Understanding Mobile Journalism & Its Relevance in Today’s Times

A widely accepted definition of the term Mobile Journalism or MoJo is –

“A new workflow for media storytelling where reporters are trained and equipped for being fully mobile and fully autonomous.”

Simply put, as the name suggests, any kind of storytelling and content creation done digitally using a mobile phone (smartphone) is Mobile Journalism (MoJo). With the proliferation of smartphones, this new, quick way of journalism is now accessible to all. Photos, videos, and audio can be recorded, created, and edited on phones, uploaded to servers, accessed by news channels, or directly uploaded to social media platforms. It is basically like having an entire production studio in your pocket.

Advantages of Mobile Journalism

There are several logical advantages of using mobile reporting or mobile journalism as a medium.

• It’s cheap: As almost everybody owns a smart phone now anyway, investing on some basic hardware like a microphone and a tripod, much cheaper than a traditional setup and is therefore much more affordable. Mobile journalism apps and other features  make this medium extremely accessible and cost-effective for journalists who are on the go.
• On the move: As the name goes, since most of it is done using a mobile phone, this setup is easily portable. Even with the aforementioned hardware, this entire setup can easily fit in one bag. Imagine the mobility and portability that provides without hampering the quality of the shoot.
• Go discreet: Seeing a smartphone in somebody’s hands is such a normal scenario that it is difficult to distinguish a layman from a journalist. Smartphone journalism naturally provides opportunities to work discreetly. Also, the mobile journalism setup is smaller in size than the traditional equipment and setup required. This makes it more approachable. The people who are interviewed can be intimidated by the large, traditional setup. Comparatively, this setup is less intrusive and minimal, making the subjects less conscious. You can indeed break barriers and break new ground in the field of journalism with mobile journalism.
• Mobile journalism (MoJo) is for everyone: The biggest advantage of mobile storytelling is that the user interface for this medium can be any smartphone and apps which can assist beginners as well as professionals. There are apps that are specifically designed for Mobile journalism (MoJo) which makes editing, photography and news packaging easier.

With the advent of technology, this field has definitely flourished. We can literally create and edit content for radio, television, online platforms with utmost ease without hampering the quality at all. The device being a phone, it can be used to schedule and record interviews. We can go live on social media platforms and can actually capture audience feedback as well, that too in real time. Indeed, an all-encompassing journalistic device is now literally in everybody’s pockets.

Explore how Seamedu can significantly enhance and elevate your Journalism and Media Production.

Hands-On Training: Practical exercises for real-world Journalism and Media Production.

Industry-Expert Faculty: Learn from seasoned professionals.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry professionals for career-enhancing possibilities.

+91 020 46607500

Learn how to record, edit and broadcast high-quality video with a smartphone.

Of course, with these come a few limitations which have to be considered. These limitations are essentially device based. Quality of the audio recordings, quality of the smart phone, the light conditions, lens quality, etc. all are slightly compromised compared to a traditional setup. However, these are nothing compared to the way MoJo has changed the name of the game and news studios and channels are slowly but surely adopting and adapting to MoJo. Mobile journalism in India has caught up with the rest of the world and the endless streams of news and firsthand accounts of events around the country are testimony to its proliferation even at the grassroot levels. Soon enough, we will see this medium proliferate universally.

Of course, there are a few things that you need to do. Numerous apps assist the art of mobile journalism. Get well versed with these apps. Practise using your phone and hardware. Carry power banks and back up inventory. These things always come in handy. Also, Mobile journalism (MoJo)is a blend of science and art. Ensure that you do justice to both of these factors before making a news package.

Social Media Journalism and Mobile Journalism Training

All said and done, it is important that this medium and the power it gives you is used judiciously. One must always adhere to the morals and ethics of journalism. Know everything you need to know about all facets of journalism. And this is only possible through a solid education – it is best to enroll yourself at an institute that offers degree courses in journalism and mass communication to learn the subject's nuances and nitty-gritty.

At Seamedu School of Pro-Expressionism, we make sure that you learn not only the theory behind mass communication and broadcast journalism, but also gain plenty of practical experience as well. Our motto of ‘learning by doing’ allows you to put the theory you have studied into practice. Widely regarded as one of the leading broadcast journalism and mass communication colleges in India, at Seamedu you get to learn from some of the best professionals in the industry through workshops, projects, seminars, visits to media houses and placements, thus gaining a real world understanding of the job and what it entails. It also helps you make professional contacts even before you graduate.

Admissions are now open for the upcoming academic season.

Find out all you need to know about journalism and more about our broadcast journalism courses available at our Pune campus.

RELATED: 14 CAREERS YOU CANEXPLORE AFTER A DEGREE IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM