Making new forms of media

This chapter discusses how..." to "This chapter discusses how news might function in the changing digital media environment, much as this article looks at engaging digital audiences through mobile journalism. What will rise as a new form of news? Will all media converge? Who will do the inventing?

Student activities on three levels:

Flashlight: Research the life of a media innovator, from Gutenberg to Jobs or anyone in between, even the students at MIT who are pioneering wearable computing. Prepare a presentation on the innovator’s life and contributions. Create a descriptive graphic or a physical model of the invention. For example, you can produce a replica of an early tabloid or a model of an early Apple computer or an iPad. You may use any materials available to you.

Spotlight: Innovation professor Dan Pacheco of Syracuse University and his students track new developments by creating their own page using social media publisher Rebel Mouse. Visit the page. Which of the new ideas do you like, and why? Come to class prepared to discuss how students, professors and professionals can keep up with all the new tools and ideas. Should your class create a Rebel Mouse or Storify collection of social media posts to stay current?

Searchlight: Award-winning Canadian novelist Kate Pullinger tells the story of Alice, a young girl who travels the world with her parents, using a combination of text, video, images, sound and gaming components to deliver the tale in Inanimate Alice. The Center for Investigative Reporting uses alternative techniques for news stories, including animation, coloring books and even theater. Using these for inspiration, seek out a newsworthy personality in your school or local community and create a story using as many digital and alternative techniques as you can imagine. Does the idea of technological convergence mean that all stories must be told in all media, or are some forms of media better for some messages?Â