In a ceremony on Feb. 15 at the University of South Carolina, the digital push of a button showed just how Ifra’s $1.5-million Newsplex prototype multimedia newsroom is set to influence the industry worldwide, with a celebratory chime to commemorate the official start of Newsplex construction.

Pushing the button during the Newsplex groundbreaking ceremony are Kerry J. Northrup, executive director of the Ifra Center for Advanced News Operations; James Hodges, governor of South Carolina; Dr. John Palms, president of the University of South Carolina; and Will S. Morris, president of Morris Communications.
Photo courtesy of Ifra

Kerry J. Northrup, executive director of the Ifra Center for Advanced News Operations; James Hodges, governor of South Carolina; Dr. John Palms, president of the University of South Carolina; and Will S. Morris, president of Morris Communications were the men with the fingers on the button. The latest organization to join Ifra’s Newsplex directorate is Morris Communications, which became the first American publisher-broadcaster directorate member.

With a strategic eye on the future of its nearly 60 daily, non-daily, and free community newspapers, 30 radio stations and networks, 23 magazines and specialized publications, a regional news wire service, 25 tourist publications, two book publishers, and an industry-leading online division, Morris said: “We are convinced that media convergence is no longer a strategy, but an inevitability.

“We are proud to lead the United States in joining Ifra as they develop their vision of tomorrow’s convergent newsroom,” Morris said. “We expect our employees and customers to experience tremendous benefit from our participation in the Newsplex.”

As a founding underwriter of the project, and with a permanent seat on the Newsplex Directorate, Morris will receive preferential unlimited access to Newsplex training and support services. Its 217-year-old flagship paper, The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, has been designated a beta site for the advanced newsroom architecture, technology and workflow to be pioneered in the Newsplex.

Other Directorate members include Digital Technology International, Edipresse Groupe, South Carolina ETV, Jyllands-Posten, Guardian Media Group Regional Newspapers, CCI Europe, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Impresa, Archronica Architects and Star Publications.

For more information about the Newsplex and a copy of the project prospectus, contact the Ifra News Ops Center at newsplex@newsops.org.