The mobile journalist – from backpack to pocket journalism (03.2009)

7/2009

Quinn, Prof. Stephen; Schantin, Dr. Dietmar

A mojo is a mobile journalist, someone who reports with a mobile phone. This innovative form of newsgathering has spread around the world since late 2007 and offers major opportunities for newspapers. Breaking news drives traffic to newspaper web sites, especially news with video, still images and audio. A reporter armed with a mobile phone and a fast connection can get multi-media breaking news onto a newspaper’s web site within minutes of an event being reported. This report describes the spread of the mojo, details what newspapers can learn from best practices from around the world, and discusses the options available to newspapers. It also considers how some media organisations are attracting valuable content from their many audiences who also carry mobile phones (sometimes referred to as audience generated content), and ways to make money from mobile innovations.