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Tribune International Site to Provide Animated Graphics

Tribune Media Services International (TMSI) will launch News In Motion International (www.niminternational.com) in December, to deliver News In Motion and Knight Ridder/Tribune (KRT) animations, TV graphics and related editorial content to television stations and their Websites on a subscription and spot sales basis. Prior to the launch of the international site, producers can access the service at www.newsinmotion.com.

The News In Motion International site will enable TV customers with high-speed Internet access to buy broadcast quality video on demand, said Jesse E. Levine vp, international syndication, Tribune Media Services and president, Tribune Media Services International. The service has proven extremely valuable to news producers in the U.S. who use the detailed animations to enhance stories about natural disasters, developments in health and medicine and other timely topics. The graphics rely on visual elements that can be used by television broadcasters in any language and we anticipate strong interest internationally.

News In Motion has helped many U.S. stations increase viewer understanding of complex issues for years, added Jane Scholz, editor of KRT. This also helps stations build viewer loyalty to their newscasts. Were looking forward to making this powerful storytelling tool available worldwide.

NIMInternational.com will offer 10-15 new animated graphics per week on topics of global interest. New animations will be delivered via the Internet as MPEG-2 files via FTP or from the NIMinternational.com Website. Clients will have access to rundowns, scripts and an index of news and feature animations for broadcast and Web publication. Additionally, the site will feature over-the-shoulder broadcast graphics and animated clips, as well as KRT photos, graphics, stories and caricatures. Producers also will have access to an archive of more than 2,000 animations, which can be searched and previewed online. Customers will pull the broadcast version of archive animations from a tape archive at their station in their preferred tape format.

A 2002 study by researchers at U.S.-based Indiana University, in collaboration with NewsLab, concluded that animated graphics make a significant difference in how well viewers understand and remember most television news stories. The study suggests that animated graphics can help build ratings by engaging viewers. NewsLab is a non-profit resource for television newsrooms, focused on research and training. They serve local U.S. stations by helping them find better ways of telling important stories that are often difficult to convey on television. The study can be viewed in the research section of www.newslab.org.

NIM broadcast animations go where video cameras can't to create dynamic behind-the-scenes explanations for big news stories. NIM provides 3D animations with voice-overs, over-the-shoulder graphics and special video reports to illustrate breaking news and features, as well as the Total Television Design custom graphics service. To see all NIM products and services, visit www.newsinmotion.com.

TMS International (TMSI) (www.tmsinternational.com) is a premier source of content servicing the global market, offering content to online services, publishers and Websites. TMSI products include such brand names as USA TODAY, Graphic News, Global Viewpoint, U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information Services (KRT) and Harvard Health Publications; as well as opinion and commentary from world leaders and influential original thinkers; weekly packages covering entertainment, technology and business; and comics and editorial cartoons. TMSI offices are in Los Angeles, London and Hong Kong.

Bill Desowitz's picture

Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.

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