UNIT 10 MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM

Multimedia
Journalism

Structure
10.0 Introduction
10.1 Learning Outcomes
10.2 Multimedia Journalism: Meaning
10.3 Characteristics of Multimedia Journalism
10.3.1 Utilisation of varied Media Formats for Comprehensive and Compelling
Storytelling
10.3.2 Interactive Elements for enhanced audience participation
10.3.4 Rich Visual Content for Evoking Emotions
10.3.5 Cross Platform Accessibility for Attracting Wider Audience
10.3.6 Convergence of Media Technologies and Platforms
10.3.7 Compelling and Impactful Story-Telling
10.4 Advantages of Multimedia Journalism
10.5 Challenges to Multimedia Journalism
10.6 Essential Elements of Multimedia Stories/Content
10.6.1 Text
10.6.2 Images
10.6.3 Audio
10.6.4 Videos
10.6.5 Interactive elements
10.6.6 Social Media Integrations
10.7 Developing Skills for a Multimedia Journalist
10.8 Choosing Elements for a Multimedia Story
10.9 Future of Multimedia Journalism
10.10 Let Us Sum Up
10.11 Keywords
10.12 Check Your Progress: Possible Answers
10.13 Further Readings

10.0 INTRODUCTION
In today's fast-paced, digitally-connected society, journalism has expanded
beyond traditional print formats to include a vast array of multimedia
components. This unit will introduce you to the exciting field of multimedia
journalism by investigating its definition, characteristics, benefits, challenges,
and future.
Multimedia journalism is the practise of integrating diverse media formats,
including text, images, videos, audio, graphics, and interactive elements, to
tell compelling and engaging stories. Journalists construct narratives that
captivate audiences, effectively convey information, and elicit emotions by
utilising the power of multiple mediums. 145
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Formats 10.1 LEARNING OUTCOMES
After going through the unit, you will be able to:
• Understand the meaning and characteristics of multimedia journalism;
• Analyse the advantages and challenges associated with multimedia
journalism;
• Identify the essential elements of a multimedia story;
• Be able to understand the skills required for a multimedia journalist;
• Understand the considerations that needs to be made for choosing the
multimedia elements for a news story; and
• Comprehend the future of multimedia journalism.

10.2 MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM: MEANING

Multimedia Journalism is the practise of utilising multiple and diverse media
formats, such as videos, images, audio, and other interactive components, for
journalistic storytelling and dissemination of news. It seeks to provide
audiences with complex, engaging, and immersive experiences while
maintaining journalistic values and ethics. The diversity and array of media
formats contribute to the audience's comprehension of the story. It is
becoming more prevalent in newsrooms and provides a more engaging and
informative narrative to the audience. It is a comparatively recent
development in the field of journalism and is quite popular with the audience,
particularly young tech-savvy news media audiences. Newsrooms are
adapting to this new development and are constantly on search for journalists
and other trained professionals capable of reporting and delivering news
stories in a variety of media formats. Journalists now have more ways to tell
their stories, particularly in the context of digital storytelling, thanks to
multimedia storytelling.
Multiple factors have contributed to the expansion of multimedia journalism.
Digitization of the news production processes in media organisations is one
of the main factors in this development. Access to the internet, editing, and
visualisation tools is a further factor in the rise of multimedia journalism, as
journalists discover more innovative ways to communicate their stories.
Computer-based technologies, a variety of software for delivering stories in
multimedia formats, and digital skills allow journalists to not only locate
content online, but also deliver media-rich content. Many journalists have
been compelled to adopt multimedia reporting skills as a result of traditional
media organisations' decision to distribute their content via the Internet, as it
enables them to reach a larger audience and provide immersive experiences.
Young audiences' preferences for gaining access to news via digital platforms
are also driving this transition. Even though multimedia journalism retains
the values and fundamental principles of journalism, it is altering the revenue
models, audience-journalist relationships, and news consumption patterns of
the audience, particularly young people. As a result of the development of
multimedia journalism, there is an increased demand for journalists who can
work with multiple formats, and journalism departments and schools are
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introducing courses that may improve the ability to work with various media Multimedia
Journalism
formats for more engaging storytelling.

