Transcription issues for major medias
With the phenomena of digital transformation and the increasing consumption of digital information, it is essential for the major medias to radically transform the diffusion of their know-how. In particular, by converting more and more to video and relying on transcription mechanisms. Thus, the theme of interest here encompasses many issues. Indeed, between the overabundance of information with social networks, digital accessibility and the colossal success of the video format, it is important for major medias to adapt and produce original and impactful content more quickly.
Major medias and the emergence of social networks
To begin, before discussing the emergence of social networks, let us briefly recall what the major medias or traditional medias are. The term media – from the Latin medium – refers to a means of diffusion or communication of works, documents, sounds or audiovisual messages. Among the media, we find the press, radio, cinema, television and telecommunications. By extension, major media – or mass media – are those that have acquired wide distribution. Thus, most media companies employ journalists and presenters. Either information and entertainment professionals.
However, with the advent of the Internet and ICTs, we are witnessing the emergence of so-called alternative media (blogs, social networks, etc.). As a result, information is no longer necessarily subject to certain ethical rules. In particular, sources and facts verifications.
And with the emergence of social networks, the mainstream media has evolved.
In fact, according to a report by the Pew Project for excellence in journalism, the « information industry is fully recognizing the viral nature of the web and the advent of social media ». For more than ten years, social networks such as Facebook and Twitter have been constantly disrupting traditional media. Especially for research purposes. Indeed, today, more than one person in two uses search engines, especially Google, to access information. Social media is becoming « the second most popular source of information, with 13% of searches tied with the online press ». Therefore, the idea is to understand how digital, social networks have gained ground. How they have disrupted our relationship with medias. In addition, how social networks have transformed mass media and the journalism profession. How they adapt to these changes.
- Social networks foster interaction
- They have a power of instantaneity
This is why professionals must adapt to these new practices and instantaneity.
With the advent of social networks, journalists no longer have a main control on information. Anyone can share information, witness an event… and share it immediately! In addition, it is quite common for social networks, as information channels, to inform journalists. Thus, even if ICTs have changed the industry and the journalistic profession, they cannot replace them. Analysis is the added value of this profession: « Not everyone has the resources and skills to analyse and understand a subject. This is really where medias can try to stand out.
Successfully adapt major medias to social networks
Now we will look at how the major medias are adapting their content to meet social network standards. Today on Facebook, for example, interaction is back at the heart of algorithms. This encourages content that creates conversation and engagement. The engagement rate is now a marker that is closely monitored by the media. More than just the number of views of a publication. However, this way of measuring the impact – and importance – of content, information, is risky. Because sometimes, beyond a certain deontology regarding the nature of information, human reactions are favoured… A good strategy for major medias is to reduce certain dependencies by adopting multi-channel strategies.
Indeed, investing on several platforms allows you to rebalance a certain balance of power, to be more agile. For example, at Le Parisien, the teams continue to invest in Facebook. Nevertheless, there is a « form of realism in 2019. We are becoming a little more distant and mature, knowing that we cannot do without them”.
The same observation applies to M6: it is a question of being « dependent on everyone, so as not to be dependent on anyone ». The objective today for major medias is to be present on social networks and other platforms. To be present especially where readers want to be. To meet their needs.
Dynamic information adapted to social networks
In fact, it must be understood that, together with immediacy, social networks or medias have a vocation to share information in a dynamic way.
As a result, the democratization and multiplication of videos on social networks has changed the consumption of information. We are thus witnessing a confrontation between the press – and its paper information – and the web – with its humorous and explanatory videos… Moreover, with the advent of the « story » format which combines photos, texts and videos, this phenomenon is not about to stop. According to Vanessa Rodrigues, « For 20 Minutes, video is a well adapted format, but it is far from the only one. Interactive storytelling is extremely popular. We try to adapt and see how our readers react”.
Transcription: at the heart of the new challenges of the major media
At the heart of this overexposure to information, its processing and the creation of ever faster content, it can therefore be very wise to turn to transcription. Literally, transcription is the act of transcribing a text, of copying it. To report it, to write it down in a different handwriting.
Today, with digital technology, transcription meets the challenges of different information and content formats: written, video, audio. In fact, for jobs – such as journalism – where writing is fundamental, it is often the result of different forms of messages: press interviews, professional interviews… They are recorded in audio format.
Professions in mass medias
Thus, the core of the journalist’s missions is about transcription, not retranscription.
In addition, in order to meet the professional challenges of internal communication, it is in the interest of the major medias to use transcription… Indeed, this allows them to save time and develop the use of social networks in their company. Either to create a real corporate community that combines the best information and dynamism over time. Video is the most popular format in France today. It is therefore logical for the major medias and companies to adopt this format for their various internal and external communications.
As a result, if you are a large media company, you may be seduced by the transcription of your files, a better visibility of your videos on social networks. Our Authôt application not only handles the automatic transcription of your documents, but also offers a proofreading, subtitling, overlaying and translation service for your content! It is a complete solution that addresses several current issues. In particular, the accessibility and visibility of information on social networks today.
In short, with the importance of video, but also of the text on the different contents found in today’s medias and new medias, transcription has its place.
Authôt. You speak. We write.