Wednesday
Aug312005
340 - Special Report: CNN Newsroom in the Midst of Katrina - "Rapid Development... Content Objects... Learning Implications"
August 31, 2005
Learning TRENDS by Elliott Masie - August 31, 2005.
#340 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
50,78 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.
Special Report: CNN Newsroom in the Midst of Katrina "Rapid Development... Content Objects... Learning Implications"
(Atlanta - August 30) I spent a powerful morning at CNN Headquarters here in Atlanta. The trip had been scheduled for several weeks in order to prepare for the Learning Innovations award that we will presenting to CNN at Learning 2005 later this Fall.
It turned out that the visit happened one day after Katrina hit and the news tempo turned to "breaking news" with real time news content flowing at an incredible pace.
There were some incredible learnings and observations as I quietly watched the news gathering and assembly process and interviewed the Learning team at CNN. Many of these items relate directly to how organizations will be assembling content in the near future:
* Content From Multiple and Unconventional Sources: The nature of content in journalism is changing dramatically as media flows from non-traditional sources. CNN calls an aspect of this "Citizen Journalism" as they receive pictures and video feeds from digital cameras and even mobile phones. While I was standing in the newsroom, there were hundreds of Citizen Journalists feeding content in real time. Each had to be categorized, verified and placed into context. Ironically, many viewers actually see the amateur content as having high credibility, given its non-professional nature. Context is high and the challenge is to integrate this informal content with produced segments.
* Content To Multiple Formats: As content was created in the CNN newsroom, it flowed to multiple formats. Content started as video feeds, became streamed video, text on the website and even a mention for a scroll at the bottom of the screen. Each piece of content was "tagged" as it came into the newsroom, timecoded, meta-tags were added with context and it could be viewed by CNN staff around the world in low-res format. The concept was to see each media object as being highly reusable and redeployable.
* Digital News Gathering: The footprint and format for news production is changing radically as the size and mobility of equipment evolves radically. I watched newsfeeds coming from CNN reporters using satellite phones (after the cell network dropped). They were even feeding content that was edited on laptops in the field using Final Cut Pro. The reduction in equipment has allowed content to be created and advanced in the field rather than back at headquarters.
* Content Repository: CNN operates a content and media repository that is quite impressive. The content objects are viewable, editable and sharable. Key levels of data is kept for how each object is being used and deployed. Digital Rights Management is tracked, to honor the appropriate use of each media object. I was struck by how easily every CNN staff person could access and work with this content repository.
* Learning for Performance: The CNN Technology Training team integrates learning about these systems with training on their work processes and methods. Their learning programs focused on the combination of systems knowledge, team work/collaboration and newsroom work processes. Most of the trainers were seasoned newsroom professionals and they provided this intensive training to everyone, including the CNN anchors. I saw the anchors personally accessing the same content and "flow systems" during short breaks from their on-camera segments.
* Rapid Development: While CNN clearly has a breaking news model, it was fascinating to watch this process in action, including use of templates, collaborative and team-based editing and content refinement, focus on content ethics, standards and legal/compliance issues. I witnessed a team of professionals, drawn from a wide set of backgrounds, deeply focused on producing content that had value for viewers and the hurricane's victims.
CNN will be presented the Learning Innovations Award at Learning 2005.
Grace Dyson, leader for the CNN Technology Training team, will review their learning approaches. I want to thank Grace and her team for allowing me to witness their process in action on this sad day. I have more to process from this field trip, but that will wait for another day.
Learning TRENDS readers wanting to donate funds for Katrina Relief, go to http://www.redcross.org
Our prayers are with Learning TRENDS colleagues and families in the path of the horrible disaster. Donation for Katrina Relief can be made at http://www.redcross.org
Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
#340 - Updates on Learning, Business & Technology.
50,78 Readers - http://www.masie.com - The MASIE Center.
Learning 2005: Oct 30 - Nov 2 - Orlando, Florida.
Special Report: CNN Newsroom in the Midst of Katrina "Rapid Development... Content Objects... Learning Implications"
(Atlanta - August 30) I spent a powerful morning at CNN Headquarters here in Atlanta. The trip had been scheduled for several weeks in order to prepare for the Learning Innovations award that we will presenting to CNN at Learning 2005 later this Fall.
It turned out that the visit happened one day after Katrina hit and the news tempo turned to "breaking news" with real time news content flowing at an incredible pace.
There were some incredible learnings and observations as I quietly watched the news gathering and assembly process and interviewed the Learning team at CNN. Many of these items relate directly to how organizations will be assembling content in the near future:
* Content From Multiple and Unconventional Sources: The nature of content in journalism is changing dramatically as media flows from non-traditional sources. CNN calls an aspect of this "Citizen Journalism" as they receive pictures and video feeds from digital cameras and even mobile phones. While I was standing in the newsroom, there were hundreds of Citizen Journalists feeding content in real time. Each had to be categorized, verified and placed into context. Ironically, many viewers actually see the amateur content as having high credibility, given its non-professional nature. Context is high and the challenge is to integrate this informal content with produced segments.
* Content To Multiple Formats: As content was created in the CNN newsroom, it flowed to multiple formats. Content started as video feeds, became streamed video, text on the website and even a mention for a scroll at the bottom of the screen. Each piece of content was "tagged" as it came into the newsroom, timecoded, meta-tags were added with context and it could be viewed by CNN staff around the world in low-res format. The concept was to see each media object as being highly reusable and redeployable.
* Digital News Gathering: The footprint and format for news production is changing radically as the size and mobility of equipment evolves radically. I watched newsfeeds coming from CNN reporters using satellite phones (after the cell network dropped). They were even feeding content that was edited on laptops in the field using Final Cut Pro. The reduction in equipment has allowed content to be created and advanced in the field rather than back at headquarters.
* Content Repository: CNN operates a content and media repository that is quite impressive. The content objects are viewable, editable and sharable. Key levels of data is kept for how each object is being used and deployed. Digital Rights Management is tracked, to honor the appropriate use of each media object. I was struck by how easily every CNN staff person could access and work with this content repository.
* Learning for Performance: The CNN Technology Training team integrates learning about these systems with training on their work processes and methods. Their learning programs focused on the combination of systems knowledge, team work/collaboration and newsroom work processes. Most of the trainers were seasoned newsroom professionals and they provided this intensive training to everyone, including the CNN anchors. I saw the anchors personally accessing the same content and "flow systems" during short breaks from their on-camera segments.
* Rapid Development: While CNN clearly has a breaking news model, it was fascinating to watch this process in action, including use of templates, collaborative and team-based editing and content refinement, focus on content ethics, standards and legal/compliance issues. I witnessed a team of professionals, drawn from a wide set of backgrounds, deeply focused on producing content that had value for viewers and the hurricane's victims.
CNN will be presented the Learning Innovations Award at Learning 2005.
Grace Dyson, leader for the CNN Technology Training team, will review their learning approaches. I want to thank Grace and her team for allowing me to witness their process in action on this sad day. I have more to process from this field trip, but that will wait for another day.
Learning TRENDS readers wanting to donate funds for Katrina Relief, go to http://www.redcross.org
Our prayers are with Learning TRENDS colleagues and families in the path of the horrible disaster. Donation for Katrina Relief can be made at http://www.redcross.org
Yours in learning,
Elliott Masie
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