We made a great step toward convergence between KUJH-TV News and the University Daily Kansan Friday when the Kansan staff came to visit the 694 online production class. The discussion churned out a lot of similarities between the Kansan and KUJH-TV News. Both are reformating their Web sites with the intent on being more than just shovelware. Both are producing news about the campus and Lawrence community, targeting students and embracing technology. Most importantly, both want to work together, at least in theory.
Andrew Vaupel, who will be next semester's editor-in-chief, asked a good question: How do we work together on stories?
One student mentioned the importance of communication, but there are some roadblocks. Email seems to get lost in the cyber-zone. Phone messages don't always get returned. The Kansan is up the hill and KUJH-TV is down in Dole.
Reporters for both media have different deadlines and schedules. Is it even possible to converge? The biggest issue both media have to overcome is mindset, Vaupel said. Student journalists need to think like future journalists. Next semester, the Kansan will have a liason in the Multimedia Newsroom. This will help students begin the journey from single-media mindedness to cross platform learning and reporting. KUJH-TV News will be able to share stories easier, with the chance of more 415 and 409 stories being published or aired. The liason may even help coordinate KUJH-TV News and Kansan coverage of big events. J.T. Mitchum, online producer, said they'll need some "fire drills" for this type of coverage to work. Matt Rodriguez, online producer, said that Kansan staff has come down to the Multimedia Newsroom, but KUJH-TV staff has not had a presence in the Kansan.
It's true. For campus media convergence to work, the effort needs to come from both KUJH-TV and the Kansan. But before that happens, there are some important questions to be answered.
How do we utilize all student reporters? How do we teach them how to write and think multimedia? How will the information be shared? How will news be covered?
In the coming semester, convergence will happen. How fast these questions get answered will depend on quickly the mindset changes.
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