E-Media Tidbits

Elsie esq., via Flickr (CC license) Should newsrooms ditch some TVs in favor of Web news monitors?

In many newsrooms -- especially newspapers -- an unavoidable fixture is an array of blaring TVs tuned to various news programs, so journalists won't miss breaking newscasts. However, in an age where online media often scoops all other media, maybe it's time to add some large computer monitors to that ambient "radar screen."

In recounting his recent tour of CNN, long-time newspaper reporter and Society of Environmental Journalists board member James Bruggers observed, "CNN's Web operation has big screens of national news sites on the wall. Wouldn't it be like print to be focused on TV, instead of the new media of the Internet?"

Who besides CNN.com keeps large, frequently refreshed monitors showing news sites in the newsroom -- either alongside or instead of TV screens? In particular, are any newspapers doing this yet? Does this help, either for catching breaking news or cutting audio clutter? Please comment below.