Meld - a model for innovation in new forms of journalism narratives Paul Egglestone School of Journalism, Media and Communication University of Central Lancashire, Preston UK Professor Simon Robertshaw Sandbox Centre for Creative and Digital Industries, University of Central Lancashire, Preston UK Abstract — The aim of Meld was to encourage journalists to work with interactive designers, programmers and games designers to develop new forms of none linear digital narrative story telling – or adapt existing software applications and technologies to create new methods of disseminating content. Meld was an ‘adventure’ into an interesting space between ‘geek’ and ‘hack’. Industry engagement was critical throughout. Haymarket Media, Johnston Press and Sky TV were approached to offer an additional incentive to the participants in the form of a potential commission. Each company devised a brief setting the context for the lab session Keywords— Journalism, facilitation, creativity, business, technology I. INTRODUCTION The changing competitive and technological context of the journalism sector has important consequences for journalistic employment in terms of the skills needed to do the job. Existing generic training across the cultural and creative sector is often not appropriate for journalists and there is a shortage of flexible journalism specific provision that is accessible to the freelance community. There is a particular need to develop both the technical and creative skills required by multi-platform journalism and the potential growth of local broadband services which is crucial to ensuring the economic future for the sector. The fragmentation of organisational and employment structures within the Audio Visual sector is translated into a significant growth in the proportion of freelance and short-term contract employment. As employers look for greater workforce flexibility and new technology triggers a need for new specialisms the demand for freelancers who can supplement the permanent workforce becomes more acute. II. INDUSTRY NEEDS The Skillset Employment Census for 2006 estimated that there were 11,500 workers within the ‘Journalism and Sport’ Occupational Group in the A-V sector. Of these a total of 19% are freelance. This represents a significant growth from previous years (2003 – 12%; 2004 – 14%). The consequences of this growth are twofold. Firstly, increased reliance on freelance employment threatens diversity. The insecurity and variability of freelance work is not conducive to childcare and also the personal networks that dominate freelance recruitment are prone to nepotism and discrimination (Antcliff et al., 2007). As freelance employment has increased, the proportion of women employed in journalism and sport in A- V industries has reduced from 49% in 2004 to 44% in 2006. the proportion of ethnic minorities has remained static at 11.4%. Skillset’s 2005 Survey of the Audio-Visual Industries Workforce found that when compared with 1989 similar proportions of workers reported outstanding training needs (62%). More than half (58%) of those working in Journalism and Sport reported a training need. 94% of freelancers encountered barriers to training. These barriers were depressingly familiar. Freelancers could not afford training and more importantly feared losing work by devoting time to training courses and events. Tellingly, the highest level of training needs came from those A-V workers employed in web, online and offline multi-media occupations. Secondly, the tension between freelance working and skill formation within the A-V sector has been well documented. As early as 1989 the ‘Skill Search’ survey, claimed that traditional patterns of skill formation were being progressively eroded (Varlaam et al., 1989). Relying on freelance labour to meet its own training needs was highly optimistic. Cost was a significant disincentive, but perhaps more importantly, freelance workers risked future income streams if they were forced to turn down work in order to attend a training event. Despite much progress in the provision of training to freelancers many of these problems still remain. Skillset’s 2005 Survey of the Audio-Visual Industries Workforce found that when compared with 1989 similar proportions of workers reported outstanding training needs (62%). More than half (58%) of those working in Journalism and Sport reported a training need. 94% of freelancers encountered barriers to training. These barriers were depressingly familiar. Freelancers could not afford training and more importantly feared losing work by devoting time to training courses and events. Tellingly, the highest level of training needs came