smartphones, smart journalism
DESCRIPTION
Presentation on mobile reporting originally given by Julia Thompson atTRANSCRIPT
SMARTPHONES, SMART JOURNALISMReporting today with phones and tablets
A powerful tool in your toolbox
Doesn’t change the underlying journalism Improves speed, productivity and ability to capture
moments Can replace other tools you’re using
Smartphone reporting functions
Audio recorder Still camera Video camera Notepad Police scanner
Transmitter (wi-fi hotspot, FTP)
Publishing platform (via social media or CMS apps)
Gathering news on the go
Police Scanner Audio RecorderCompetitors’ apps
Distributing news on the go
Social media VideoNews blogs
Become a mobile superuser
Use your phone for both personal and professional endeavors
Best smartphone reporting comes from people who know their tools
Download apps for your competitors; become a mobile news consumer as well as distributor
Be ready to capture a moment
Mobile devices, apps, gadgets
Your device
iPhone, Android or something else?
Depends on ease of use – for YOU
Useful apps – Photo & Video
ProCamera (iPhone): Expanded camera options. Take stills while recording video. Adjust exposure and focus.
Ustream Broadcaster (iPhone/Android): Stream video live from your phone.
YouTube (iPhone/Android): Upload videos directly to YouTube for easy embedding on your site.
Instagram (iPhone/Android): Social photo sharing often of filtered photos.
Useful apps – Photo & Video
iMovie (iPhone/iPad): Expanded video-editing capabilities. Add photos or multiple video clips to a project; trim video clips; incorporate music or voiceovers.
AndroMedia Video Editor (Android): Can include multiple video and audio tracks.
Photosynth (iPhone/Windows phone): Create embeddable 360-degree panorama views.
Useful apps – Social Media
Twitter (iPhone/Android/BlackBerry, Windows phone): Turn on notifications for important sources you follow.
TweetDeck (iPhone/Android): Useful to filter tweets into columns – all tweets, @ mentions, searches and lists.
Ban.jo (iPhone/Android): Find people recently active on social networks based on geography.
Useful apps - News
AP Mobile (iPhone/Android) USA TODAY (iPhone/Android/Windows
phone/myriad of native tablet apps) Circa (iPhone) – Get news bites and follow specific
stories to be alerted of new info. Today’s Front Pages (iPhone/iPad): Scan
regional/national A1s from the Newseum. Apps from your competitors
Useful apps - Organization
Evernote (iPhone/Android/BlackBerry/Windows phone): Create text, photo and audio notes. Synchronize across devices and online.
Dropbox (iPhone/Android/BlackBerry) : Store documents, music, PDFS and videos in a cloud that you (or people you allow) can access anytime, anywhere.
Google Drive (iPhone/Android): Access and edit Google Docs anywhere.
Useful apps - Other
5-0 Radio Police Scanner Lite (iPhone) or Scanner Radio (Android): Live streaming of police radio reference feeds for multiple counties.
CoveritLive (iPhone/Android): Administer, participate in live chats.
Skype (iPhone/Android/Windows phone): Call, video call and instant message anyone else on Skype for free.
Dragon Dictation (iPhone): Voice recognition for note taking. Image to Text (iPhone) or Google Goggles (Android): Uses
OCR for scanning documents.
Gadgets
Microphones are a necessity for videos Tripods help in many situations Consider some basics: Bluetooth, car charger, etc.
Shooting & editing videos
Videos
Use a microphone Zoom with your feet Shoot 10-second shots of b-roll Think about interview framing
An aside on tablets
Tablet reporting
Useful for social networking interaction Good for composing and publishing (consider a Bluetooth
keyboard) Can be useful for ingesting and organizing photos, editing
videos Great for news consumption
HOWEVER …
Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Don’t be this guy.
Involve your audience
Crowdsource
Plenty of readers have mobile phones – involve them in the process!
Ask for mobile photos & videos Find sources around breaking news Show readers your mobile and news savvy in one
fell swoop
Mobile news consumption
Market research in central Iowa
41% of adults own a smartphone 19% of adults own a tablet 47% of adults own a smartphone or a tablet
Source: Scarborough 12-month aggregate surveying respondents within the DMA from September 2011-August 2012
Come up with a mobile plan
Survey your market Decide how you’ll deliver news on mobile
platforms You don’t have to develop native apps
Register examples
5 mobile reporting takeaways
Become a smartphone superuser Take full advantage of your device in breaking
news situations Use apps to make your reporting life easier Involve your audience (social, crowdsourcing, etc.) Come up with a mobile delivery plan
Julia [email protected](515) 286-2560@JuliaThompson on Twitter
Questions?