Briggs Ch. 5 February 22, 2011
Posted by acusumano in : Assignments , add a commentIt may be getting repetitive at this point to say once again how crucial it is to implement technology into modern journalism, but it remains the vital takeaway point of the Briggs text. One aspect of this is mobile journalism. If cell phones allow people to receive calls and access their email anywhere at any time, why shouldn’t they also provide the news people want and need to know about? It can also help journalists find and cover breaking stories in ways that were impossible before.
Of course, journalists need to keep a few things in mind:
- Mobile journalism is not a replacement for print or online journalism. It is a supplement designed to get a reader’s attention and drive them to the more in-depth story.
- Mobile journalism does not require the most advanced equipment. Use whatever you’re comfortable with, and whatever you need to get the story.
- Mobile journalism can allow instant and interactive stories to be disseminated.
My friend Brian Chan, former sports editor for Broadside, often does live blogs for games at his current school, UNC Charlotte. Basically, he watches the games and uses a laptop to provide constant updates as it’s happening. Since sports are a constant, shifting series of events, this is a great way for fans who can’t make the games to get a play-by-play of what goes down. Of course, in the case of Chan, you also have to sit through some occasional bad jokes, but having known him since sixth grade, I’m used to them by now.
