• What is Convergence Media?
  • Our Mission
  • Our Vision
  • Our Program
  • Targeted Students
  • FAQ
  • Our Complex
  • Our Staff

What is Convergence?

Convergence is a movement in journalism to bring together broadcast, print, and on-line productions.  The most comprehensive professional model is in Tampa, Florida where WFLA and the Tampa Tribune have built a multi-million dollar facility to do just that. 

 

Journalism schools across the country are beginning to teach and practice the concepts of convergence.  We are fortunate here in Columbia, South Carolina to have the leading model for this movement: Ifra Newsplex at the University of South Carolina School of Mass Communications and Information.  This facility is housed at the ETV Center on George Rogers Blvd., providing training in convergence for professional journalists worldwide as well as university educators.

 

Link to their website http://newsplex.sc.edu

 

Convergence is not just cooperation between various media platforms – it is true integration of those platforms (platforms could be TV, the web, a newspaper or a news magazine).  For RNHS, media integration is yearbook, newspaper, photography, broadcast, the web and podcasting.  Our convergence model relies on open communication and a team approach to news gathering.  Some high school have established cooperative journalism programs between their print and broadcast programs, but we cannot find another high school in America that has gone as far as Richland Northeast in developing a true convergence program.

 

Our Orientation

Richland Northeast will host two evening for magnet orientation

 

Tuesday, January 12th

 

Thursday, January 21st 

 

The program begins in the district auditorium at 7pm.

Visit us at http://cavplex.richland2.org

 

 

Convergence Media Mission

As news gatherers teams, Convergence Media students will collect information, photographs, and video to develop into multi-media products for the students, faculty, parents and alumni of Richland Northeast High School and the Northeast community, in general.  Besides our outstanding traditional publications, the main outlet for our convergence news efforts is Cav News from the Cavplex. Many students are working together as a news gathering operation to produce up-to-date multi-media packages for this web page.   Students in the Convergence Media magnet explore and develop their journalistic and creative skills through investigative research, exploring issues impacting the school and local community..

 

 

 

Our Vision

Working and sharing information and media

 

Journalism

  • Broadcast – video
  • Print – newspaper and yearbook
  • On-line – web and podcasting

Multi-media

  • Web production
  • Photo journalism
  • Video editing

 

Our Program

 

Magnet Organization

The Convergence Media magnet is an umbrella for Convergence Journalism and Multi-media Production.  The purpose for this distinction is to encourage a broad number of students with varied interest to join the program.  Convergence Journalism attracts students that would traditionally go into newspaper, broadcast, and yearbook journalism with its emphasis on writing.  Students interested in writing for the web will also be in this group.  Multi-media production includes photo journalists, videographers, video editors, and web page producers. Ultimately, the information and media collected will be stored and cataloged on our server for convergence media students to use to develop articles for print, video packages for the Morning News Show, print and photographic memories in the yearbook, and short packages for the web. 

 

 

Targeted Students

  • All students in grades 9 – 12 with an interest in any area of media production
  • Students begin with an introductory course (Convergence Media I) before moving into specialized areas of study
  • Students develop basic skills in all media areas
  • Specialization begins in the second year of the program

 

What You Would Take in the Program: Freshman – Senior Years

Freshmen or the first year in the program

  • Take Convergence Media I that includes the history of media, convergence principles, media ethics and writing for the media, and complete a number of production projects
  • Before finishing second semester select an area of specialty (broadcast, newspaper, web, yearbook or multi-media)
  • Design the layout for newspaper and yearbook pages
  • Learn basic photography and video production skills
  • Develop video programs for freshmen
  • Learn leadership and team building techniques

 

Sophomores or second year students

  • Receive a foundation in a specific area (Convergence Media – broadcast)
  • Work with students from all media areas on leadership, group dynamics, and ethics
  • Work on your area’s traditional publications

 

Juniors or third year in the program

  • Continue to develop your skills in your specialized area
  • Continue leadership, ethics, research, and media management training
  • Take leadership roles as the Editors-in-Chief and Assistant Editors of traditional publications

 

Seniors / Convergence Media IV

  • Continue leadership, ethics, and research media management development

Convergence Media Fact Sheet

  • Richland Northeast’s program brings together all forms of media – broadcast, print and on-line into a single news gathering organization supported by web producers, podcasters, photographers, and video editors.
  • The program is modeled after Ifra Newsplex at the University of South Carolina, our partner in this process.
  • Cavplex has a single news room with a team approach for news gathering.
  • Students develop common media skills in all areas with specialization in at least one area.
  • The convergence program develops new media roles especially a multi-media journalist.
  • Cavplex is the hub of the Convergence Media Magnet, where all students work together in a state-of-the-art, multi-media production center.  Two teaching areas support this production center.
  • Cavplex houses high tech computer stations for print and web; editing bays for video production; and a conference area for coordination and development of convergence projects.
  • The Cavplex facility is also home to a high-tech broadcast studio for the morning news show and podcast productions.
  • CavNews from the Cavplex is available to our school community in several forms: our news ticker, the hall TV system and the web site.
  • Convergence Media is open to all students.  All students begin by taking Convergence Media I.   Each year CM students take at least one convergence class.
  • In Convergence Media I, the students study the development of all forms of multi-media; journalistic writing for print, broadcast, and the web, media law and ethics, production techniques for broadcast, print, and the web, and leadership and team building techniques. Most important are the projects where CM I students apply what they have learned.
  • Convergence Media is a Richland Northeast magnet. Other students can be accepted to this program along with participation in other Richland Northeast magnets: Horizon, iLINK or PCA.  Students who are not members of a magnet program are also encouraged to join.  Students not zoned to RNHS can apply to the convergence program.

 

Our Complex

 

Cavplex – the Convergence Media production facility

  • Hub of all convergence productions where students THINK and WORK differently
  • A single newsroom
  • Single content for multi-media production
  • Team approach for news collection
  • State-of-the-art production area with equipment and software for print and on-line development, and video editing
  • A conference area for brainstorming and idea development
  • A wireless and wired environment

 

Other Cavplex Facilities

  • TV studio with 5 sets including anchor desk, computer desk, small and large guest areas and a 5 person interview area
  • Control room overlooking the TV studio
  • Podcasting facility within the TV studio with green screen for virtual set development
  • Classrooms with computers and multi-media production equipment for skill development

When can I visit Cavplex and learn about the Convergence Media magnet?

Tours of the facility can be arranged.  The best times are early in the morning from 7:30am to 9am or 1:00pm to 2:30pm.  You can arrange through RNHS Director of Magnets Joe Eberlin to see more than one magnet that day.

 

 

Our Staff

 

Lynn Washington: CM Director, multi-media, web production and broadcast teacher

699-2800 ext. 79851

Nina Brook: CM Manager, yearbook, and newspaper teacher

699-2800 ext. 79808