In a time of news services slashing foreign offices, credit ABC News for experimenting with a novel idea: the one-man digital bureau. The Hollywood Reporter writes:
“Technology now makes it possible for us to have bureaus without a receptionist, three edit suites and studio cameras and so on,” ABC News president David Westin told The Hollywood Reporter. “The essence of what we do is reporting, it’s not production. Production is the way you get it on the air and to people, but reporting is the essence.”
Each of the seven reporters will work from home and travel around their region carrying a small DV camera and editing-enabled laptop. They’ll report, write, shoot and edit their pieces, though they also will have support from others at ABC News. Most of the work will be uploaded via broadband to New York, though they will carry a portable satellite dish for the field where broadband isn’t available. . . .
These digital bureaus are being staffed by some of ABC News’ youngest and brightest. The network reached out to its own instead of hiring locals or stringers.
It’s great to journalists picking up on neglected areas of coverage. We can only hope these one-man shows don’t fail because of the nature of parachute journalism.
What might this mean for coverage of Israel?
Related reading: Understanding Historical Forces
(Hat tip: Romenesko)
