Mobile journalism began with "backpack journalism" where news outlets started accepting video from citizens using their cameras and phones. It has grown into a widespread practice where many major news outlets train reporters to use phones for photos and video, and platforms like CNN iReport and mobile apps allow anyone to contribute content. While smartphone cameras and microphones present quality challenges, accessories and apps can help overcome these, allowing journalists to capture news "in the moment" from anywhere. Mobile apps also enhance websites by powering features like podcasts, social media feeds, and curated third-party content.

1. MOBILE
JOURNALISM
There’s a studio in your backpack!

2. MOBILE JOURNALISM
Began with a phenomenon known as Backpack
Journalism
News outlets began to realize that literally millions of
human beings were walking around with video
cameras
They began accepting and then soliciting people for
their video

3. IT’S A REAL THING:
 The Wall Street journal trains all reporters to use their phone as
still and video cameras
 CNN iReport is an entire website dedicated to citizen journalism
 TV stations are equipping their reporters with apps that will
push back content from the field
 Sites such as MobileVideoDIY and apps such as Storymaker
help anyone with a smartphone produce professional quality
video packages

4. HOW DO YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN?
There’s an app for that!
Mobile journalism is actually easier to get the hang of than the real “old
school” stuff mainly due to apps
Apps allow people to easily move info to the Web
Mobile journalism is “in the moment” journalism
The benefit is that footage that might have been missed can be captured by
anyone
The drawback is that smartphone journalism features some unique challenges

5. CHALLENGES WITH SMARTPHONE JOURNALISM:
Cameras
The sensor that handles exposure is high quality but only a fraction of
the size of a DSLR camera.
Very bright light and very darks are a problem
Phones are light and make them hard to stabilize
Microphone is supposed to be used for phone calls so audio is often
distorted or muffled unless an external mic is used

6. WHAT’S A SMARTPHONE JOURNALIST TO DO?
Go shopping and get some accessories
 30-watt equivalent light provides fill light
 3 different lenses (a telephoto and a wide angle/macro combo lens)
 A frame to protect the tablet or smartphone and mount it to a tripod
 A pre-amp to connect an external microphone to the phone or tablet
 Kits like this run from $100 to $700

7. NOW ADD THE APP
What to look for in an app
 An app that will create interesting content that the audience will
want on social media, a panorama app or a photo gallery app
 An app that meters light at a separate point from where the
camera is focusing
 An app that allows audio to come in through headphones in real
time to monitor too loud or too soft audio

8. USING APPS TO ENHANCE YOUR WEBSITES
View your website or newspaper as just the foundation of your content
 Use apps to build
 Podcasting
 Feeds - both Twitter and RSS
 Curated content
Content that is filtered to your website because someone has gone out
and looked for it. The easiest way to manage curated content is to
have one person comb content regularly.

9. MOBILE
JOURNALISM
There’s a studio in your backpack!