Influence of Technology

Influence on Production

Information needs to be accessible as quickly as possible; technology helps make the News production process more efficient.

The introduction of EPNS (Electronic News Production System), a computer system developed by Associated Press allows a greater access to news wires.

Digital Technology
Pictures are digitalized and sent on a server.

As Broadband speeds get faster, video footage can be sent over the Internet.

As technology goes digital, there is no need to wait for tapes/rushes/ prints etc... to arrive, all can be sent online.

Although Satellite is used for live news feeds, this seems likely to change as Broadband speeds get faster. Channel 4 are already planning on rejecting satellite as soon as broadband allows them as they already send all their pre recorded footage over the Internet.

Reporters are now often deployed as 'one man band', they are capable not only of reporting but of filming and editing. This can be done all in one go and then emailed across to the news room ready for inclusion in a bulletin.

Advances in technology are not only improving news reporting, it is also having a negative effect on employment within journalism, for example in Broadcast News:those who fetch and carry tapes are no longer needed. In Print Journalism, there is an increase in freelance journalists working from home as they now have the ability to write news reports and upload digital photos and send them over the Internet to the newsroom.


Channel 4 have a website that explains the operations of a news room and digital technology:
Breaking the News
Broadcast Engineering


Where else can we get news?


News is not only available through TV, Radio, Newspapers and Online:

Companies such as sky news and BBC provide not only teletext news services but also interactive 'red button' news services where viewers can select different news stories and reports specific to sport or entertainment etc... This allows the viewer to 'pick and choose' what they want to find out more about.

You can have headlines and breaking news sent directly to your mobile phone via sms. This offers images, video clips, and news on tap 24/7.

Many train and tube stations along with airports have screens offering rolling news feeds.



The Future of News?

Now we can access news via the internet and on our mobile phone and customise what news we want through digtal 'red button' sites on TV - will there still be a need for newspapers?