New York Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson likes the idea of video journalism as a way to expand the product her journalists are putting together. But, she emphasized during two days of Q&A with the paper's readers, she doesn't want to change the make-up of her venerable publication to become more online TV station and less newspaper.
"Video is certainly an increasingly important platform for Times journalism," she said. "Our goal is not to become an online TV station, but to create video that enables our readers and audience to 'watch The Times' as well as 'read The Times.'"
Abramson admitted that The Times has put a lot of money into video, but said her aim is to use the video to reinforce the power of the printed word and enhance the interactive experience for readers.
"Live interaction with readers is certainly something we are exploring, especially as we master social viewing and create compelling journalism for a second screen experience," she said.
Video, Abramson added, has an instant appeal to it.
"The benefit of live video is the ability to deliver news as it is happening and offer the best analysis of what unfolding events mean," she said. "Documentary video has long been one of our Web site's major strengths."
The new investment at the company isn't taking it away from being a newspaper, but helping it to become a newspaper with a streaming video component, she said.
"We are now developing new muscles in live streaming and creating shows that are, indeed, appointment viewing," Abramson concluded. "News stories can now be told across many platforms and the information our journalists collect can be presented in many different forms."
For more:
- see this Q&A in The New York Times
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