"Converged Newsrooms: A CaseStudy from West Africa"

The 2008 Africa Media Leadership Conference: “Doing Digital Media in

Africa: Prospects, Promises and Problems”.

May 24 to 27, Kampala’s Imperial Royale Hotel,Uganda

Kwami Ahiabenu, IIkwami@penplusbytes.net

Outline

Introduction -penplusbytes New media in West Africa and convergence Overview of “converged newsroom” in West Africa Case studies of converged newsroom - Ghana,

Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia Prospects and challenges Leadership Issues Conclusion

Introduction

International Institute for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Journalism (Penplusbytes) is a new media organization based in Accra, West Africa with the mandate of promoting ICT Journalism

Established on 18th July 2001 It consists of a network of 300 plus media organizations and

journalists interested in using ICTs as a tool for the improvement of journalism.

Training –online and f2f, research, publishing, ’08- elections project, Ghana, SMS in the newsroom online

course (UGC) , communication design and new media book project

What is media convergence ?

According to Dr. Mike Gasher :Media convergence is an economic strategy in which communications companies seek financial benefit by making the various media properties they own work together. The strategy is a product of three elements:

1. Corporate concentration

2. Digitization

3. Government deregulation

What is media convergence ?

Graham Murdock (2000) identifies the following three trends of convergence in today's media:

1. the convergence of cultural forms 2. the convergence of communications systems, and 3. the convergence of corporate ownership Others levels of convergence – 1. Marketing partnership 2. Job description3. Story telling techniques

Operational definition of converged newsroom

Converged newsroom can be described as a content production process which is premised on generation of outputs to multiple news platform.

Converged newsroom output can be published on the web, appear on TV, radio, SMS and newspaper etc

Converged newsroom means two (or more) platforms are joined together and becoming similar

Unified output by a unified team For example, eliminating online department and shifting

processes into one main converged newsroom.

Convergence in West Africa

Broader picture – increasing number of media organizations are integrating ICTs in their operations across board

A subset of this movement is the gradual evolution of Converged newsroom, which is still at its infancy stage in the sub region

Business case not fully developed Challenges exist but the prospects and the future is

bright

Case studies

We undertook a quick survey in the following countries :

• Sierra Leone • Nigeria • Benin • Ghana • Senegal • The Gambia • Cote d’lvoire

Factors for and against –converged newsroom

Reasons for Reasons Against

1. Competitive edge

2. Trend

3. Widespread availability of user friendly technologies

4. Business Sense/value added

5. Promote stories

1. Conservatism

2. Lack of resources –financial and human

3. Lack of leadership

4. Lack of understanding/know how

5. Demand on time

Converged newsroom - outputs

Generally in West Africa outputs from converged newsroom are directly or indirectly delivered to the following platforms :

1. Print 2. Online 3. Radio 4. TV 5. SMS 6. Fon TV -

voice telephony – mobile or line as a platform is not popular

Advantages of converged newsroom

Technology Transmission of news in different formats Audience Ability to reach beyond usual geographical coverage Variety of options for accessing news by the audience Ease of accessibility More interaction with audience More news for audience Increased audience numbers Access to news is quick

Advantages of converged newsroom

Content Ability to adapt news headlines Breaking news More information for news research Team Sharing of ideas/learning from each other Facilitate team work and makes the job easier It gives the opportunity of different individuals with diverse

ideas to work as a team Availability of more newsroom team to bring more news Diversification of opinions and sharing views on news topic

Challenges of converged newsroom

Converged newsroom equipment is expensive Unstable GSM network Internet facility erratic and services limited to urban areas. Network problems Competitive factors Difficult working relationship Less sales of the paper since audience have access to news

on TV, radio and Internet Lack of human capacity in ICT for news room players

Looking ahead

Converged newsroom in West Africa is ready for a take off and the prospects are bright

Respondents said : Despite the challenges there is always a fulfillment after

production Converged newsroom helps and it stimulate everyone to

prove him/herself Despite the challenges it is good to have a converged

newsroom

Leadership issues

Change Champions People management is crucial You do not need to be an ICT guru to drive a

converged newsroom it is more of leadership and managerial role

Calls for restructuring of newsroom ‘business case’ Develop a workable plan

Conclusion

Converged newsroom is here to stay with us though it growth is slow, its prospects are bright and there is no doubt it is going to be the face of future newsrooms not only in West Africa but across the continent.

Thank You

Kwami Ahiabenu, II International Institute for ICT Journalism –

penplusbytes www.penplusbytes.net

kwami@penplusbytes.org