This lesson plan is designed to help senior media managers understand and implement a converge newsroom strategy.
This lesson plan is based on the articles Convergence: transforming news production, Creating a converged news operation, and Convergence, workflows, roles and responsibilities, which we suggest you read before adapting for your own purposes.
Introduction
The transition to a converged newsroom is one of the most significant shifts a media organisation can undertake. It involves moving away from platform-specific silos (print, TV, radio) towards a unified, story-centric workflow where content is produced for multiple platforms simultaneously. This lesson plan provides media trainers with a structured framework to help newsroom managers and journalists understand the strategic, operational, and cultural changes required to successfully implement newsroom convergence.
Sessions Timetable
09:00–10:00 – Session 1: Understanding the philosophy of convergence
- Aims: To define newsroom convergence and understand why it is essential for modern media survival.
- Presentation: Explain the shift from platform-led to story-led journalism. Use material from the MHM articles to highlight the converged mindset – breaking down silos to ensure information flows freely between departments.
- Activity: Trainees list their current departments and identify three instances where information was withheld or delayed due to departmental boundaries.
- Discussion: Why is the traditional model failing the audience? Discuss the impact of digital-first competitors on legacy media structures.
10:00–11:00 – Session 2: Strategic planning and the change process
- Aims: To identify the strategic pillars of a successful convergence plan.
- Presentation: Set out the five stages of convergence: communication, cooperation, correction, coordination, and full convergence. Explain the importance of a clear mission statement for the transition.
- Activity: Draft a convergence charter. In small groups, trainees write a 100-word mission statement that explains to staff why convergence is happening and how it benefits them.
- Discussion: Identify potential blockers within an organisation. How can management address fears regarding job security and increased workload?
11:00–11:15 – Break
11:15–12:45 – Session 3: New workflows and the central hub
- Aims: To design a practical workflow centred around a superdesk or news hub.
- Presentation: Using the MHM workflow models, illustrate how a central hub acts as the central command and control of the newsroom, assessing incoming information and assigning it to different production processes based on audience needs.
- Activity: Trainees are given a breaking news scenario (e.g., a major city fire). They must map out the flow of information from the first tip-off to the final evening broadcast/print edition using a converged model.
- Discussion: Who sits at the superdesk? Discuss the mix of skills required (e.g., news editor, resource manager, planner, social media editor, platform leads).
12:45–13:45 – Lunch
13:45–15:00 – Session 4: Redefining roles and responsibilities
- Aims: To understand the new job descriptions and skills required in a converged environment.
- Presentation: Detail the roles mentioned in the MHM content. Emphasise that multi-skilling does not mean everyone does everything, but everyone understands the whole process.
- Activity: Assign trainees a role they do not currently hold (e.g., a print editor becomes a social media curator). They must describe their new responsibilities during a morning editorial meeting.
- Discussion: The ethics of doing more with less. Discuss how to maintain quality and accuracy when journalists are expected to produce for multiple platforms.
15:00–15:15 – Break
15:15–16:15 – Session 5: Managing the cultural shift
- Aims: To address the human element of change management and staff morale.
- Presentation: Focus on the human factor described in the MHM articles. Explain why convergence often fails because of culture, not technology. Outline strategies for transparent communication and training.
- Activity: One trainee plays a skeptical veteran journalist, and another plays a manager. The manager must sell the benefits of convergence.
- Discussion: How to reward and incentivise staff who embrace the new converged workflow.
16:15–17:00 – Session 6: Monitoring, evaluation, and iteration
- Aims: To establish metrics for success and a process for continuous improvement.
- Presentation: Set out how to measure the success of convergence beyond just clicks and audience numbers – including staff satisfaction, cross-platform efficiency, and audience engagement depth.
- Activity: Trainees list five key performance indicators (KPIs) they would use to judge if the new system is working after six months.
- Discussion: Final Q&A. Review the day’s learnings and address remaining concerns.
Assignment
Participants are required to produce a Convergence Implementation Roadmap for their specific newsroom. This document (max 1,000 words) should outline:
- The proposed physical layout changes (e.g., the location of the superdesk).
- The new workflow for a standard daily news cycle.
- A training plan for staff to acquire necessary multi-platform skills.
- A timeline for a soft launch and full implementation.
Materials needed
- Handouts of the MHM workflow diagrams.
- Flipcharts and markers for workflow mapping.
- Copies of the Five Stages of Convergence reference sheet.
- Projector for presenting case studies and hub layouts.
Assessment
- Participation: Level of engagement in group mapping and roleplay exercises.
- Quality of drafts: The logic and feasibility of the convergence charter created in Session 2.
- Implementation Roadmap: The final assignment will be assessed on its practicality, understanding of converged roles, and sensitivity to cultural change.
Summary
This lesson plan provides a comprehensive guide to transitioning a newsroom from a traditional siloed structure to a modern, converged operation. By focusing on philosophy, strategy, workflow, and people, it ensures that the transition is not just technological, but cultural and editorial.
The core materials for this lesson can be found below.
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