New tools help TV newsrooms go multi-platform

From Broadcasting & Cable:

As newsrooms' head count remains the same, or even declines, automation, editing and graphics vendors are taking on stations' challenge. They are offering an array of software-based tools that streamline many facets of the news-production chain.

Major trends include desktop-based editing and graphics tools that enable journalists to do more and provide built-in functionality for automatically repurposing content for the Web.

Device-automation systems that allow software to replace people for certain newscast functions, such as camera control or graphics output, are also gaining popularity (with management, at least) as broadcasters either cut staffs or reassign personnel for new-media production.

“Whether it's editing, newsroom systems or on-air graphics, everything we're doing right now is leaning toward not only accommodating what [stations] have traditionally done but also leaning toward new mediums,” says Johnathon Howard, director of on-air product management for Avid. “The newsroom system now has to be able to support RSS feeds and broadcasting to mobile phones. You have more and more distribution methods, but customers want to use the same amount of people, if not less. That makes our technology have to be as flexible as possible.”

March 26, 2007 | BY JONATHAN DUBE