10.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF MUTLIMEDIA

JOURNALISM
Multimedia journalism is an emerging discipline in journalism, and its reach
and consumption are likely to increase with the passage of time, increased
digitalization, and Internet access. Some defining characteristics of
multimedia journalism include:

10.3.1 Utilisation of Varied Media Formats for

Comprehensive and Compelling Storytelling
Multimedia journalism incorporates diverse media formats, such as videos,
text, images, audio, and other interactive elements such as polls and maps, to
create compelling news stories. It also caters to the diverse news audience,
which may prefer to consume according to their convenience or preference.
A public transportation-riding office worker, for instance, may not be able to
read the text of a news article, but may be able to view a video or listen to an
integrated audio to comprehend the story's essential details.

10.3.2 Interactive Elements for Enhanced Audience

Participation
Multimedia journalism includes interactive features and elements such as
polls, surveys, data visualisations, and clickable maps, among others, to
encourage audience participation and create a democratic and dynamic user
experience. It attempts to encourage audience participation via social media
integration, remark sections, sharing functions, and other interactive
elements. It enables the audience to interact with the journalists who covered
and developed the story.

10.3.4 Rich Visual Content for Evoking Emotions

Multimedia journalism offers rich visual content, such as instructional
videos, videos shot on location, images, and infographics. This type of rich
visual content not only appeals to the audience, but also elicits emotions and
increases audience engagement. Rich visual content may attract a larger
audience than text-based stories accompanied by a single image.

10.3.5 Cross Platform Accessibility for Attracting Wider

Audience
Multimedia journalism provides access to news stories across multiple
platforms and devices, including websites, mobile applications, news
aggregators, social media platforms, search engines, and other digital tools
and distribution channels. It helps to accommodate the preferences and
requirements of a diverse audience and gives them the option to select their
preferred mediums. Smartphones have become the preferred device for
young people to access daily news, while mobile applications such as
WhatsApp and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter enable
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Formats
requirements of the digital era, adopts new technologies and platforms to
provide flexibility, and even experiments with novel formats. It is receptive
to emerging technologies and incorporates them into news tales, such as
social media integrations for instant and real-time sharing.

10.3.6 Convergence of Media Technologies and Platforms

It capitalises on the benefits of media technologies and appears to be the best
illustration of media convergence. It uses a multitude of tools, digital
technologies, and distribution strategies to produce and distribute news
content. It may include video editing software, audio editing software, photo
editing software, social media plug-ins, content management systems, and
data visualisation tools.

10.3.7 Compelling and Impactful story-telling

Journalism's raison d'être is the creation of captivating and impactful news
stories. Multimedia journalism assists the audience in comprehending the
narrative using a variety of media elements and may provide the audience
with multiple perspectives and enhanced knowledge. Previously, a text-based
story for print journalism could only provide the most recent development of
a news story within 250–300 words, whereas a multimedia story may also
include a timeline or infographic that provides context for the story in almost
the same amount of space and time.

10.4 ADVANTAGES OF MULTIMEDIA

JOURNALISM
The development of multimedia journalism can be attributed to the
pervasiveness and benefits of the internet. Now, journalists could convey
their stories in various formats and interact with their audience in real time.
These opportunities were bolstered by social networking sites, resulting in a
discernible shift in the journalist-audience relationship. The development of
new technologies has facilitated the simplification of processes such as video
editing and infographic creation, making multimedia content more engaging
and efficient. The following are some of the benefits of multimedia
journalism:

1. It affords journalists the opportunity to convey their stories in multiple

formats and in an immersive manner. They provide information that is
eye-catching, engaging, and interactive, which may entice a significantly
larger audience to read the news story and interact with the content
provided.
2. It provides the audience with more opportunities to interact with other
audiences, news content, and even journalists, via sharing options and
comment sections. This interaction and engagement is in real-time,
whereas mass communication has always offered feedback mechanisms
with a latency.

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3. It provides a comprehensive content experience and thoughtful design Multimedia
Journalism
and user experience considerations. It may have a greater impact on the
narrative and reverberate more strongly with the audience. It may
increase public awareness, particularly regarding social issues, and
accelerate action or social change.

4. Using data visualisation tools, multimedia journalism facilitates the

communication of complex data and intricate narratives to the audience,
thereby assisting them. It facilitates their ability to relate to, resonate
with, and comprehend the entire picture within a singular multimedia
narrative, thereby enhancing their access to information.

