A recent New York Times article talks about how more and more newspapers plunge into video productions, which include both field video production and live studio production. This is a wake-up call for those colleges where video is required of broadcast or TV track students but electives for other tracks.
Now, the distinctions among media are fading fast; the news outlets formerly known as television networks are publishing articles online at the same time that newspapers are publishing video streams, giving consumers new options.
Some recent trends discussed in this article:
The Journal already produces about four hours of live programming each weekday, with plans for more hours this year. Other newspapers, like The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times, are preparing their own live programs as well.
The New York Times started a video department six years ago with documentary-style segments, then added TimesCast and, ……, a live daily show called Business Day Live.
The Huffington Post said that it would enter the emerging market in a big way this summer with 12 hours of live video each weekday.
News organizations are also making new pushes into on-demand video, lured in part by Google’s pledge to pay scores of partners to start YouTube channels. The news agency Reuters is publishing several video segments each day on YouTube and is occasionally going live on Reuters.com
And the list goes on.
Journalism education nowadays should adapt itself to better prepare students for the changing world. Let’s do away with the conventional journalism tracks and, among other curriculum changes, require all journalism students to take courses in video and other multimedia productions.
Going further, production courses should be required of all communication majors, which include broadcasting, journalism, PR, advertising, etc.
