Optimizing Field Production At NewsTECHForum

Engineers from ABC News and NBC, CBS and Cox-owned stations will tackle the challenges of optimizing news production in the field at TVNewsCheck’s annual NewsTECHForum on Dec. 11 at the New York Hilton.

Peter McGowan

Larry Lafferty

Panelists will be Larry Lafferty, director of domestic and international ENG at ABC News; Jack Kane, technical manager for WVIT Hartford, Conn.; Peter McGowan, director of news operations and new technology at WCBS-WLNY New York; and Dave Sirak, director of news technology at WFTV Orlando, Fla. Consultant Hank Volpe will moderate the discussion.

The panel, slated for Dec. 11 from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m., will look at best practices in field production, communicating with the newsroom and acquiring video anywhere, any time and anyhow, along with getting the content back securely and economically.

Jack Kane

Dave Sirak

BRAND CONNECTIONS

“Most TV reporters now spend nearly all their time in the field, acquiring video, creating packages and sharing their news online, on social and on mobile while getting ready to go to air,” said Kathy Haley, publisher and co-founder of TVNewsCheck. “The tools for producing news in the field are growing more sophisticated and this panel will look not only at strategies for producing great stories on the run, but finding the right gear to work efficiently and creatively.”

The sixth annual NewsTECHForum, set for Dec. 10-11 at the New York Hilton, will bring together engineering, news, production and digital leaders to discuss excellence in news storytelling and news workflow.

Keynote interviews will feature Valari Staab, president of NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, and Christy Tanner, executive vice president and general manager of CBS News Digital. Additional panels and presentations will tackle live news production over IP; attracting younger news audiences with technology; and top technologists on the industry’s bleeding edge.

NewsTECHForum is co-located with the SportsVideoGroup Summit, which gathers nearly 2,000 sports technologists and production managers to talk about excellence in sports production. The Summit features a technology showcase, open to NewsTECHForum attendees, of more than 75 companies.

This year’s NewsTECHForum will also feature the first annual Social Media Excellence Awards, recognizing extraordinary engagement and innovation by local TV brands and talent.

To register for NewsTECHForum, click here.