5. Multimedia stories provide media organisations with novel revenue

opportunities. Interactive elements and visual components add to the
appeal of the story and attract more readers, thereby increasing web
traffic on the website or mobile applications and establishing the
possibility for the media house to attract more advertising, paid
subscribers, or financial support. It also increases the value and identity
of the brand.

Check Your Progress: 1

Notes: 1) Use the space below for your answer.
2) Compare your answers with those ones given at the end of this unit
1. Define Multimedia Journalism.
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2. What are the advantages of adopting Multimedia Journalism?
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10.5 CHALLENGES TO MULTIMEDIA

JOURNALISM
Multimedia journalism is a dynamic and distinctive approach to narrative and
an opportunity for journalists to apply various media formats to compelling
and influential narratives. However, multimedia journalism confronts the
following challenges:

1. To deal with the variety of media formats, multimedia journalism

requires journalists and other professionals with highly sophisticated
technical skills. Journalists and other professionals should be proficient
in photography, videography, audio production and editing, data
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Nuances of News visualisation, and editing techniques. Developing these skills in the
Formats
extant workforce of media organisations requires time, money, and
training. To acclimatise to the new tools and technologies, even trained
professionals must engage in continuous learning, retraining, and skill
upgrading.

2. Multimedia journalism necessitates high-quality content, which

necessitates multiple tools, software, and resources, including cameras,
microphones, editing software, audio production consoles, audio editing
software, data visualisation software, and other production equipment.
Access to these resources, tools, and software requires additional funds,
which may be problematic for smaller or regional media organisations
with limited advertising or subscriptions.

3. Multimedia journalism is also impacted by the digital divide, as

streaming multimedia content requires sufficient bandwidth and internet
penetration. Many geographically challenging regions may have limited
connectivity or slow speeds, limiting the accessibility of multimedia
content. Rich media in a multimedia narrative requires adequate
bandwidth and an advanced technical infrastructure.

4. The creation of multimedia content for the news is a time-consuming

procedure that requires the collaboration of individuals with specialised
abilities. The news industry operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
with stringent deadlines, and each multimedia element must be gathered,
edited, combined, and integrated into the news story. Developing
multimedia stories requires significant effort, time, team leadership, and
coordination with all newsroom stakeholders.

5. Multimedia stories necessitate a variety of components, including audio,

video, and music, and news organisations must navigate various
copyright and intellectual property laws. The process of acquiring
licences and authorizations is also complex and time-consuming.
Therefore, such laws become burdensome. Internet-based multimedia
content such as videos, images, and audio cannot be used directly
because it may contain false information or fake news. There is a need to
investigate and confirm the origins of internet-sourced content.

6. To provide a satisfying user experience, multimedia content must be

compatible with all platforms, devices, and screen sizes. For news
organisations, optimising technical compatibility issues is a formidable
challenge.

10.6 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF MULTIMEDIA

STORIES /CONTENT
Multimedia narratives utilise various media formats and techniques to tell
compelling and engrossing tales. Among the essential components of
multimedia narratives are:

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10.6.1 Text Multimedia
Journalism
Text is the cornerstone of journalism, as the development of media can be
traced back to print journalism. The preferred style for journalistic news
writing is the inverted pyramid format, which addresses the 5W+1H (what,
who, where, why, when, and how). There are various styles of journalistic
writing, including news articles, editorials, op-eds, investigative reporting,
and feature writing. The news development, background, context, and in-
depth analysis of the story are covered in publications. Text is an essential
component of every multimedia story because it provides the overall
narrative and establishes the tone for the other elements, including videos,
images, polls, surveys, infographics, and timelines, among others. It could be
said to have provided the news story's foundation and provided readers with
valuable information.

10.6.2 Images
Every news article should include photographs or illustrations, as they
provide visual evidence of the new development. They add tremendous value
to the news article and lend credibility to the written text. In journalism, there
is a proverb that states, "A picture is worth a thousand words."
Photojournalism is a well-established profession that necessitates arduous
practise and extensive experience. Photographers in India, such as Raghu
Rai, are renowned for their visual documentation of significant and
prominent events in modern India, such as his photographs of the Bhopal Gas
Tragedy.

