An Evolving Newsroom: Mobile-First Mindset & Mobile Devices

The world of journalism is evolving, and newsrooms are now adapting to that change. Consumers of news can obtain information faster than ever today.

This semester, I am enrolled in Mobile & Social Media Journalism class where I am learning about the ever-changing news industry, and how journalists and newsrooms use social media and mobile devices on a daily basis.

Mobile-First Mindset

We are currently reading "Mobile and Social Media Journalism: A Practical Guide" by my professor, Anthony Adornato. In his book, he stresses that newsrooms today are mobile-first.

This mindset allows journalists and newsrooms to send out content that can be easily accessed by their audience. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even Snapchat are go-to places for consumers in order to know what’s happening and what’s breaking.

Before social media, as Adornato describes, news was a one-way mode of communication. Audience members couldn’t “like,” comment or share the content. With multiple platforms, news can be a two-way street allowing consumers to interact with news outlets and journalists like never before. 

Mobile Devices in The Newsroom 

Mobile devices have also transformed the newsroom. Reporters, specifically Mike Castellucci and Boyd Huppert, are airing stories all shot with an iPhone.

This past weekend, I attended the Excellence in Journalism Conference in San Antonio, Texas. I attended a session that Boyd and Mike hosted, where they explained how to be a storyteller, and how to tell stories using only an iPhone. Mike has a whole segment dedicated to shooting with his phone, and you can find one example here.

During my spring semester, I interned with ABC News at their Los Angeles Bureau. One of my most memorable experiences was filming an ABC News Live story and a “Good Morning America” story for their website using only an iPhone.

This was taken just a few days before the 91st Academy Awards. I was helping reporter Romina Puga (left) with her live hit for ABC News Live using a mo-jo kit.

Their newsroom has mo-jo kits readily available to use and shoot with for their social media and live streaming platforms. 

I was able to use only an iPhone and a shotgun mic to film segments with ABC News Live reporter, Romina Puga. We grabbed the iOgrapher, shotgun mic and iPhone, and we were on our way to our story.

What I found interesting while using an iPhone to shoot with was the amount of people who questioned the mo-jo kit. We would explain that it was just a phone connected to an iOgrapher with a mic on top. People, especially members from different news outlets usually holding bulky camera equipment, were impressed. I remember someone saying that this is the future of filming while carrying his heavy tripod and massive camera.

It’s fascinating to learn about a mobile-first newsroom and learn how to shoot with an iPhone, but the best part about it is seeing these new ways of journalism in practice. This is the direction that journalism is moving toward and it’s only just getting started.

I often think about the shift from camera equipment to mobile devices in order to shoot stories. What do you think? Will we see less camera gear as we progress?