Play the game of Media Conductor

Offentliggjort 02/07/2006

For instance, what would you do if a lorry turns over and drops organic fertilizer into a small river full of fish when the only photographer on duty has been sent out to cover a demonstration on the point of turning into a riot?



The game focuses on the simultaneous production of journalistic news stories to several different media. What types of stories and angles belong in which media types? What types of stories are suitable for versionizing – and who should do it? Last but not least: How do you make the most of limited resources to produce the best media coverage of local affairs in two minor cities?

From the start you will be given a handful of potential stories such as a story about a missing girl; farmers cheating with EU subsidies for pig production; a conflict between local businesses; and a famous musician coming to town.

The aim of the game is to prioritize stories in relation to form, contents and presentation in four different media – and the game becomes realistic because of a number of deadlines you have to observe. This time pressure creates the feeling of authenticity that is an absolute must if role playing should be experienced as meaningful.

The scenario based role play uses elements from board games, dilemma games and role plays and is being developed by Centre for Journalism and Further Education and the production company Zentropa Interaction.

”You get a really good feeling...”

”The way the game is structured feels and is real. We are working for a media organization in a small city and are producing news and other stories for radio, web, television, and a newspaper - in that order.

In the game as well as in reality, the key elements are how to prioritize, how to present stories in different media types and how to use your resources in the best possible way. And the game gives you a really good feeling for the reality of this situation, and you quickly realize that in order to make the piano play you need to establish an incredible overview and have the necessary will to change your habitual ways of doing things.

You also get a strong feeling for the main pitfalls you face as a media conductor. You realize that the role as media conductor demands much more than basic journalistic skills. You need courage, ability to take control of a situation and above everything else you need creativity and willpower.

Because it is a game you obviously do not get the full experience of all the challenges in a converged media environment, but you get that strong feeling of what it feels like.”

(Ivan Hejlskov, journalist with a regional daily newspaper in Denmark, on his experience of playing ”Media Conductor”)

Søg

Få et tip om nye artikler og kurser:

• UPDATEs nyhedsbrev

 

• Ris og ros til webstedet