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News Sync

Casey Batezel

Bridgit Bowden

Hannah Schmidt

Convergence capstone students

Fall 2013

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ...... 3

Research...... 5

Design...... 8

Workflow...... 10

Content Analysis...... 11

Next Steps...... 13

Conclusion...... 14

Tiger Chair Guide...... 15

Executive Summary

News Sync is an Internet portal providing a second-screen experience for Columbia local television station KOMU. More technically, it is a Simultaneous Interactivity Display Engine (SIDE).

News Sync is a partnership between KOMU and the Reynolds Journalism Institute, as well as subcontractors from Delta Systems and WatchWith. While SIDE technology is popular with entertainment and national news media, this will be the first usage for a local news outlet.

The primary goal of the project is to develop a responsive web design site template local television stations can use to distribute second screen content. Ideally, the final product will be used as a pilot program at KOMU and in another commercial newsroom. The findings of the project will be shared with other news professionals in hopes of future integration in their markets. Below is a full list of the goals for this project.

  • Create a responsive web design site template for use by local television stations to distribute "second screen" content
  • Establish a content matrix that would mix editorial and advertising elements timed to live newscast schedule
  • Integrate a newsroom workflow to provide engaging and relevant content for daily delivery through the RWD site
  • Identify the tools and processes that could deliver this content to those who view the stories from a live newscast or on a delayed or time-shifted basis
  • Develop a process to invite feedback from users about their second screen experience
  • Determine workflow, format and effectiveness of advertising in the second screen model
  • Implement a pilot project of the system to populate the site in the KOMU newsroom and one other commercial newsroom
  • Share findings of project with news professionals for possible implementation in other markets
  • Evaluate value of service from the perspective of citizen/users
  • Assess value of the service on station image/reputation

News director Stacey Woelfel and interactive director Annie Hammock are the primary representatives from KOMU on this project, and join partners from RJI. This semester, convergence capstone students worked under Woelfel’s direction to research similar applications, assist in design, develop newsroom workflow and analyze content for SIDE.

The research process began with capstone team members identifying and analyzing existing second screen applications including Zeebox, Viggle, and AMC StorySync. Research findings were presented at the September 19 meeting when KOMU and RJI representatives met with capstone students and developers for a design and planning session. The following immediate, secondary, and tertiary needs were presented to the developers.

Immediate Needs

  • Design that features “center stage” where main content is pushed in timing with show
  • Center state must be able to display supplemental text, graphics, video
  • Split of main screen into ¾ and ¼ portions, with larger portion (center stage) being where main content is displayed
  • Allow sub-split of center stage area to allow ticker-like or other changing content.
  • Utilization of non-main stage area of screen for constant content of interest
  • Table of contents of other available material
  • Commenting capability through social media
  • Ability to insert advertising content in any of the main page areas
  • Must allow for interaction with advertiser
  • Advertising could coincide with what is on the broadcast at the same time, or be different advertisers altogether
  • Ability for some content to open on a separate window or page
  • Must have quick return to main page available on each supplemental page
  • Facebook would be primary way to authenticate users
  • Partition part of main screen for interactive polls and surveys

Secondary Needs:

  • Ability to make purchases directly from site with advertisers
  • Site would be actual purchase point for users
  • Ability to chat with editors and other users about stories
  • Would be supplemental to social media posting available as immediate need
  • Creation of widgets to drop in commonly used content (maps, weather, etc.) on site
  • Allow content to be geo-targeted for users based on their login or device GPS location
  • Allow advertising to be geo-targeted for users based on their login or device GPS location
  • Set-up for users to participate in caption contest on pictures or video posted to the site
  • Place sponsorship links on certain set kinds of content with direct contact to sponsor
  • Content could include weather, sports, or more
  • A “save for viewing later” memory function for users to return to after newscast is over
  • A list of related stories at KOMU.com or other sites that users can view and click to visit

Tertiary Needs

  • Ability to play supplemental audio
  • Ability to upload user-generated content through the site
  • Ability to request or suggest more information about a story
  • Ability to display supplemental content from site when users view stories at KOMU.com
  • Searchable archive of all content published through the site.

Ideas for design and content were brainstormed and given to the team of developers at Delta Systems. Various names were considered for the final product, but News Sync was chosen by Woelfel.

The end goal of News Sync is to enable citizens to act immediately when content in television newscasts motivates them. It will strengthen the engagement with citizens in the editorial process and increase the brand value and editorial quality of the station’s services. News Sync will also be another outlet where advertisers can connect with customers.

