News-Record.com

Video is where people are these days, and we need to go to where their eyeballs are. It is part of our future as it will be part of every news operation's future. Right now, we’re exploring how and when to use it most effectively.

"Our online video initiative isn't just about filtering news through a new medium," said David Parsons, our online multimedia producer. "It is meant to add a visual and emotional element otherwise unattainable through print."

David is producing our first concerted foray into video, which is a series of 60-second vignettes called Greensboro Minute. They are designed "to provide a glimpse about some of the people, places and events that make Greensboro what it is," said Michael Grossman, director of new media content.

We have three online now -- on the Western Guilford marching band, Cheesecakes by Alex and rapper Ed E. Ruger. Because they were shot by different people, each has a different feel, tone and texture. We're in the process of building a library of minute films that will introduce newcomers and lifelong residents to parts of our community they may not know.

This video effort isn't fancy. Some newspapers are producing daily newscasts online. Others are equipping their staff with video cameras. We're not that far along.

As with the daily newspaper, we want to create content that is unique. With all the local television stations in this market, we see no pressing need to duplicate the standard newscast. One reason we didn't shoot video the day of the fire at Eastern Guilford High School was because we knew the local television stations would have that well in hand.

Instead, we see the need for quick, informative documentaries that tell compelling stories. We went for that angle a day after the fire with a mini-film on reflections on the school campus. In many instances, video tells stories more effectively than photography and the written word. It behooves us to provide both. So we're learning, experimenting and learning some more.

Personally, I envision the day when we become a paper whose staff shoots video that will either be the story or will accompany a written story. And the key, of course, is the story.

To view the videos, go here. Broadband connections are best.

As always, if you have suggestions for topics or want to submit your own videos, please let me know.

That not all we're doing online.

We are launching an updated version of our weekday news e-mail service Monday. The e-mail goes out between 2 and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, providing links to updated local and national news along with promos to a few stories that will be in the next day's newspaper. If, for instance, a big story breaks earlier, we’ll send out a special alert.

It is easy to sign up. Go here.

Finally, Tuesday is Election Day. We are publishing a sample ballot in tomorrow's paper. All of our election coverage is on our Web site. Click on "Vote 2006."

I know that everyone doesn't have a computer. But tens of thousands of people in the area do and the number is growing. Journalism can be delivered on newsprint and computer, with words, photos, sound files and video. We want to be everywhere you are.