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 Thompsonjlthompson@dmreg.com(515) 286-2560@JuliaThompson on Twitter

Questions?