Research

Our team analyzed existing second screen applications to see what other features other users have when watching television. Below are summaries from three of the applications we researched. Each summary describes the application, and includes a major pro and con from each app that influenced our ideas about design and content.

Zeebox

Summary: This application is not show specific. Users enter different “rooms” for specific television shows. For each show, users can comment in a general thread monitor the hashtag about the show on Twitter. Zeebox also allows users to access show’s website or Facebook pages.

Pro: Twitter integration. Users don’t have to open a second application to monitor Twitter feeds or tweets, it’s in the app. This integration allows users to stay with the live additional content, and it can help foster conversation not only about the newscast but also about content on the app.

Con: Lack of extra content. The application allows for basic conversation about the show, but it doesn’t provide the user with more information than what they could already get from Twitter or other chat rooms online.

Viggle

Summary: Viggle is also not show specific. The app registers what shows users watch based on the sound recognition. Users earn Viggle points and play live trivia as the show plays along. The app also contains a Twitter feed, links to outside sites such as Facebook, IMDB and Tumblr, and various chat rooms.

Pro: Users earn points when they watch a show. They can exchange points for gift cards at Starbucks, Hulu, and Best Buy. We feel these rewards incentivize users to consistently return to the app for additional content. It’s an incentive to come back.

Con: One con is the design of the application. The center portion of the screen for extra content is underutilized. If there is a video, it is shown but then the space is left blank. The features could be better used if the design was a bit cleaner, and there was more room for the additional content.

AMC StorySync

Summary: We used AMC StorySync to watch episodes of Breaking Bad. Users access it through AMC’s website. StorySync automatically updates during the broadcast with quizzes, polls and extra content, all relating to what is currently on screen.

Pro: Countdown clock displaying exactly how much time remains before the next update. This keeps users engrossed in both the content on the TV and the content on the second screen. The entire application was also very well designed. Beyond the content, we also appreciated how StorySync’s poll and quiz questions were engaging and thought provoking.

Con: Overall, this was the best second screen application we could find. Many of our recommendations came from this application.

Design

At the aforementioned meeting on September 19, our group presented our research findings to representatives from all involved parties. The meeting was an evolving conversation, directed by Woelfel but featuring input from every party.

The first design meeting led to the above wireframe design. This led to designing a large area (Info box 1) to display main content such as additional video, maps, graphics, photos or outside documents. We wanted this area to be large enough to display additional content, while allowing other sections to be utilized.
Another main focus was social media integration. Twitter is a large platform viewers use to comment on stories as they watch live shows. We wanted to have Twitter integrated so users won’t leave the site to comment.

We also decided to include a table of contents. This will keep viewers apprised of their position in the newscast. Users scroll and select stories where they want to see additional content. It is also an easy way to jump to a current portion of the newscast if they spent more time on a previous portion’s content.

Lastly, we discussed the appearance for advertisements on the site. Some of the areas will be able to display different advertisements throughout the newscast. During commercial breaks, the main info box will be able to display interactive advertisements.

In between broadcasts, the entire screen will feature a countdown clock till the next live SIDE experience.

From this initial wireframe, the developers have created the following screen shots.

Workflow

One of our group’s primary objectives was to create a sustainable process through which KOMU students and staff could easily integrate News Sync into the KOMU newsroom. As with any organization integrating new technologies, KOMU is very interested making the transition as smooth and simple as possible. It is difficult for new expectations to be made of reporters, especially without letting up on current workloads. Our workflow needs to capitalize on current best practices, without overwhelming KOMU students or staff.

Here are the objectives our team identified for this process.

  • Workflow should be narrow enough in scope for a singular SIDE producer
  • Workflow should maximize use of content already being created
  • Workflow should be simple and able to be easily communicated to KOMU students and staff

Here is our workflow, in list form.

  1. Reporter researches pitch ideas
  2. Consider SIDE
  3. Reporter submits pitches, Tiger Chair selects a pitch and assigns the story
  4. Tiger Chair uses SIDE guide (attached) to determine which second screen component would work best for the story or if there should be a second screen component at all
  5. Tiger Chair assigns second screen content to correct person, whether it be the reporter, SIDE producer, sports producer, weathercaster, digital producer, etc.
  6. Reporter leaves to work on story
  7. Gathers traditional elements for video package and web story
  8. Collects additional information for SIDE
  9. SIDE Producer arrives at station
  10. Checks in with producers
  11. Begins work on SIDE projects
  12. Collects relevant tweets and articles, creates polls, etc.
  13. Reporter returns to station (or transmits content back)
  14. Reporter tells SIDE producer about usable raw interview footage, imported into WatchWith CMS
  15. SIDE producer finalizes content
  16. Show airs
  17. SIDE producer directs timing of application
  18. SIDE producer monitors app real time for usability and quality control testing

As you can see, this workflow is designed around two roles in the newsroom: broadcast reporters and SIDE producers. Here are two potential critical fail areas we have identified in this process.

