscribers in the UK Has TV, radio and website Sky News is a commercial enterprise Characteristics: modern, forward-looking, sharp, concise, focus on breaking news Editors of local news, international news and Web sit together to facilitate communication Every reporter has multiple skills to serve different types of media 54

Sky News n n “Sky News Active”： 4 sub-channels within 1 channel 1. Headline 2. Weather 3. Other major news (1) 4. Other major news (2) Integrate: image, text, photo, live coverage 55

Sky News n n n Also reply on Twitter, Facebook, My. Space, mobile phone for live reporting, making social media as information source How to verify: depends on journalists’ news sense and judgment HD news broadcast to attract subscribers to pay 56

BBC Persian Service n n n TV service launched in January 2009 Provide satellite service to Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan and Tajikistan Estimated audience: 12 million (Iranian population: 60 million) As an alternative choice to Iranian official media With both TV, radio, and web services Programs: news, information, cultural, sports 57

BBC Persian Service n n Had major impact on last year’s Iranian presidential election Curbed by Iranian government, seen as hostile media, reporters expelled Many Iranians provide free information and video clips Uses Twitter, Facebook, mobile phone as news sources 58

BBC Persian Service n n n Rise of social media can provide news and information, but its credibility is a concern BBC’s requirement on verification: at least 2 independent sources to reduce errors Information knows no boundaries with the help of new technologies 59

BBC New Media Service n n BBC started its i. Player service in December 2007, with latest update in May 2010 (only available in the UK) Has 150 programs for download each week (15 minutes after first broadcast) Download platforms: Virgin TV, i. Phone, Nokia, Wii, PS 3, etc. Can view programs in past 7 days 60

BBC New Media Service n n Three guiding principles: 1. Reflect tastes of viewers 2. Add social dimension 3. Make viewing simple and interesting Purposes: 1. Personalized service 2. Socialized service (friends’ recommendation, chatting with friends while watching) 3. Convenience (can pre-download) 61

BBC New Media Service n n n New technologies extend scope and quality of service, making it more convenient and personalized 4 choices： 1. Featured：BBC recommended 2. For you：what you should like 3. Most popular： others’ choices 4. Friends: recommendations from friends 4 different types of image quality to choose 62

BBC New Media Service n n i. Player can bring programs to: home, office, mobile phone (anywhere) Can use “shout” button to express views instantly Has links to other broadcast channels Secrets for success: 1. Good technology 2. Massive appropriate content 63

BBC New Media Service n Keywords for media to excel: speed, mobility, interactivity, convenience, selfselection, fee-paying model, exclusiveness, quality, value-addedness 64

Implications for JLM Education n n To educate the mass to retain ideals and ethics despite market imperatives Commercial operation be modern, forward-looking, sharp, cost-effective Rise of social media importance of journalistic judgment and verification Keywords (speed, mobility, interactivity, convenience…) know the trends 65

Journalists as Knowledge Workers 66

Some Characteristics of Knowledge Society 1. Knowledge as “means of production” 2. Information-based organizations: knowledge workers as major workforce, fewer middle and top management staff 3. Information challenges: From “T” to the “I” in “IT” 67

Some Characteristics of Knowledge Society 4. 5. 6. 7. Knowledge management Global competition Partnership The change in distribution channels 68

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“ 6 M” News Organization n The “ 6 M” news organization: n n n Multiple journalistic talents Multiple content partnership Multiple production resources Multiple revenue models Multiple distribution platforms (online, offline, wireless) Multiple audiences 70

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What is a Knowledge Worker n Frances Horibe: “Knowledge workers are people who use their heads more than their hands to produce value. They add value through their ideas, their analyses, their judgment, their syntheses, and their design. ” 72

What is a Knowledge Worker n Peter Drucker: “Knowledge workers are people whose jobs require formal and advance schooling. Formal schooling enables them to enter knowledge work in the first place, and continuing education throughout their working lives to keep their knowledge up-to-date. ” 73

Journalist as Knowledge Worker n Characteristics of knowledge /media workers: n Autonomy (manage themselves) n Innovation, adding values n Continuous learning n Quality n High mobility n With areas of expertise (assets) 74

Conclusion: What Do We Do and Desire 75

New Curriculum Initiatives at Chinese U of Hong Kong n n Course Level: add “mobile journalism”, digital storytelling & other Web training courses, financial news courses, individual research project, website: more interactive & AV oriented Stream level: from print to multimedia, more streams (journalism advertising/PR, creative, global media) 76

New Curriculum Initiatives at Chinese U of Hong Kong n Curriculum level: n n Theory + practice 1 stream + multi-streams (or no streams) Journalism + non-journalism aspects Global view + local concern (“glocal”) 77

Desirable Traits of Journalism/Media Graduates n Holistic knowledge worker & modern citizen: n n Knowledge + skills + values Technologically sophisticated Adaptive, flexible & self-motivated Independent continuous learner 78

Desirable Traits of Journalism/Media Graduates n (Cont’d) : n n n Active & social conscious (know the trends) Be professional: multi-talented, tough, speedy, accurate, ethical, quality, good taste & judgment Forward-looking & progressive 79

Framework: What Shall We Do A. Philosophy: n Be adaptive and flexible: continuously synchronize with media & social changes n Knowledge society initiative: professional, modern outlook, future oriented B. Hiring and Re-training of Teachers: n Teachers with technological literacy, crossmedia experience desirable 80

Framework: What Shall We Do C. Curriculum design: n Increase technological components: new courses and in some old courses n Media convergence: breakdown the silos/boundaries among media formats n Multiple skills: cross-media abilities n Matrix design: correspond to “matrix” media organizations 81

End of Presentation! Thank You! 82