The L.A. Times made a move toward expanding its video strategy today — but not in digital video. The newspaper announced a broadcast deal with DIRECTV for a series of documentaries to be called Los Angeles Times Originals.
“The Times is renowned for its powerful storytelling in a multitude of forms, including exceptional, award-winning video,” said Colin Crawford, Times deputy managing editor, visual journalism. “Los Angeles Times Originals is a vital extension of our journalistic endeavors and we are excited to have our documentaries presented to DIRECTV’s subscribers.”
With an interest in both short and longform video, the move could be compared to BuzzFeed’s recent creation of BuzzFeed Motion Pictures or Vice Media’s increasingly aggressive maneuvers in television and film. The L.A. Times is not the first major US newspaper to delve into documentary video production. The New York Times has invested significant resources in its Op-Docs programming, which has aired online and at film festivals.