  1. Reporter or Tiger Chair doesn’t know enough about SIDE to effectively pitch relevant SIDE elements

Result: Limited offerings for additional content on second screen - leading to low adoption rates

  1. Reporter does not communicate determined elements clearly with the SIDE producer

Result: Frustration between teams in the newsroom. Inefficient work on both sides

Our team believes these two critical fail areas can be adjusted for, but only with consistent regular training, and good supervision. The critical glue holding this workflow together will be the supervision of the KOMU news director and executive producers for specific shows.

Content Analysis

Our team looked at several KOMU newscasts and created content matrices to show how work will be divided once SIDE is implemented into the newsroom. The matrices showed the types of content that will be displayed on SIDE as well as the person whose responsibility it will be to create that content.

The types of content are as follows:

  • Raw interview
  • Raw video
  • Interactive or infographic
  • Documents
  • Web history link
  • External Link
  • Historic video
  • Poll
  • Photo Gallery

The people responsible for creating this content will be:

  • SIDE Producer
  • Show Producer
  • Show PA
  • Reporter
  • Sports Producer
  • Manager
  • Weathercaster
  • Digital Producer

We analyzed the 10 p.m. newscasts and worked with Stacey to create the following workflow matrices for the October 10 and October 31 newscasts.

Next Steps

When we began this project, we had hoped to contribute heavily to the product testing of News Sync before it was released to the general public. We planned surveys, usability studies, limited public testing and more. Unfortunately, contractual and budget discussions delayed initial progress on the application until almost the end of the semester. As our group realized this we shifted our focus from application development and product testing towards designing a robust newsroom workflow and streamlining integration of SIDE into KOMU. Even so, a lot of work is left for the future. One of the biggest strengths of our team comes in recognizing and understanding what we have not been able to accomplish within this semester. Here are the critical next steps for News Sync and KOMU.

  1. Beta testing of application
  2. Usability tests with KOMU students and faculty
  3. Usability tests with limited public focus groups
  4. Practice broadcasts with pre-recorded content
  5. Create quality training materials
  6. Worksheet Tiger Chairs and reporters can use to determine which SIDE element best matches their story
  7. Short 30 minute training session for reporters and staff to learn about News Sync specifically, and SIDE in general. Topics will include element selection, software usage, workflow, and explanation of the job description for the SIDE producer
  8. Troubleshooting and FAQ guide for WatchWith CMS
  9. Short app tutorial for the general public
  10. Marketing of News Sync - when the application is ready for public release, a marketing plan must be created to maximize usage and impact

Conclusion

This semester our team helped develop a SIDE outlet for KOMU called News Sync. Our team worked in two areas. First, we researched existing application and proposed design ideas to the contracted development teams. Our research analyzed existing second screen applications for good and bad features, and also examined KOMU news coverage to maximize content effectiveness within News Sync. Second, we spent time learning the current workflow at KOMU, and then fought to smoothly integrate SIDE protocols and procedures. The Tiger Guide we created will help Tiger Chairs understand how to optimize content for News Sync.

Once the developers finish creating the product, the SIDE producer will need to see how WatchWith’s CMS works with iNews. After the producer creates a show, the product will be tested both in KOMU and in semi-public focus groups. Feedback from these sessions will help to refine the product before public release. At this point KOMU will need to create a marketing plan to introduce News Sync to viewers. The goal is for News Sync to have a public release by the end of the spring.

Tiger Chair Guide: News Sync

Raw interview

Is it right for this story?

  • Is the video technically sound?
  • Is the subject lit well?
  • Is the subject in focus?
  • Is the sound clear?
  • Does the interview have good framing?
  • Is the subject compelling and relevant to the story?
  • Does having the full interview add context to the story?

To do:

  • Identify if raw content has additional relevant information.
  • Trim raw video to include only content that contributes to the story, exclude biographical information and extraneous B-Roll

Raw video

Is it right for this story?

  • Is there enough action for it to be compelling?
  • Is the video technically sound?
  • Does the raw video add context to the story?

To do:

  • Check technical aspects of video
  • Sound
  • Camera shakes
  • Change of POV/framing

Examples: