Newspapers Embrace Video In A Big Way


In 1994, Punch Sulzberger, the owner and publisher of The New York Times bought my company, Video News International.

It became New York Times TV, and for two years I served as President of NY Times TV.

The idea I had sold Punch on was that you could take the the journalistic power of the newspaper and turn it into video at very little cost.

Now, nearly 20 years later, it seems to be coming to fruition.

The web has taken down the barriers to entry for video and teleivision. Now, anyone can get their ‘TV’ signal into, quite literally, a billion homes, and without a broadcast center, a frequency clearance from The FCC or cable, for that matter.

It comes over the web.

And why shouldn’t newspapers make video?

Clearly, they should.

All that has held them back is psychological anxiety (we are print!)

But the real revenue is in video and TV, which is now open to anyone who wants to try. And with the digital video revolution, the cost of admission is low. The winners will clearly be the ones who move first.

Today, two major papers announced they were moving first.

The New York Times,

Brian Stelter reports that major papers are all going to video and their own online tv production.

Then, just a few hours ago, The LA Times reported that they also are launching their own online live video streaming programming

If ever there was a time to become video literate, it is clearly now.

Michael Rosenblum

For more than 35 years, Michael Rosenblum has been on the cutting edge of the digital video journalism revolution. During this time, he has lead a drive for video literacy, and the complete rethinking of how television is made and controlled. His work has included: The complete transitioning of The BBC's national network (UK) to a VJ-driven model, starting in 2002. The complete conversion of The Voice of America, the United State's Government's broadcasting agency, (and the largest broadcaster in the world), from short wave radio to television broadcasting and webcasting using the VJ paradigm (1998-present). The construction of NYT Television, a New York Times Company, and the largest producer of non-fiction television in the US. Rosenblum was both the founder and President of NYT TV, (all based on this paradigm (1996-1998). The President and Founder of Video News International, a global VJ-driven newsgathering company, with more than 100 journalists around the world. (1993-1996). Other clients include Spectrum News, Verizon and CBS News.

2 Comments
  • Mkhululi Mpofu February 16, 2012

    This is more like a mixture of reality TV, unpolished news on the go to satisfy the visual and participatory audience. Nowadays people want to feel like they are part of the action. Like they contribute to the news and the reporting of it. Amateurs are Pro’s. Brilliant way forward.

  • Mkhululi Mpofu February 16, 2012

    This is more like a mixture of reality T, unpolished news on the go to satisfy the visual and participatory audience. Nowadays people want to feel like they are part of the action. Like they contribute to the news and the reporting of it. Amateurs are Pro’s. Brilliant way forward.