Justin Ellis for #ONACamp at #NABJ12

MOBILE NEWSGATHERING:REPORTING FROM THE FIELD

Alternatively titled:

WHY CYBORG JOURNALISTS ARE THE FUTURE OF NEWS

Image courtesy of MediaStorm

BORG

CYBORG

Evernote

Price: Free*Platform: iOS, Android, BlackberryWhy do I want this: One of the best notetaking apps available. - Takes text, audio and photo notes.- Clips web pages. - Syncs notes to the cloud - Notes can be shared & edited with others

Google Docs for mobile

Price: FreePlatform: iOS, AndroidWhy do I want this: Google docs access on your phone.

- Access, edit and share Google docs from other computers.

Wordpress

Price: FreePlatform: iOS, Android Why do I want this: Write & publish on Wordpress from your phone.

- Works well to publish brief items or updates.- Read and manage comments.

Tumblr

Price: FreePlatform: iOS, Android Why do I want this: Lightweight blogging software with social elements. - Publish text, photos and video easily.- Build social following on a new platform.

RoadNinja

Price: FreePlatform: iOS, Android Why do I want this: A travel app good for when you don’t know where you are.-Uses GPS and mapping data to tell you food and lodging options nearby.- Handy for highway driving.

MapQuest

Price: FreePlatform: iOSWhy do I want this: Driving directions.

- Offers turn-by-turn, voice-guided navigation.

“I think something that might be useful that hasn't been developed yet is some kind of system that sends you alerts for certain tags or keywords in the area you're in. Like a location-specific early warning system. Heck that could be useful to more than just reporters.”

- @AntderosaAnthony DeRosa, Reuters Social Media Editor

Yes, these two too.

foursquare

Price: FreePlatform: iOS, Android, BlackberryWhy do I want this: Geolocation app that is good for sourcing.- Foursquare check-ins can be a good means of finding contacts for stories about specific locations, businesses and buildings.- Post news content to specific locales.

5-0 Radio Police Scanner

Price: Free*Platform: iOS, Why do I want this: The police scanner. On your phone.

- It’s the police scanner. On your phone.

iTalk

Price: FreePlatform: iOSWhy do I want this: Higher-quality recording app.

- Offers different sound quality levels.- Send recordings via email or access in iTunes

Dragon

Price: FreePlatform: iOSWhy do I want this: Dictation software on the go.

- Quick, hands-free dictation.- Send emails or text from within the app.- Post to Twitter & Facebook.

Instapaper

Price: $2.99 Platform: iOS, Android Why do I want this: Delayed reading app.

- Saves articles and other web pages for offline reading.- Saved pieces are accessible through apps or on the web.

DocScanner

Price: $3.99Platform: iOS, Android Why do I want this: Snaps photos of documents.

- Creates electronic copies of documents as PDF, JPG or text.- Allows you to search the text of scanner documents

Cardmunch

Price: FreePlatform: iOSWhy do I want this: Makes collecting business cards easy.

- Snaps photo of card- Can create an address book contact

Google Translate

Price: FreePlatform: iOS, Android Why do I want this: Passable translation app.

-Simple interface to type or speak words and phrases to translate.- Has 60 languages to translate.

Dropbox

Price: Free*Platform: iOS, Android, BlackBerryWhy do I want this: Storage app acessible on the go.

-Find & access shared notes, images, PDFs and other files.

“Get a Google Voice account and the app - it can be a huge asset for reporters. It will transcribe your voicemails into text and save an mp3 file of each to your account online - which could really come in handy the next time you get a newsworthy call from a source. It also has one-button access to call recording, which saves to a .mp3 file you can access online (making for easy publishing).”

- @MjenkinsMandy Jenkins, Digital Projects Editor, Digital First Media

Google Voice

Price: FreePlatform: iOS, Android*, Blackberry*Why do I want this: Access to Google Voice on your phone.-Read your transcribed voicemails.- Listen to recorded calls.- Free text messages over data plan.

GroupMe

Price: FreePlatform: iOS, Android Why do I want this: Group messaging app.- Create groups (colleagues, sources) to chat with.- Good for keeping in contact at large events.- Works over SMS or data plan.- Open groups as way of finding sources/ideas

Skype

Price: FreePlatform: iOS, Android Why do I want this: Free video calls over the phone.

-Video calls or regular calls- chat with contacts- Can operate as a livestream video in a pinchPost news content to specific locales.

ScribbleLive

Price: Free*Platform: iOS, Android Why do I want this: Create and run liveblogs from your phone.

-Create, publish and moderate liveblogs.- Use video, photos and audio collected from your phone.

“We’ve also been resourceful in our ability to connect iPod Touch devices to extended batteries and set them up atop rooftops in warzones like Tripoli and Baghdad for livestreaming and video capture over long periods and dangerous situations without risking harm to people standing in plain view with a camera or expensive equipment that may be lost or damaged.”

- @VhernandezcnnVictor Hernandez, CNN program manager, editorial systems

Qik

Price: FreePlatform: iOS, Android, Blackberry Why do I want this: Livestream video from your phone.

-Create livestreaming video with ease. - Videos can be pushed to other social networks.- Also functions as a video calling system.

iMovie

Price: $4.99Platform: iOSWhy do I want this: Video editing program for the phone. - Simple, intuitive video editing controls.- Easy to share finished video.

PS Express

Price: Free*Platform: iOS, Android Why do I want this: Basic Photoshop for camera phone.

- Crop, balance, colorize photos taken from your phone.

Camera+

Price: 99 centsPlatform: iOSWhy do I want this: Premium photography app.

-App brings digital camera features to phone.- Ability to use filters, timer, image stabilizer and apply filters.- Share photos on social media.

Audioboo

Price: Free*Platform: iOS, Android Why do I want this: Simple podcasting app.

- Record and produce short podcasts on your phone.- Post new podcasts to an online profile.

Instagram

Price: FreePlatform: iOS, AndroidWhy do I want this: Social photography app worth $1 billion.

- Shoot, edit and share photos within the social network.- Able to push photos to other networks.

“The key to mobile news gathering? ABC2 = Always be Connected, Always be Charging. Mobile is just a tool, it complements not replaces our current gear and skills. Most mobile tools (especially apps) are cheap – try as many as you can until you find the one that works best for you. In a collaborative environment (newsrooms etc) look for mobile tools that can be used across platforms and operating systems.”

- @dkiesowDamon Kiesow, Senior project manager in mobile,Boston Globe

(Best) Practices

• Create a mobile workflow

• Be conscious of your data plan

• The cloud can be your friend

• But back-up regularly• Wifi: Invest in a hotspot

card or device

Accessories

• Bluetooth keyboard (Apple: $69)

• Find the right battery pack ($30 - $130)

• Find the right shooting rig (Owle Bubo is popular $150+)

• Audio? Find a good external mic (Blue Microphone Mikey line $35 - $99)

• Photos? An external lens (iPro Lens System $189)

Find all the apps: http://www.slideshare.net/justel

lisFind me:

@JustinnxtJustin@niemanlab.org