JOURNAL : PRODUCTION PROCESSES

POSTINGS - MOST RECENT ON TOP
This blog contains:
1. Month-by-month research notes (most recent on top)
2. Schedule/timeline/planner

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FEBRUARY
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Interview: Robin Moore
Write up report
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JANUARY
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RESEARCH NOTES:

SOMETHING OF NOTE:
Link: Elaine England and Andy Finney Course, 8 Mar 2007: Product Management Training: Interactive Media
http://www.atsf.co.uk/atsf/pmtrain.html

NB: VERY GOOD WEBSITE - ENABLES USER TO GO THROUGH PRODUCTION CYCLE OF 'VIRTUAL' COMPANY:

http://www.skillset.org/interactive/overview/
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DECEMBER
RESEARCH: BBC - STRUCTURE AND PROCESSES:

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13 DECEMBER: PRESENTATION
Feedback - see London & Finney - apply to BBC processes

NOTES: INTERVIEW WITH ANDY ROBERTS, PRODUCER WHERE I LIVE (BBC SE WALES)
(BASIS OF PRESENTATION, 6 DECEMBER '06)

BBC WHERE I LIVE WEBSITE/BBC WEBSITE GENERAL
Different sites:
bbc.co.uk /news
bbc.co.uk /sport
bbc.co.uk/weather
bbc.co.uk

HISTORY
Information from Andy Roberts, Producer, Where I Live (Southeast Wales) site. Joined in 1996 from Radio 1. (Web design was totally new area for Corporation with decades of experience in radio and TV. Initially envisaged as educational tool (BBC has huge education division). Now seen as service site.
1997: Limited news site to coincide with election
98: Wales – European Summit of Ministers in Cardiff
Andy included section “Cool Cymru” – unusual, in terms of larger BBC picture.
99: Expansion – World Cup in Wales, National Assembly
2001: Where I Live launched as three-year project initially
FIRST HAND STUDY OF PRODUCTION PROCESSES
Initially hand-coded (HTML) and later Dreamweaver – therefore a centralised IT function – copy handed over to technicians.
Boosted by News website technology – News Content Production System
2000/1: “All Wales” site. WIPS (Wales Interactive Production System) – system of templates set up by technicians to allow non-technical staff to use site – template-based system > led to decentralised production. Wales divided into 5 areas: SE, SW, Mid, NE, NW.
“A lot more people creating a lot more content” (Andy Roberts)

DEFINITION AND PLANNING
Each area has Producer and Researcher; and Journalist – but s/he reports to news dept in Cardiff
Make day to day decisions and oversee input
Community generated content – mostly by email (also comment boxes)
Clearly, problem for central management/ joint projects – result: weekly telephone conference – producers five regions plus Robin Moore (executive producer New Media (?) and assistant producer
With Agenda.

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Public broadcaster with brief “To inform, educate and entertain”.

INFORMATION AND SERVICE
Travel, entertainment, local history
Wealth of information - challenge is to make it accessible and easy to use. Users all over the world. Template system – simplicity, standardisation, accommodates lots of information, simple and predictable.

DESIGN
Template based and very limited number of designs. Essentially-Index page (with thumbnail links and index), main page (onemain image with content) and galleries (enables photo galleries)

CONSTRUCTION
Centrally planned but locally constructed.

MARKETING
BBC is public broadcaster and cannot promote itself at expense of other media companies (already in trouble in Midlands – local TV stations). Also not permitted to take advertising. Board is trying to introduce advertising – being opposed by staff. Marketing is through community events, community studios, buses, etc.

TRACKING, EVALUATION AND MAINTENENANCE
Centrally evaluated – every week get rundown (see Agenda) – evaluated in terms of updates.


RECOMMENDATION/ CONCLUSION:
FUTURE: SPECIFIC PROJECT - As it is an established site, most project are ongoing. For web blog, will pursue specific project to be able to track BBC production process from start to finish, that is,
Abolition of Slavery project
Just launched (end Nov) – will follow this as case study.

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NOVEMBER
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SCHEDULE/TIMELINE

http://docs.google.com/View?docID=dcv3fqr6_0dk3kvg&revision=_latest

Production Process Schedule


TECHNICAL PROBLEM POSTING TABLE (SCHEDULE)

PRODUCTION PROCESS SCHEDULE

Week one: 21st & 22nd Nov (10am)
Briefing
Analysis

Week two: 28th & 29th Nov (10am)
Project Lifecycles
Project Manager’s Responsibilities
Make contacts

Week three: 5th, 6th Dec (10am)
Production Company meetings & preparation for presentation. (5th & 6th Dec)
Consider ‘real life’ brief.
Live Brief workshop (Wednesday 6th Dec) (10am)

Week four: 12th, 13th Dec (10am)
Presentations (group) (12th Dec)
Development

Week five: 16th, 17th Jan (10am)
Development

Week six: 23th, 24th Jan (10am)
Development

Week seven: 30th, 31st Jan (10am)
Development
Deadline Reports 2nd Feb

Week eight: 6th, 7th Feb (10am)
Development
Deadline Practicals 9th Feb