Last year, research from the Newspaper Association of America revealed that the majority of newspaper Web sites features video. Results from a new 2008 survey-based report, which looks more closely at the area, show newspapers' video operations are quite extensive. This is a pleasant and encouraging surprise from an industry going through a difficult period of change.
To help newspapers further develop their video initiatives, NAA has developed a guide to online video. The NAA newspaper online video current practices report is part of that guide, which will also include articles and information on purchasing hardware and software, expert advice and several case studies (see below for more information).
This NAA survey was conducted in February and March 2008 to assess how newspaper Web sites are creating and using online video. NAA solicited the top digital contact at 1,117 U.S. daily newspapers that are members of NAA through e-mail. The survey was completed online.
The table at left shows the number of newspaper respondents by category. In the less than 50,000 circulation category, 87 percent of respondents said their newspaper Web site features online video. All respondents in the larger circulation categories reported having online video.
Key Findings
1. Content: In addition to running content from the Associated Press or other wire services, most newspapers are putting resources into producing their own, locally-focused original video content. Many newspapers reported a strong focus on local news and local sports videos. The majority of newspaper Web sites in all circulation groups also accepts user-generated video.
2. Editing and Publishing: Flash video is overwhelmingly the most popular format for newspaper Web sites, followed (distantly) by Windows Media. At many newspapers the online staff is responsible for editing and posting video content.
3. Staffing: As the chart (right)shows, print reporters are picking up video cameras. Photographers and reporters are more responsible for shooting video content than the online staff.
More details about these findings and dozens of others in the areas of producing, editing, publishing, monetizing and more are included in this study.
About 'Zooming In on Online Video'
The current practices survey and report are part of a much larger project about online video on newspaper Web sites. Other components of this project, available at www.naa.org/onlinevideo, include the following:
Articles
· Online Video: The Time to Invest is Now
· Making a ‘Good’ Newspaper Video: Expert Advice
· Spending Money: A Guide to Purchasing Cameras and Peripherals
· Editing, Publishing and Hosting: Cutting it Down and Putting it Up
· Live from the Scene: Newspaper Web Sites Take on Television
· Making Money: Pre-Roll, Post-Roll and the Ads In Between
· Live from the Newsroom: Set Building 101
In Focus (case studies)
· The Holland (Mich.) Sentinel
· The Oklahoman
· The Miami Herald
Additional Pieces
· A Beginner’s Online Video Glossary
· Behind the Scenes video tours of the studios at washingtonpost.com, The Oklahoman and Naples Daily News
Throughout the summer, we’ll be adding more to this project. Look for an article about training reporters on video in the June edition in Presstime magazine, for example.
We hope this report and all the other components of “Zooming In on Online Video: A Development & Growth Guide for Newspaper Sites” are helpful and interesting. If you have any comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at beth.lawton@naa.org or at (571) 366-1037.