10.6.3 Audio
The addition of audio to news stories is a novel development, as previously
only text and images were included in print stories. Multimedia reports may
contain recordings, related news stories from their parent organisation, expert
interviews, eyewitness accounts, audio documentaries, radio segments, and
multimedia presentations, among other audio components.

10.6.4 Videos
Videos lend life to news stories. Videos consist of video footage, audio
elements such as interviews and ambient sound, additional audio elements,
text, and infographics. Videos may include, among others, reports from
correspondents on the scene, video package stories, expert interviews,
discussions with experts, journalistic analysis, and backgrounders. Videos are
the most effective medium for evoking emotion due to their visual nature.
Videos interrupt the monotony of text. They are essential for an audience that
may not wish to peruse a lengthy text. They serve as a guide for audience
members in a haste. Videos are useful instruments for presenting news in a
few minutes.

10.6.5 Interactive Elements

Interactive elements are introduced to the narrative in order to encourage
audience engagement and participation. Quizzes, questionnaires, timelines,
clickable maps, and other infographics are the interactive elements. They 151
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Formats
newsrooms now employ audience engagement manager to track audience
participation. In journalism, data journalism is an emerging discipline. They
elucidate the complex elements of the news story in a manner that is easily
understood.

10.6.6 Social Media Integrations

Social Media Integrations include the incorporation of Instagram posts,
Facebook Live, and Tweets into news articles. Social media integrations
enable real-time audience engagement. Additionally, it enables the audience
to share the news story with their colleagues, families, and other
acquaintances. The youthful population relies heavily on social media to gain
access to the news. It has altered the youth's news consumption patterns.
Social media is an essential tool for content distribution and serves to expand
the audience's reach. It also facilitates communication between the audience
and correspondents, editors, and news writers, among others.

Multimedia journalists use a variety of elements and media formats to convey

stories in a manner that is engaging and interesting. They may select
elements from various stories that, in their opinion, are appropriate and
enhance the written word. They attempt to provide an immersive experience
through a combination of numerous elements.

Check Your Progress: 2

Notes: 1) Use the space below for your answer.
2) Compare your answers with those ones given at the end of this unit
1. What are the challenges to Multimedia Journalism in India.
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2. Explain the essential elements that are commonly found in multimedia
content.
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 Multimedia
10.7 DEVELOPING SKILLS FOR A Journalism
MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
The production of multimedia stories is a collaborative effort requiring
professionals from various disciplines of journalism, media, and related
fields. However, media convergence and the increased use of mobile
technology are obscuring the distinctions between the roles of journalist,
press photographer, video journalist, and subeditor. Numerous media
organisations promote "mobile journalism," in which a single journalist
interviews an expert, records the interview on video, and edits the story using
mobile or other devices. Therefore, each journalist should acquire the skills
and knowledge necessary to produce compelling multimedia stories. These
are the abilities and nuanced comprehension that each journalist should
cultivate in order to create such stories:

a) Writing Skills: Journalists must have strong writing abilities. They must
be able to produce clear, concise, and thorough narratives that convey
the story in an engaging manner. They must be able to distinguish
between the different types of news writing (editorials, news articles,
analyses, opinion pieces, and investigative reports) and adjust their tone
accordingly. They should be proficient in various story-telling
techniques. They should pay close attention to the style, structure, and
grammar of various news articles. Journalists should make an effort to
master a variety of leads and headlines that capture the essence of a
story. Journalists have a duty to write for their audience; therefore, they
must try to comprehend the requirements, desires, and demographics of
their readership. In order to simplify the narrative, jargon should be
avoided.
b) Photography Skills: Every journalist should have fundamental
photography skills so that they can create images that convey their own
stories. Every journalist must have a firm grasp of framing, composition,
light, focus, and exposure. Each journalist should understand the
fundamental camera settings and which lenses to use to achieve different
visual effects. Visual narrative is an effective method for attracting and
retaining an audience. Journalists should seek out critical moments,
candid moments, details, and sentiments that convey the story.
Journalists should be familiar with the operational details of the various
photo editing software and techniques that can improve the quality and
clarity of their images and aid in the creation of a visual narrative.
Ethical standards and considerations must be observed during photo
modification.

