With just four weeks to go until July’s news:rewired digital journalism conference we are delighted to announce the agenda.
The event, organised by Journalism.co.uk, will take place on Thursday 16 July at MSN HQ in London, and aims to showcase the latest in tools, tips and trends in digital journalism, with a focus on practical advice for working journalist at any level.
We have yet to confirm all of the speakers but we can now confirm the sessions available on the day.
Keynote speech
Emily Bell, director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism, will open the conference with the keynote speech. She joined the Tow Center in 2010, after 20 years at the Guardian including five years as editor-in-chief of the Guardian websites and four years as director of digital content.
Live news: On the ground and in the newsroom
Mobile devices continue to fundamentally change how news breaks, but what factors apply to journalists’ work in the field, in the newsroom and on social media?
Matt Wells, live editor at the Guardian; and Claire Wardle co-founder of EyeWitness Media Hub and research director at the Tow Center, will offer their insight alongside other speakers yet to be announced.
Video on the move
The demand for video on mobile has increased as smartphone technology has improved, but what does the audience like to see when they press play?
In this workshop, Hanna Kouri, channel director at Finland’s ISTV, and Isaac Showman, managing director of Reuters TV, will discuss the different types and styles of video that they have found success with on mobile.
Building engaged communities
Although comments have long been the default format for involving online readers in stories, they too often become negative spaces – full of arguments and anger.
Alison Gow, digital innovation editor at Trinity Mirror Regionals; Laura Oliver, UK social and communities editor at the Guardian; and Alex Curry, a research associate at the Engaging News Project, will discuss their work and advice in creating a positive experience for readers to interact online.
What newsrooms need to know about smartwatches
As news outlets only just start to get a handle on how audiences want news on mobile, smartwatches are threatening to add another platform to the mix with altogether different demands.
Tom Quast and Nils Kaehler, co-founders of mobile technology company Creative Vikings, will share what they have learned from working with news organisations and audiences to give the best experience for both.
Unheard voices, untold stories
The first panel discussion will focus on how journalists can use technology and new techniques to give voice to the more marginalised members of society, finding new stories and audiences in the process.
Fabian von der Mark, who heads up the LifeLinks project at German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, and Paul Myles, managing editor of On Our Radar, will both talk about their work in this area, with more speakers to be announced very soon.
Other sessions and workshops include:
Social storytelling
As more news outlets publish straight to social media to meet the audience where they are, what are some of the pros and cons of this strategy? Malachy Browne, managing editor of Reported.ly, will discuss his work with other speakers yet to be announced.
The mobile visual journalist
Expert trainer and founder of the Smart Film School, Robb Montgomery, and experienced mobile journalist Patricia O’Callaghan of Irish broadcaster RTÉ, will run a workshop on making the most of your smartphone when reporting.
Show, don’t tell: virtual reality in news
Experiments with virtual reality for telling stories have already begun, and the Wall Street Journal’s global head of visuals, Jessica Yu, will be among the speakers discussing where the medium could be heading for news organisations and how they can start experimenting now.
More speakers will be announced in the very near future, as we approach the conference.
There are only 25 tickets left for the news:rewired conference, available for £165 +VAT, including lunch, refreshments and networking drinks.
The news:rewired+ training day on Friday 17 July is also almost sold out, with just six spaces remaining on Eliot Higgins’ ‘open source investigative tools’.
Eliot is the founder of Bellingcat, a site for open source investigations that recently published new work into how flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine. He will train attendees in the tools and techniques used in his work and how they can use open source information to investigate stories.
Robb Montgomery’s mobile journalism course is already sold out, and there is only one space still available for Sue Llewellyn’s course on social media content strategies.
Tickets for news:rewired+, including the conference and the full day of training, are available for £335 +VAT, representing a 17.5 per cent discount on the conference ticket.
Tickets are available here and keep an eye on the news:rewired website, where more information is available including the full agenda, speakers list, training courses and sponsor information.