Being the first to break breaking news is the pride of any newsroom – local or national. If an important event is happening, editors want journalists to be on the ground and on the scene as soon as possible to capture the action.
In such situations, the smartphone is a very practical thing, because mobile journalists will get to the scene much sooner than a cameraman laden with heavy equipment. But according to Scott, this strategy only works if mobile journalists already have a well-thought-out workflow plan in place.
Much has been said about the problems associated with using smartphones while working in the field. But for every problem, there is a solution.
Such problems include shooting in low light, shaky shooting and the inability to use zoom. Equipment that gives you lighting and a tripod or gyro stabilizer for your camera can help you shoot good quality videos. All you have to remember is “you’ll have to use your feet instead of the zoom”: just get close to your subject and you’ll be able to shoot quality content.
Some journalists take several smartphones with them when they travel to shoot breaking news.
Effective workflow organization
A good example of a well-organized workflow is shooting in FiLMiC Pro using a tripod or gyro stabilizer and editing with LumaFusion. This strategy would work well for iPhone users.
In many cases, this will be enough to publish the video online or on social media. But it’s easy to get carried away with apps. A common mistake is when people use too many apps and invest in apps and equipment before they understand the basics of shooting on mobile.
Save money and manpower
Even the newest iPhone costs less than standard video shooting equipment. But older and cheaper models will do the job just as well.
This means that not only can newsrooms save money – they don’t have to depend on specialists.
Where to start?
For local newsrooms interested in learning mobile journalism skills but unsure where to start, join groups such as the Mobile Journalists Facebook group. There they can find inspiration and learn useful techniques.