c) Video Production: Journalists must be able to capture footage for a

variety of journalistic formats, including breaking news, interviews, and
documentaries. They must learn how to film, edit, and create videos that
effectively communicate with their audience. Mobile journalism has
decreased the number of people required to create a video news story,
and journalists have even taken on the role of video journalists due to the
portability and quality of the videos produced by smartphones. Effective
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Formats
structure. It is necessary to become acquainted with camera settings,
including those of a mobile camera. It is necessary to practise fluid
camera movements and steady photography for various situations. The
lighting setup and techniques, including the use of natural light, artificial
light, and ambient lighting, must be explicitly understood. It is necessary
for them to comprehend the fundamentals of video editing software in
order to trim footage, add transitions, add videos, and overlay voice-
overs. These abilities would permit the creation of a coherent visual
narrative for a multimedia story.

d) Graphic Design Abilities: An effort should be made to acquire the

fundamentals of graphic design, including colour theory, typography,
whitespace, and layout. It would enable journalists to create visually
appealing story layouts. Ability in graphic design would necessitate
familiarity with font styles, typeface pairings, and font sizes. It would aid
in establishing hierarchy in the narrative. Journalists should be able to
create fundamental infographics, charts, maps, and graphs, as they
facilitate the breakdown of complex data into comprehensible
information. Journalists should be aware of the publication's colour
palettes and visual brand identity, such as logos, in order to align their
work with it. There is a need for proficiency in data visualisation tools
that facilitate the audience's comprehension of the available complex
data sets.

e) Audio Editing Skills: A journalist must be able to record and edit high-
quality audio recordings for podcasts and other multimedia
presentations. They should be familiar with the various types of
microphones and their application in different settings. To add additional
sounds to audio clips or eliminate background noises, it is necessary to
acquire audio editing skills.
f) Social Media Management: Journalists must have an in-depth
comprehension of the various social networking sites and platforms in
order to promote content, audience engagement, and the use of such
platforms for news gathering and trend analysis. Many correspondents
source their stories and responses from prominent figures or newsmakers
directly from social media. Social media is an excellent instrument for
expanding an audience's reach, and journalists frequently share their
stories via their personal social media handles.

g) Content Management Abilities: Journalists must be well-versed in the

nuances of their organisations' content management systems in order to
publish and manage news stories on websites and applications with care.

10.8 CHOOSING ELEMENTS FOR A

MULTIMEDIA STORY
A multimedia story includes elements such as images, text, audio, video, and
infographics, but there may be debates regarding which element should be
utilised in a news story for the most effective audience engagement. One
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must choose the elements based on the platform on which the news story will Multimedia
Journalism
be displayed. Considering bandwidth and platform requirements, for
instance, a news website's mobile platform may include images, audio, and
text.

Selecting the elements may also require extensive knowledge of the intended
audience's requirements, preferences, desires, and tastes. A fashion-related
publication may require 360-degree photographs and Instagram posts from
celebrities wearing a particular outfit to tell their story. Thus, a
comprehensive comprehension of the intended audience is essential when
selecting multimedia elements. A daily newspaper website may include polls
and surveys with political stories to better understand public opinion and
make the narrative more participative.

Understanding the central theme, hook, or angle of a news article is crucial

for selecting the appropriate multimedia components. Images from a sporting
event may be included in sports articles to illustrate the highlights of a match
or the contribution or accomplishment of one of the players. Whereas a
policy-related article may include an audio podcast and infographics to
explain the provisions of a new policy and its likely impact on various sectors
of the economy, this type of article does not typically include images. A
natural disaster-related article includes maps and diagrams to illustrate the
affected areas and the progression of the disasters. Thus, it is necessary to
evaluate the story's message in order to elicit emotion and improve the
storytelling.
Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each media format is
crucial when selecting multimedia elements for a story. Each medium
contributes to a more extensive and engaging narrative. Even in videos, there
may be variations in the structure of various video narratives. Some stories,
such as a political rally or procession, would require live footage from the
scene, whereas others would require an interview with a historian or
economist. Thus, the integration of the video into the narrative will depend
on the nature of the narrative. A clip from a fashion show would suffice for
the audience, but a story about a country's annual budget may require smaller
snippets with responses from economists, business leaders, and politicians.
It is essential to comprehend how various multimedia elements would
interact to create a coherent and logical narrative. Planning is required to
determine which element would best fit the story and its placement within the
narrative. The story may begin with an enticing headline, followed by a text,
and then tweets from influential figures displaying their reaction to the story.
There may be a poll or survey to gauge public opinion, and the story may
conclude with the URL and headlines of related stories. One must also
consider the user experience and user design requirements for the news
story's various multimedia integrations.

