This lesson plan is designed to help senior media managers understand and implement a converge newsroom strategy.
It is based on the articles ‘Convergence: transforming news production‘, ‘Creating a converged news operation‘, and ‘Convergence, workflows, roles and responsibilities‘.
We recommend trainers/consultants read the three articles mentioned above before adapting this lesson plan for their own purposes.
Learning objective
Senior journalists will evaluate the editorial and business imperatives of a converged newsroom strategy. They will identify potential resistance factors and propose solutions to effectively implement convergence.
- Student-facing objective: By the end of this lesson those attending will be able to assess why a converged newsroom is important and suggest ways to overcome any challenges to making it happen.
- Standards: Senior journalists will learn and understand the editorial and business reasons for creating a converged newsroom.
Learning activities
Warm-up
Present a brief scenario: “Imagine your newsroom is merging with a digital platform. What are your initial thoughts and concerns?” Then, facilitate a quick discussion, asking volunteers to share their thoughts. Record key points on the board, focusing on common themes such as fear of change, resource allocation, and workflow adjustments. This primes students for the lesson by activating prior knowledge about change management and media operations.
Direct instruction
- Conceptual understanding: Begin with a brief lecture on the concept of a converged newsroom. Explain the editorial and business imperatives driving convergence. Use examples, such as a major media company’s transition to a converged model, to illustrate the benefits and challenges. Highlight the creation of a “content factory” and its role in delivering news across multiple platforms.
- Procedural skills and fluency: Introduce a case study of a newsroom that successfully implemented convergence. Break down the steps they took, focusing on establishing clear business imperatives, securing senior management support, and addressing staff concerns. Discuss the importance of a centralised “superdesk” and a unified news meeting. Encourage students to ask questions and clarify any procedural aspects.
- Application: Present a hypothetical scenario where students must plan the introduction of a converged newsroom strategy in their own media organisation. Divide the class into small groups, assigning each group a specific aspect to focus on, such as communication strategy, staff training, workflows or technology integration. Have each group outline their approach and present it to the class, fostering a discussion on the feasibility and potential impact of their plans.
Guided practice
Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through a structured discussion to deepen understanding of convergence challenges and solutions.
- Think: Ask students to individually reflect on the key challenges of implementing a converged newsroom strategy. Encourage them to consider resistance factors and potential solutions.
- Pair: Have students pair up to discuss their reflections. Instruct them to compare their thoughts and identify common themes or unique insights.
- Share: Facilitate a class-wide discussion where pairs share their findings. Record key points on the board, emphasising diverse perspectives and innovative solutions.
- Connect: Encourage students to connect the shared insights to the case study discussed earlier, identifying parallels and differences.
- Analyse: Conclude by having students collaboratively analyse the discussion into a concise list of best practices for overcoming resistance in newsroom convergence.
Independent practice
- Assign students an exercise to draft a brief proposal outlining a converged newsroom strategy for their media organisation. Include:
- Editorial and business imperatives: Explain why convergence is necessary.
- Resistance factors: Identify potential challenges and resistance.
- Solutions: Propose strategies to overcome resistance and implement convergence.
- Direct students to complete the exercise individually, using insights from previous activities.
- Circulate to offer guidance and feedback as students work.
Assignment
Ask students these questions:
- What is one editorial or business imperative for a converged newsroom?
- Name a common resistance factor to newsroom convergence and a potential solution.
- What’s one question you still have from today’s lesson?
Suggested answers:
- Suggested answer to Question 1: A converged newsroom ensures content delivery across multiple platforms, meeting audience needs.
- Suggested answer to Question 2: Fear of change; solution: clear communication of convergence benefits and support from senior management.
Teacher resources
Differentiation guide
- Advanced learners: Encourage them to explore additional case studies of successful newsroom convergence. Have them analyse the strategies used and compare them to the class case study. Challenge them to identify innovative approaches not covered in the lesson and present their findings to the class.
- Striving learners: Provide additional scaffolding by breaking down the case study into smaller, more manageable parts. Use graphic organisers to help them visualise the steps involved in implementing convergence. Pair them with peers for collaborative work to reinforce understanding and build confidence.
- General strategies: Use visual aids and real-world examples to clarify complex concepts. Offer sentence starters or templates for the independent practice proposal to guide students in structuring their thoughts. Provide frequent check-ins and feedback to ensure comprehension and engagement.
- Background reading: This lesson plan is based on the articles ‘Convergence: transforming news production‘, ‘Creating a converged news operation‘, and ‘Convergence, workflows, roles and responsibilities‘. We recommend trainers/consultants read these before adapting this lesson plan for your own purposes.
Notable definitions
- Convergence: The process of merging different news platforms (print, TV, online, and digital/social outlets) into a single, unified operation to enhance efficiency and reach.
- Content factory: A centralised system within a converged newsroom that gathers, produces and distributes news content across multiple platforms, ensuring consistent and timely delivery.
- Superdesk: A central command-and-control area – also known as a hub – in a converged newsroom where input, production, and output teams collaborate to manage news production and dissemination.
Required materials
- Computers: For research and drafting proposals.
- Projector: To display case studies and examples.
- Whiteboard/markers: For recording key points during discussions.
- Handouts: Case study summaries and proposal templates.
- Internet access: For accessing online resources and articles.
Lesson summary
- Warm-up
- Direct instruction
- Guided practice
- Independent practice
- Assignment
The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.
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