How can you use mobile journalism to report breaking news?

The benefit of mobile is that you can be an auteur in the truest sense; no waiting around for the sound or camera person. However, it also means you need to be proficient in image composition, sound capture and editing. Along with voice-over, sound effects, music and titles there's lots to think about. While it's great to use intuition, it doesn't hurt to see what the competition is up to. Even Picaso subscribed to the idea that "Good artists copy. Great artists steal!" So, do your research: 1. Find 10 people who consistently put out great work 2. Pay attention.

1. The best aspect of mobile journalism is that there is no barrier to entry for anyone who wants to do it. 2. Smaller newsrooms starting out with mojo must invest in a good mic and a tripod if they can. 3. I have seen newsrooms start out with just their mobile headsets as well for audio. 4. Always carry a cotton cloth with you and make it a point to cleanse the lens before any shoot. You'll be surprised how this practice goes a long way. 5. My field reporting work was made so much easier with a 'Beast Grip'. If your newsroom can afford it, would definitely recommend it.

For impactful mobile journalism, strategize your coverage. Define your story's essence, identify key interviewees, and scout the best locations. The digital video landscape constantly shifts with emerging platforms and evolving old ones. To maximize your story's impact, gather content that is platform-agnostic yet format-specific. It's about being universally adaptable but platform-optimized. By not tethering your story to a single platform's nuances, you ensure a versatile story that can reach varied audiences effectively, wherever they are.

Mobile journalism, a powerful tool for real-time news, requires: 1. High-quality smartphone equipment. 2. Robust editing apps for quick production. 3. Reliable internet for seamless content sharing. 4. Comprehensive training for effective mobile reporting. 5. Digital security awareness for protecting data and sources. 6. Efficient power management and portable chargers. 7. Collaboration platforms for teamwork. 8. Legal and ethical guidelines for responsible reporting. 9. Adaptability to evolving technologies for impactful journalis

Mobile journalism (MoJo) is essential for rapid news reporting. Its agility, accessibility, versatility, live streaming, and social media integration empower journalists. Effective MoJo involves tailored content creation and ethical considerations. Training and staying updated with technology are crucial. When defining content for MoJo, it's essential to consider the target audience, the nature of the news,the timing and the platform for dissemination.

When capturing overlay the key is variety over volume. Shoot different angels, shot types (wide, medium, tight) and sequences. You'll have more choices in editing and the story will have good pace and maintain viewer interest. Give me 10 shots at 2 seconds than one shot of twenty seconds.

Plenty of high quality mobile video editors are available for smartphones but I advocate editing on tablet. The extra screen space will make editing less cumbersome yet remain mobile. That way you can set up a professional editing suite anywhere - on an aircraft, the train, in the field.

Mobile journalism isn't just content creation—it's about reaching the right audience. Choose platforms aligned with your content's tone and audience habits. Optimize for each platform, considering resolution and format. Craft captivating titles, use relevant tags and hashtags. Engage with viewers, responding to feedback, and building a community. Promote across platforms for broader reach. At its core, mobile journalism champions authenticity and immediacy. Distribute wisely, and your message will resonate.

While all of the advice above is useful, I would encourage mobile journalism trainees to assess the intended publishing platform first. In a breaking news environment it is often the case that a “mojo” may find themselves with no accessories just their smartphone. For breaking news, live-streaming (assuming data connectivity) is often first choice as it allows access an audience via social media or to broadcast tv/radio or online via dedicated professional apps like Luci Live or ReportIT (Radio) or Dejero, AVIWest, or LiveU (Television). Once the Livestream is complete then getting sequences from various angles and thinking “shoot to edit” means you’ll have useful rushes to share via platforms like MiMojo which is a free file transfer app.

Everyone has covered the topics with so much clarity but more than anything else, I feel trainees should first know which platform or video orientation they'll want to shoot their videos. Understanding the video orientation before going to shoot will help you plan your storyboard a lot better. Different video orientations (landscape, square and vertical) will give you different real estate on the screen and your shots will automatically depend on that.