Read Write Speak

Journalism Next by Mark Briggs Chapter 5

Being mobile means that a journalist has the tools to publish information anywhere.Cellphones have revolutionized journalism because they can take video, audio, pictures and text.

Cell phones are, “[a] cheaper, smaller more portable than other devices,” says author Mark Briggs, “like laptops, video cameras and digital still cameras.”

“Now that mobile devices capture quality photos and even video,” says Mark Briggs,” reporters don’t have to wait for photographer or camera crew to appear on the scene. And readers don’t have to wait for the firsthand coverage.”

When a journalist is making mobile journalism they must do two things

1. Keep it Simple

2. Be prepared

Things might just start happening at a political rally or a dog show so journalists must know the tools they brought and how to use them to capture the newsworthy events around them.If the journalist does not know how to use the tools they have, then they risk losing the information and that must always come first.

The deadline for the mobile journalists will never change, it is always right now.

Journalists must decide if they are either a gearhead or a lightpacker.

Either one a journalist decides to be, both will have a hard time publishing from the field. If anything journalists will use microblogging sites such as Twitter, or they will use liveblogging. Neither of these options allow the journalist to offer analysis of what is happening, but the audience will be given the information. The analysis will come later.

Along with mobile journalism comes the use of tools with mobile journalism, like mobile video.

“It put a TV studio in my pocket,” says Robert Scoble.

Thankfully just because these tools are available does not rule out the written word.

“Text is critical- and journalists can be thankful- it’s the easiest to publish,” says Briggs.