New proposals for audiovisual distribution in the era of convergence: the documentarybook

Abstract

The advent of the internet has changed the way we distribute media content, autonomously and independently, calling into question the audiovisual model that emerged in the second half of the twentieth century. Understanding this new way of doing things, in a constant state of evolution, gives us the opportunity to investigate the digital environment in order to take advantage of interactive possibilities. This paper presents the results of an investigation into a new format within the documentary genre that combines visual and literary content, which we have labelled documentarybook. This case study focuses on the documentarybook Hacia una primavera rosa (Towards a pink spring), which was freely distributed through the iBooks Author tool. This documentarybook offers an example, outside the standard conventions of the industry, of a differing supply chain, various reading levels and lenghts, and social public participation with optional levels of involvement. The results of this case study have allowed us to compare the degree of integration between old and new practices and propose theoretical and applied conclusions that may be useful for future social audiovisual projects.