Consider the available resources and time before creating the multimedia
narrative. Journalism is all about breaking the story first and then updating
the details, so optimising resources and time is necessary. Thus, when
selecting multimedia stories, you must consider the availability of
professionals, apparatus, budget, and software. Constraints must be 155
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your resources to produce the most compelling multimedia news story
imaginable.

10.9 FUTURE OF MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM

The rise in popularity of social media platforms and the development of
cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, and
augmented reality, amongst others, have contributed to an increase in the
significance of multimedia journalism. The proliferation of these novel
platforms and technology has resulted in multimedia narratives assuming a
central role in the content strategy. The widespread accessibility of the
internet and improvements made to the user interface for the presentation of
multimedia stories have led to a shift in the tastes and consumption patterns
of those looking for news. The proliferation of digital technology has
provided news companies with additional channels via which they can
communicate with their readers. These channels include blog entries, mobile
applications, social network messaging, tweeting, and even films.

Since audiences are becoming more visual-oriented and want audio-visual

content, the future holds a great deal of potential for multimedia narratives.
Because it gives more weight to visual and interactive components than it
does to standard news pieces, multimedia journalism is able to provide
audiences with more immersive experiences. In the not-too-distant future,
multimedia journalism will make use of cutting-edge technologies such as
virtual reality and augmented reality. These technologies will make it
possible to virtually transport an audience to the scene of a breaking news
event or press conference through the utilisation of specialised hardware and
software. These technologies could potentially create simulated settings for
the viewers to experience. The news audience would have a more enjoyable
experience overall, and the dynamics of journalism would be altered as a
result.

The content is now being optimised for the mobile interface, which is
becoming increasingly important as a primary device for a huge percentage
of the population to use in order to get the news. As a consequence of this,
there is a greater possibility that a mobile-first strategy will be utilised in
journalistic output. The content has been optimised for viewing on mobile
devices, as well as designs that are mobile-responsive, mobile interfaces, and
mobile applications. Apps for mobile devices such as Inshorts, which provide
interactive articles in fewer than 60 words, are already mobile-optimized
news platforms. For news updates that may be delivered in fewer than 59
seconds, several news agencies are turning to Instagram reels and short
videos uploaded to YouTube.

As more and more real-time data becomes accessible as a result of the

internet and other associated technologies, there will be an increased focus
placed on narratives that are supported by data. Stories that are based on data
journalism will be favoured since they make enormous data sets and difficult
156 concepts understandable in an interesting way. The audience is able to better
explore and comprehend the data-driven narrative through the use of Multimedia
Journalism
interactive infographics and visualisations.

Artificial intelligence tools will assist journalists in accomplishing their

work, such as transcription, content curation, idea generation, and automated
video editing, amongst others. This will allow journalists to have more free
time to convey their stories in a manner that is both more creative and
precise. Algorithms will play a more significant role in providing tailored
material to readers that is aligned with their needs, tastes, and choices.
Although automation and artificial intelligence may always pose the risk of
losing jobs in a given industry or sector, this does not negate the fact that
algorithms will play a more significant role. It is possible that individuals and
groups who aim to propagate false news and disinformation will find
artificial intelligence to be helpful. This is because the use of such tools may
make it simpler to create news stories that seem like they are based on actual
events.

Journalists will look to incorporate more multimedia components in their

reporting in order to increase audience engagement. Live chats, user-
generated content, polls, surveys, comment sections, and involvement
through social network accounts are some of the ways that they could try to
forge more enduring ties with their audience.

As individuals from a variety of professions contribute to the process of

producing news, such as design, data visualisation, audience interaction, and
immersive technology, the organisational structure of newsrooms may go
through certain shifts as a result. It is possible that more collaboration and
coordination with persons whose professional backgrounds do not include
journalism will lead to the production of innovative and meaningful stories.

Check Your Progress: 3

Notes: 1) Use the space below for your answer.
2) Compare your answers with those ones given at the end of this unit
1. Describe the skills required by a multimedia journalist.
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10.10 LET US SUM UP

This unit has provided a thorough comprehension of multimedia journalism
and its significance in the contemporary media landscape. We examined the
definition, characteristics, advantages, and challenges of multimedia
journalism. By integrating various multimedia elements such as text, images,
videos, infographics, and interactive features, journalists can create audience-
resonating and engaging narratives.

