Comments on: You know, you don’t have to do video

By: Bryan Murley

Bryan Murley — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:59:29 +0000

It seems a little bit like you’re contradicting your statements about innovation with this post. At least the Morning Call is trying. I’d say they need to go back to the drawing board and figure out better video strategies, but it’s not enough to say “you don’t have to do video.”

By: lucasjosh.com » Blog Archive » Links for 1/30/08 [my NetNewsWire tabs]

lucasjosh.com » Blog Archive » Links for 1/30/08 [my NetNewsWire tabs] — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:11:51 +0000

[...] The Journalism Iconoclast » You know, you don’t have to do video [...]

By: Zac Echola

Zac Echola — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:59:16 +0000

Search is more important.

Video is still important.

Searchable video is killer.

It has nothing to do with the quality of the content and everything to do with the domination of local search terms. People must first be able to discover your stuff. Then they must be able to use your stuff. Then, and only then, must they actually like it.

This is how you gain and control market share.

Too many MSM sites are working backwards and this is exactly why they’re getting clobbered and the money is flowing out of their cities.

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:22:53 +0000

I think you do need to do video. There is no reason not to. Forget ROI, forget the business case.Forget the kit or the who. Do it just because you can

The really key thing is how you do it. But make no mistake you have to do it.

By: The Journalism Iconoclast » The biggest day ever for the JI

The Journalism Iconoclast » The biggest day ever for the JI — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:43:23 +0000

[...] posts becoming popular simultaneously, “Innovation is the path to salvation” and “You know, you don’t have to do video.” Plus, I’m still seeing a post-Poynter [...]

By: Milwaukee Sentinel Journal shows off its video production : Journalism.co.uk editors blog

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:41:04 +0000

[...] other reporting techniques – something that will soothe new media journalist Pat Thornton, whose latest blog post urges newspaper sites to only use video when the quality is [...]

By: JohnofScribbleSheet

JohnofScribbleSheet — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 16:23:04 +0000

There are two major problems with video and newspapers.

1. Many slap on anything just to say they have video.

2. Too many videos mimic TV News. Video on the net is not TV. Its a new medium that should treated differently.

By: Ryan Gilchrest

Ryan Gilchrest — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 04:38:46 +0000

I get what you are saying, but to suggest that if you aren’t instantly good at something you should just give it up is off-base. My first videos were not great, and I shot some things that probably weren’t interesting Web video. But those experiences taught me valuable lessons that led to better quality, more interesting stories and higher production value. Yes, some video being generated by news Web sites is not great, and you have to know when to tell the reporter, ‘Hey, this just isn’t good enough to go on the Web site. Let me give you some tips for next time …’. But if the journalists are diligent, increase their skills and learn from their mistakes, it will get better. Many newspaper staffs are filled with journalists who were in the business before Web video was practical, so it’s just not realistic to expect they will instantly pick up a camera and shoot great Web video. But they are (for the most part) smart people who can learn to do good, and hopefully great, work. I do agree with you that video is no magic bullet. If you have a professional photo staff and aren’t building photo galleries and audio slideshows, you are way behind the curve. Reporters need to ask what tools are right for the story they are trying to tell – words, sounds, sights, interaction, etc. – rather than trying to tack an audio or video component onto everything, whether it fits or not.

By: Notes from a Teacher: Mark on Media » Saturday squibs

Notes from a Teacher: Mark on Media » Saturday squibs — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 00:33:16 +0000

[...] You know, you don’t have to do video. Stating the obvious but seemingly overlooked based on the number of sites apparently doing video for the sake of video. From Pat Thornton’s post: “When high school and college kids can provide better quality and content, you should really reconsider what you’re doing.” [...]

By: Wendy Withers

Wendy Withers — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:10:12 +0000

Thank you for mentioning that a searchable site is more important than video. My local paper just came up with a cool entertainment vodcast, but I can never find what I’m looking for on the site, even if I’ve just read the article a few hours before on their Web site. It’s sad when searching through my email is easier than searching through a news site.