Practicing basic video production skills does not require access to a television station or purchasing expensive editing suites.

Anyone trying to develop a deeper appreciation for broadcast journalism can cobble together clips from professional packages into their own news programme at Know the News, a new offering of the non-profit satellite channel Link TV.

Users may use the platform’s sleek interface to clip material produced by stations like ABC, Al Jazeera, Russia Today, Asia Today, BBC, Fox News, Deutsche Welle, TV 5 and CCTV. All material is usable under the American practice of fair use, by which copyrighted material is available for comparative analysis.

Link TV received a one-year $235,000 grant from the Knight Foundation in early 2008 to “create online interactive modules that support global news literacy,” said a communications assistant via e-mail from the 58-year-old American foundation.

With those resources, project director Evelyn Messinger said via e-mail, it was possible to build the site. But the news stories on the site all date from its summertime launch. Messinger said additional funding could make possible the addition of more up-to-date material.

The platform allows members to rate the fairness, accuracy, presentation and trustworthiness of both original and remixes story packages. It’s possible to search the content by any of the components by which it can be ranked.

“We do invite non-students to use the tools on the site, but we want journalism and communications students as well,” said Messinger. “Because it is especially important that they understand the complex forces that are part of editorial decision making. Know the News places students in a situation where they must choose what points they want to make, and create stories that are informative as well as engaging, while under a deadline - a situation much like the real news-producing process.”

Messinger said the remixing application was created by EdgeDriven, a private American company, which has refined it since the August launch. The easy-to-use remixer appears reminiscent of iMovie, Final Cut Pro or other prominent editing suites. It is easy and intuitive to use. Basic instructions are provided.

Another component of Know the News is a fairly difficult News Challenge, a Flash application which shows nine rounds of videos and asks questions about the material.

As it states on the site, a broadband connection is suggested for use of the site. Indeed, a poor Internet connection can frustrate operations. But with the proper connect, the site is a pleasure to work with.

So far, Messinger said, nearly 2,000 unique visitors have registered. There are nearly 100 remixes posted.

Published: November 23, 2008