We are aware of the importance of video as a storytelling device.
Newsrooms globally are putting major effort to get more videos into their daily digital offerings. Especially with evening tablet editions, videos are the top choice for users.
However, it is not easy to get good videos. It is also NOT every reporter in a traditional newsroom that is even thinking “video” while covering a story. In spite, we have made major progress in adding more video fare to our daily news reports. It is still a long, arduous road.
Now Meerkat may speed up the process and make the climb a bit easier. I am told that Meerkat also pairs organically with social media, something that should make it very attractive for editors to embrace.
While Meerkat is still not a household app name in a majority of newsrooms, I hope that it becomes so.
I can also see it as a fantastic tool for conferencing, and even for those of us in academia to live-stream a lecture to those not present in the classroom.
Twitter is presenting Meerkat some competition via its Periscope, an app the company acquired in January for a reported $100 million. Periscope, Twitter says, is more than a way to stream yourself live: it’s also a way to play those streams back. The era of “look at me and what I am doing now” videos has arrived.
Can’t wait to discover these myself. Stay tuned. Will let you know more about it.
Of related interest:
Periscope vs. Meerkat
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/meerkat-periscope-streaming-app-faceoff,review-2705.html
Meerkat FAQ: Everything You Need to Know
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/meerkat-faq,news-20663.html
Help the SND Foundation (and watch Mario sing!)
For the past few weeks, I have been rehearsing a series of songs, a tribute to the late Desi Arnaz, who together with his wife Lucille Ball, starred in the iconic sitcom I Love Lucy.
Desi played Ricky Ricardo, a band leader and singer at the fictitious Tropicana Night Club in the New York City of the 1950s.
So, channeling Desi (Ricky), and with the help of a talented pianist, Rick Unterberg, I have filmed a short musical video in which we tell a story and sing three of Desi’s best known songs. Obviously, this is all for fun and to get as many of you to contribute to the SND Foundation and its good deeds.
Don’t contribute based on my musical talent, please. I have been posting various videos of rehearsals, etc. Remember this is to support the ambitions of young future visual journalists.
The full video will premiere at the SND Annual Meeting in Washington, DC this weekend.
http://www.snd.org/foundation/.
Counting on you.