A broadband site created by an academic in the spare room of his Surrey home has been nominated alongside the cream of US publishers for a prestigious international award in pushing the creative boundaries of journalism and digital storytelling…

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Viewmagazine.tv (http://www.viewmagazine.tv), the only British contender, is described by the 2005 Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism as: “An interactive magazine that foreshadows the future with its use of hip new story forms and highly video-centric Web tools”.

Already guaranteed a prize as a finalist, it is to compete for top honours with The New York Times, Newsday, and USAToday.com at the Washington Press Club where the ceremony takes place on September 12th.

Future face of digital media & reportage

The judges added: "This quarterly netcasting magazine integrates ISP broadcasting and print magazine information produced by individual backpack journalists ("solo-jo's") from England, the United States and South Africa".

Former BBC and freelance Channel 4 producer David Dunkley Gyimah, who created the video site in the last six months, says he's practically put it together whilst pulling in favours from friends in the UK, South Africa, Iran and the US whilst holding down a lecturing job at the University of Westminster.

The View magazine combines a strong futuristic arc in digital film making, and web usability, employing mobile equipment. Its success thus far has led to a number of invites to the US and Amsterdam for the author to talk about his vision of future publishing and broadband [brandcasting]. In September he presents ‘Made for Mac’ at the Apple Regent Street store in London and is due to continue projects with the Olympic 2012 think tanks.

Public access factor sparks commercial & government interest

David, now a senior lecturer, says he got the idea from early Russian films but the news and features has been a mainstay of his work even after leaving full time broadcasting. One of the strongest features of the site is in promoting public access digital television from the net onto the streets and he's been speaking to City Hall who are interested in the concept (get an idea here: www.viewmagazine.tv/public.html).

The Press Association, through its multi-media department, has asked David to produce a template for broadband videojournalists. It marks a fundamental shift for PA and the newspaper industry looking to feature their own online video news to enhance their brands and compete in the new market.

"The fact that we (myself and all those who have helped) are guaranteed one of the five places is way beyond my wildest dreams", concludes David, who's been invited to a series of talks in the US this month.

About David Dunkley Gyimah:

David is in the US this month [ August] at the invitation of the Public Journalism Network  - a forum for professional journalists and Educationists - examining media issues. A biography of David is available at http://www.journalism.co.uk/profiles/story1412.shtml. For more information please email Jonathan Roberts tv_producers@journalist.com

http://www.viewmagazine.tv

http://www.j-lab.org for more details