We also discussed the significance of developing skills for multimedia

journalism, such as writing, photography, video production, graphic design,
and the application of technological tools. These abilities enable journalists to 157
Nuances of News effectively convey information, elicit emotions, and captivate the attention of
Formats
diverse audiences across multiple platforms.

10.11 KEYWORDS
Multimedia Journalism : Practise of utilising multiple and diverse
media formats for dissemination of news.
Convergence : Using a multitude of tools, digital
technologies and distribution strategies to
produce and distribute news content.
Cross-Platform Accessibility: Access to news stories across platforms and
devices including websites, mobile
applications, news aggregators, social media
platforms, search engines etc.
Interactive Elements : Introduced in order to encourage audience
engagement in a news story, includes
quizzes, questionnaires, timelines, maps and
infographics.

10.12 FURTHER READINGS

• Briggs, M. E. (2019). Journalism Next: A Practical Guide to Digital
Reporting and Publishing. United States: SAGE Publications.
• Deuze, M. (2019). What Journalism Is (Not). Social Media + Society,
5(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305119857202
• Domingo, D., Quandt, T., Heinonen, A., Paulussen, S., Singer, J. B., &
Vujnovic, M. (2008). Participatory Journalism Practices in the Media
and Beyond: An International Comparative Study of Initiatives in Online
Newspapers. Journalism Practice, 2(3), 326-342.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17512780802281065
• Kovach, B., Rosenstiel, T. (2021). The Elements of Journalism, Revised
and Updated 4th Edition: What Newspeople Should Know and the
Public Should Expect. United States: Crown.

10.13 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS: POSSIBLE

ANSWERS
Check Your Progress: 1
1. Multimedia Journalism is the practise of utilising multiple and diverse
media formats, such as videos, images, audio, and other interactive
components, for journalistic storytelling and dissemination of news. It
seeks to provide audiences with complex, engaging, and immersive
experiences while maintaining journalistic values and ethics.
2. It gives opportunity to convey their stories in multiple formats and in an
immersive manner. It provides the audience with more opportunities to
interact with other audiences, news content, and even journalists, via
sharing options and comment sections. It facilitates the communication
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 of complex data and intricate narratives to the audience, thereby assisting Multimedia
Journalism
them.

Check Your Progress: 2

1. Multimedia journalism requires journalists and other professionals with
highly sophisticated technical skills. Multimedia journalism necessitates
high-quality content, which necessitates multiple tools, software, and
resources, including cameras, microphones, editing software, audio
production consoles, audio editing software, data visualisation software,
and other production equipment. Access to these resources, tools, and
software requires additional funds, which may be problematic for smaller
or regional media organisations with limited advertising or subscriptions.
Multimedia journalism is also impacted by the digital divide, as
streaming multimedia content requires sufficient bandwidth and internet
penetration.
2. a) Text: Text is the cornerstone of journalism, as the development of
media can be traced back to print journalism. The preferred style for
journalistic news writing is the inverted pyramid format, which
addresses the 5W+1H (what, who, where, why, when, and how).
b) Images: Every news article should include photographs or
illustrations, as they provide visual evidence of the new
development. They add tremendous value to the news article and
lend credibility to the written text.
c) Audio: The addition of audio to news stories is a novel
development, as previously only text and images were included in
print stories. Multimedia reports may contain recordings, related
news stories from their parent organisation, expert interviews,
eyewitness accounts, audio documentaries,
d) Videos: Videos lend life to news stories. Videos consist of video
footage, audio elements such as interviews and ambient sound,
additional audio elements, text, and infographics.
e) Interactive elements: Interactive elements are introduced to the
narrative in order to encourage audience engagement and
participation. Quizzes, questionnaires, timelines, clickable maps,
and other infographics are the interactive elements.
f) Social Media Integrations: Social Media Integrations include the
incorporation of Instagram posts, Facebook Live, and Tweets into
news articles.
Check Your Progress: 3
1. Skills required by a multimedia journalist are writing skills, audio
production skills, photography skills, video production skills, graphic
design abilities, social media management and content management
skills.

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