Asian broadcasters should be making more use of new technology and new media platforms to both collect and deliver news content, the ABU News Group was told yesterday. ABU Secretary-General, David Astley, said in an opening address to the News Group’s annual meeting in Kuala Lumpur that this included making more use of user-generated content.
“There have been many instances where user-generated content has provided broadcasters with breaking news video coverage that has not been available from their own reporters or agencies,” he said. Mr Astley said that new media platforms would not take over from traditional broadcasting or news gathering practices for a long time, but they would gradually eat into audience shares.
“The only way you can combat that is to be on these new media platforms as well. And that means you should be users as well as followers in order to fully understand the potential of the new media,” he explained.
Deborah Steele of ABC-Australia said the Australian national broadcaster’s audiences were increasing, against all the trends, largely as a result of developing new media support for traditional broadcasting. “Podcasts are now a tremendous part of TV audiences,” she said.
Channel NewsAsia’s Chay Ting Ngee said the Singapore broadcaster had seen a big growth in visitors to its website. It was also experimenting with citizen journalism, although ethical issues remained.
(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)
