Online Journalism News

Live: first ever online broadcast of a UK newspaper's editorial conference

Posted: 13/05/08 By: Oliver Luft
email this story | post a comment

The Liverpool Daily Post has today become the first newspaper in the UK to broadcast its afternoon editorial conference live on the web.

Using video streamed via mobile phone technology Qik (Qik footage has since been replaced with link to archived YouTube footage), the Post has for the first time opened up the secretive heart of a UK regional newspaper for public scrutiny via the web - giving the public a window into how the newspaper decides the editorial content it will run online and in print.

Here it is:

(Click here for part two)

"[Live streaming the conference] is more about transparency than anything else, saying this is what we do and this is how we do it," Alison Gow, deputy editor of the Post, told Journalism.co.uk.

"There is this kind of mystique about newsgathering that newspapers quite like. We're not experts, we go and talk to experts then report what they say. This is a way of saying look folks, this is what we do, it's happening right now, jump in any time you want."

In addition to the video stream editorial staff simultaneously live blogged the afternoon conference, giving readers the opportunity to comment on events and make suggestions.

The live stream is part of a whole day of editorial revelation being run by The Post. It's using a host of online tools to give its readers the chance to observe and offer input on the paper's editorial process.

The live blog has been used by staff to inform readers about minute-by-minute editorial decisions and even break news.

The Post's Westminster correspondent even used the blog to break news of MP Frank Field's apology to the prime minister.

image of liverpool daily post live blog

Tags (click tag to find related articles; click icon for feed):
digital video | liverpool | blogging |

Got a story? Email our news team: Laura Oliver; Judith Townend or telephone +44 (0)1273 384290. You can also follow us on Twitter: @journalismnews / @LauraOliver / @JTownend.

Comments

Hello. Had some problems with Qik. The full, unedited video is on Youtube at www.youtube.com/liverpooldailypost Thanks for your interest and to everyone who got involved.

- 13/05/08

Good morning, This is Steve Smith, editor of The Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane, Washington, USA. It is wonderful to see another newspaper decide that transparency is critical to newspaper credibility. We have been webcasting our daily news meetings for nearly two years now. But no other U.S. paper has followed suit, most even declining to embrace other even more effective transparency initiatives. It doesn't surprise me that it is a regional paper in the UK taking this step. The big metros will always be the least inclined to open up their newsrooms to the public. Congratulations to the good folks in Liverpool. Steve Smith

Steven A. Smith, Editor, The Spokesman-Review - 14/05/08

You must be registered in order to post a comment. Click here to register or login below if you are already registered:

Forgotten your password? Please click here

Other recent news

Recent blog posts

Features

JOB OF THE WEEK

Assistant picture editor

Join Comic Relief's creative communications team and help us use the power of imagery to engage wide-ranging audiences and help Sport Relief 2010 break even more donation records. ...more