The future of online news video
My entry into this month’s Carnival of Journalism:
First, I’m rather offended that the title of this carnival limits to online video because I think mobile news video is a much bigger trend. I’m going to refer to both, and call it digital video here.
In the golden age of TV, video was a novelty. It took top technology and equipment to get a video device to a news scene and put that footage on air. Now, each news story likely has an average of 20 vantage points — people with smartphones taking low-quality, amateur videos. Three of the 20 short videos might include a decent clip. Each person can post to YouTube or Facebook, to their own networks and contacts. Tracking and harnessing this content is an area of opportunity.
The new model will have journalist as producer, weaving the best together into a cohesive news-telling experience. Almost like a Storify for audio and video editing, with a drag and drop interface allowing one to quickly piece scenes next to each other.
So, value will be on speed and vantage point rather than quality. Video online and on mobile will see a rising demand because there is a need for the to-the-minute news of digital with the second-tier attention level of video (listen and watch while cooking, eating, driving, etc.)
But at the same time we will see a rise in documentary-style news video online. Ten minutes instead of three, and shot by a professional with a nice camera, resulting in beautiful videography. I’ll link here to a great one by Grant at KPCC on pogo (which is actually only three minutes). This will seem a luxury next to quick video news updates and bolster in-depth storytelling that we love.
Ads or better, sponsorships, will be the business model. I’ve heard many a news dinosaur scoff at the idea of putting ads on a graphic video of riots in Egypt — look, people fighting … Eat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese! Not an ideal brand impression.
I vote we find a connection between the rise in corporate charitability campaigns and news video. Sponsorships work well online and are not zingy like 30-second commercials spots. Brands still need an audience and I think we can find a tasteful way for them to continue working in conjunction with news publishing.
I appreciate comments — let’s grow this conversation and innovate away!
Great post.
However, I do disagree with you when you say, “The new model will have journalist as producer, weaving the best together into a cohesive news-telling experience.” As the general public becomes increasingly familiar with filming, uploading and tagging their own videos discovery will become much easier.
Technology, not the Journalist or Reporter, will be the driving force behind that “cohesive News telling experience”. The producer will be an interface between the viewer/user and the mass of available media.
In regards to sponsorship or corporate charity, these forces are less effective, relevant or even important storytelling today. With massive platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr and Facebook the availability of storytelling media is only limited by proper tagging.
Hi Bret – Thanks for reading! Great point. Technology is an interesting force!
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