New tools such as mobile technology and the semantic Web are offering journalists new ways to communicate with their audience, said panelists discussing cutting-edge technology.

By Andrea Castillo
Latino Reporter

In the sea of quickly-changing technology, many journalists may feel as if they are drowning.

But rather than being resistant to changes, journalists need to be aware of the latest developments and become familiar with how the new platforms work to better communicate with the public, according to a panel discussion hosted by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Amy Webb, principal consultant for Webbmedia Group, moderated the “Cutting Edge Technology and Its Impact on Journalism” panel of technology leaders before an audience of about 30 people.

Webb said mobile technology is advantageous for its portability and dropping service charges.

In addition to text messages and Facebook, people can now track the whereabouts of potential news sources through applications such as loopt and Google Latitude.

Television will also be available on mobile phones, technology that is already in use in Japan.

“You have a responsibility to understand these technologies and maintain a digital image,” Webb said.

A number of developments, such as the semantic Web, will help make online searches more efficient, said Tiffany Shackelford, consulting partner for Webbmedia Group and communications strategist of Phase 2 Technology.

With semantic Web, or Web 3.0, news organizations will be able to link news stories together more effectively and make search engines provide more relevant information to the user.

“Web 3.0 is about machines and connections of data for the benefit of people,” Shackelford said. “[The purpose] is to have the computers make the same relationships as we as humans make.”

While semantic Web is emerging field, there are readily-available tools today to help users gather their news in one source.

Aggregating tools such as Yahoo Pipes and Google Mashup will also users to customize their Web pages with video, audio and photos from all over the Web, said Scott Boyarsky, director of online marketing at Krames Patient Education.

“Be platform agnostic,” Boyarsky said. “You need to be out there. You can’t be afraid of it, not concerned with the next ‘it’ thing.”

In addition to the developments in the realm of Web applications, the tools journalists are also becoming easier to use.

Bert Quesada, the managing sales director of broadcast services at Intelsat, introduced a new device called Fly-Drive/uPod System, a small suitcase-sized video camera. It finds and tracks satellite signals, transmits video, and can be operated by one person. It’s already in use in Europe and Asia and will soon be introduced to test markets in the United States.

The technology will “allow customers to manage live and recorded video traffic,” said Quesada.

Victor Hernandez, a CNN news manager, attended the panel after attending Webb’s earlier discussions.

“It’s not just managing the tools of today, it’s looking ahead,” he said. “It’s difficult, but we need to do it.”

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