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According to Briggs, all traditional journalists need to get their “mojo” (mobile journalist) on is a smartphone with the following:
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A camera with a flash and video mode
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A full QWERTY keypad
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Mobile Internet capability with full-featured e-mail
A gearhead who reports from the field every day needs compact versions of the following items that fit into one backpack:
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Small laptop or netbook
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Internet connection: a mobile Internet card is best option
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Camera: point-and-shoot with video
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Video camera
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Tripod: compact that folds and stores in a small space
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Audio recorder: digital; records to memory card or interfaces with your laptop
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Headphones: folding portable models that cover your ears
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Microphone: durable with some type of windscreen
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Cell phone to make calls
Cell phones have created a whole new field of journalism: mobile reporting
For mobile reporting the deadline is always right now
Mobile technology is emerging as a powerful means for publishing multimedia to mobile audiences
Journalists are experimenting with using audiences for mobile crowdsourcing
Mobile journalism can be an important complement to news reporting, especially in breaking news situations
Bottom line:
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Keep it simple: don’t lug more equipment than you need
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Be prepared: don’t try to use a new device in the field before you’ve practiced and gotten comfortable with it
Kinds of assignments to report and publish from the field:
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Criminal and civil trials
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Important speeches or announcments
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Breaking news events
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Public gatherings
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Sporting events
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Grand openings of popular consumer destinations
Some ways journalists have gone mobile:
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Mobile microblogging: via Twitter or FriendFeed or Facebook’s status updates
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Live blogging: done with standard blogging software or with an add-on service like CoveritLive
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Mobile Multimedia
1. Text is critical and easiest to publish
2. Photos and video crucial, especially in situations where no TV coverage
or other visual is available
3. Photos and video only need to be “good enough”; powerful because of
relevance, not because of editing and composition
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GPS possibly the next game-changing technology for journalism
1. News, information and advertising could be served to you depending on
your location — no need to search
2. Will change how people contribute information — will be able to quickly
and easily publish to Web sites that organize content geographically
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Portability and small size of smartphones are less intimidating and will change relationship between reporters and interviewee
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You don’t need the resources of a big news company to connect with a mobile audience
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