NewsTECHForum 2017

Major groups keep experimenting, looking to find the best ways to use Facebook and YouTube, both to expand their brands and eventually generate some revenue.

IP delivery, cloud-based workflows are seen becoming pervasive as they will make it easier for broadcasters to capture, share and distribute news content. Above (l-r): Andrea Berry, moderator; Bruce MacCormack, CBC; Del Parks, Sinclair; and Jonathan Solomon, Aspera. (Photo: Jack Pagano, Ariana Television Network)

Looser rules plus technology improvements should spur broader adoption of the newsgathering tool.

Micah Gelman, the paper’s director of video: “YouTube is a place that people come to watch video specifically. People are much more accepting of a pre-roll experience there….We can sell [YouTube] in a way that we cannot sell Facebook.” (Photo: Jack Pagano, Ariana Television Network)

Bonded cellular — using IP over the wireless network — is the go-to medium for TV reporters in the field, while microwave and satellite are secondary, though still important, alternatives. However, some predict a resurgence in microwave as those vendors rise to meet the challenges of bonded cellular. And bonded is not sitting still, it’s moving ahead with 5G wireless technology.

NewsTECHForum panelists agree that virtual sets and AR are the next step in news production. They’ve become practical because computing power has increased to the point where it can render “photo-realistic” backgrounds and graphics.

One of the biggest challenges for news operations is stopping young consumers’ thumbs from moving from a new story to other distractions on mobile devices. Techniques that news organizations are testing to attract and retain millennials include fresh presentations, voice interfaces, automation, augmented reality and creating chat-like apps.

The needs of both digital and legacy news teams are progressively being aggregated into one system at many stations. But there still plenty of pain points to go around.

According to the social platform’s Campbell Brown, “we want to get monetization products out there — especially if publishers have a subscription business where you’re trying to get direct connections with your audience.” Above, Brown with TVNewsCheck Editor Harry Jessell at NewsTECHForum. (Photo: Jack Pagano, Ariana Television Network)

Free registration for the fifth annual NewsTECHForum conference, set for Dec. 11-12 at the New York Hilton, will end Monday, Dec. 4. Among this year’s highlights are keynote interviews with Facebook’s Campbell Brown and The Washington Post‘s Micah Gelman.

At TVNewsCheck’s upcoming NewsTECHForum, technology executives from ABC, NBC and Fox will look at the latest innovations in field reporting, editing, collaboration and transmission, mapping out what they want to see next from their contribution technology.

At TVNewsCheck’s upcoming NewsTECHForum, engineering, news technology and digital directors from Hearst Television, Cox Media Group, Fox Television Stations and Dalet will look to the newsroom’s evolving future in terms of digital and television production integration.

Digital executives from Nexstar, Tegna, Graham Media and Raycom will discuss the challenges of integrating digital news production and distribution into traditional television newsroom workflow at the sixth annual NewsTECHForum conference in New York on Dec. 11-12.

The Washington Post’s director of video and senior editor will highlight a conference gathering news, technology and digital executives to discuss the newspaper’s aggressive video strategy and role as a multiplatform news competitor.

Facebook’s head of news partnerships will highlight a conference gathering news, technology and digital executives to talk about the Facebook Journalism Project and the company’s role in a changing media ecosystem.