Page 42 - AIB | The Chanel | Issue 2 2011

42 | ISSUE 2 2011 | THE CHANNEL
Around the world a revolution is happening in the way journalists gather
and deliver news. Themobile journalist, themojo, can report from
anywhere with a cell phone provided he has a reliable network connection
or wifi. Professor StephenQuinn, head of the International
Communications division at the University of Nottinghamcampus in
Ningbo in China, is an expert of themojo species. He has written the only
book about mobile journalism, 'MOJO: Mobile Journalism in the Asian
Region' – here he shares some tips
his is a story of how
a pair of burning
pants inspired a
broadcast revolution.
In 2004 Gary
Symonswas covering
a forest fire in rural
Canada for CBC, lugging the heavy
pack of equipment needed to be a
mobile journalist. His pack snagged
a tree and he fell 20 metres down a
hill. His equipment scattered. As he
rescued his gear in the burning
undergrowth his pants caught fire.
“That was my Eureka day,” said
Symons. “I learned, one, that I
needed fireproof pants and, two, I
needed a better mobile kit.”
The latter led to the creation of
VeriCorder Technology, a start‑up
that puts a television studio in the
palm of your hand. VeriCorder
started by creating newsgathering
apps for iPhone and Android
phones that allow people to shoot,
edit and package on the phone. In
May this year VeriCorder released
its mobile integration management
system (MIMS). The system allows
media organisations to create,
collect and broadcast video content
from mobile sources anywhere in
the world.
Media houses could have their
reporters edit and file on‑the‑spot
video stories or they could tap into
VeriCorder’s user base to find
freelancers and citizen journalists
around the world for video content.
The beta version of the users’
database, Findstringers, went
online in September 2010, the full
version in April 2011. VeriCorder
technologies currently work only
with the iPhone and Android
operating systems.
SPEEDANDEFFICIENCY
History shows that journalists
adopt new technologies for
newsgathering if those tools are
easy to use, if they enhance the
storytelling process, and if they
accelerate the gathering of news.
The reverse also applies: Reporters
will reject newsgathering
technologies if those tools are too
complicated to use. Journalists will
not waste time with complex
technologies. The constant tick of
the clock makes editorial staff
aware of deadlines, and those
deadlines have increased in
number with the advent of the 24/7
newsroom.
Mojos attract their share of nay‑
sayers. The detractors usually point
to the poor quality of images and
the lack of depth of field. Recent
events suggest they might have to
T
COOLTOOLS
FORTHE
MOJO
THE CHANNEL | TECHNOLOGY
Journal-
ists will
not waste
time with
complex
technology
“
”