Anatomy of a news story

The Associated Press also packages a video version of some of its stories for use on Web sites, using the same reporting as the basis of the story.

Here's how this same story was packaged for an online video audience:

The person who did the original reporting is not the person who cobbled together the TV/video version. In the nation's newsrooms right now, there is some occasional howling from reporters about having to produce their work for multiple "platforms."

The loss of a story's integrity in this case provides a good reason why they should.

Comments (7)

It's quite strange.

Essentially the only reason that go-arounds exist is for safety. (As you know Bob, but for other readers...) ATC needs to maintain separation for situations where a pilot may need to do a go-around. It's like saying parachutes used by fighter jets pilots are dangerous because another fighter jet may hit the parachute.

So yes, to get from the point of an already biased non-story to the kind of content that was in the video is sick.

Posted by Aaron | July 7, 2008 2:10 PM

What do you suppose the early morning TV report for this story would be like? I gave up on early morning WCCO news when I would see the 4 sentence story from 10 pm become a 2 sentence story for 6 am (advertised 4 times earlier in the show with 1 sentence teasers). Sometimes important parts of the original few sentences were cut. Occasionally it was clear that the person reading it seemed confused by the sentence that popped up on the teleprompter.

"The loss of a story's integrity in this case provides a good reason why they should."
They should produce their work for for multiple platforms, or resist letting their work go to multiple platforms?

Posted by Al | July 7, 2008 3:03 PM

Al: Sorry, they should provide their material to multiple platforms, and they should be the ones to do it.

Posted by Bob Collins | July 7, 2008 4:12 PM

Just curious: is the anticipated medium of the story the determining factor as to how is is, er, told, or is this more of a reflection on the particular, eh, journalists? Or is there something about video newsclips that attracts certain, um, kinds of journalists? That is, both of the above?

I might suspect the latter: video is a newer media and so-called media bias is certainly on the rise. Of course, it is not that media bias (or its opposite) that I am referring to (they pale in comparison), but rather the bias towards being more captivating and compelling. Attention span and all. That video is a perfect example of this bias.

As it is, "fact" is not synonymous with "truth". I can understand that journalists might be trained to deal only with "facts" and not try to promote "truth" (whatever that is). I would only hope they would all strive to not offend it, either.

Posted by JohnnyZoom | July 7, 2008 4:31 PM

The medium changes HOW the story is told. For example, it doesn't make sense - imho -- for me to jam radio scripts down your throat if I'm writing a blog.

However, it shouldn't change the story, itself, and that clearly happened here.

A bunch of aviation forums, as you might expect, are chortling about this being an example of how stupid the media is -- painting it with a pretty broad brush, of course. Many of the posters didn't see the printed version, which was very expertly done.

AP video is primarily directed at the online audience and it seems to me that its underpining is the belief that the online audience is incapable or disinterested in the facts as outlined in the printed version, that the story needs "gussying up" to make it truly interesting.

Posted by Bob Collins | July 7, 2008 4:35 PM

As a frequent flier, and a long-time aviation buff, I'm concerned about the video take. It's another example of the "man/woman in the situation" shortcut to talk to a passenger who knows little about an issue just to get a great sound bite.

YouTubing? I would hope AP's videos would be better produced. And Bob as a publisher ourselves we struggle with the multiple platform approach too. In the end the more involvement the original writer has the better.

The video version of this is a little "too" scary. Thanks for sharing it.

Posted by WillieV | July 7, 2008 4:56 PM

Working in Politics I see this story a little different. Since I work with DEM's and REP's I hear all the time from both sides how the media bias taints the story for the opposition or against them. I have always, for the most part, thought local (and most national) newspapers and MPR (and NPR) radio did a pretty good job of presenting a whole picture. TV has always seemed hit or miss on coverage, but after this I wonder if it is the media presentation. I wonder if a picture is worth a 1000 words if that means that 30 seconds of video is worth only 10 words.

Posted by Brian Hanf | July 8, 2008 8:57 AM