Room for Flash Journalism

By Joyce Choi
Can't imagine this is our last blog assignment! =)

The issue at question is the potential of employing Flash Journalism in the J-school's media. The following discussion defines J-school's media as including: KOMU, Missourian, VOX, Adelante, KBIA, Global Journalist, MOJO-Ad, Missouri Digital News (MDN) and the J-school Web site.

First of all, which media employ Flash already, and which not?

Yes: Missourian, Global Journalist, MOJO-Ad and J-school Web site
No: KOMU, VOX, KBIA, Adelante and MDN

Details of how each medium can better perform their potential for Flash Journalism:

Missourian - There are plain audio complemented to text, and slideshows already. Missourian has COOL graphics on paper from time to time; base on the graphics it already has, it may go on further to create ANIMATED infographics online. It's a lot of work, so invest only on important and worthy news.

Global Journalist - I think they have done the best job so far. According to Mindy McAdam's Flash Journalism, it has the BEST CONTROL (viewer can choose from read story only; view photos only; or view multimedia slideshow) and BEST FEEDBACK (many links to different BLOGS; Forums; and a CROSSWORD puzzle is coming up soon).

MOJO-AD - Very cool, professional-looking Flash design to introduce the MOJO-AD specialists. Since this Web site is basically for promotion, I do think a promo made from a Flash sequence (a video around 45 seconds) would be suitable.

J-school Web site - A great job on putting MP3, PDF, XML video and photo files with great control. The Webcam feed of the Walter William construction site is amazing too. I don't think a Flash intro placed foremost would be wise : that's not professional. BUT, I think it's possible that each journalism sequence may create short promos, or collect short interviews of Alumi's feedbacks. People would be so CONVINCED to come to MU School of Journalism. =)

KOMU - It has the orginal news cast video clips attached to texts. As a TV medium, I don't think multimedia is necessarily beneficial. But to utilize resources, KOMU may transform the graphics it already has, again, to ANIMATED infographics.

VOX - VOX's topics are SUPER interesting and GREAT for multimedia. Yet, they just put plain text and photos. I would say VOX has the greatest potential to employ Flash Journalism. They can have slideshows for profile stories, amazing INFOGRAPHICS for their funny investigations (such as a MAP showing which part of US uses "Pop", which uses "Soda"; a MAP showing where the nice restaurants are in Columbia, and TIMELINE etc.). Hope multimedia would not hurt VOX's quality though.

KBIA - Definitely there are audio; there is streaming audio too. As a radio medium, it's ironic if it tries to put video to audio. But, there is potential for using slideshows: visuals that do not distract listners from listening.

Adelante - There is barely photo to each article right now. Plain text - could be informative, but can be super boring too. I suggest starting from adding photos, and when possible, try slideshows.

MDN - Since its purpose is more of a database, multimedia is not needed.