The How and Why of Mobile Journalism:

From on the Scene to in the Feed

A WOCHIT REPORT
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What you need to know about Mobile

Journalism
Mobile Journalism: you’ve heard the term, but what does it mean? Is
it just the act of capturing photos and videos with mobile devices?
Decidedly, no. Mobile Journalism (or MoJo) is a new step in the
evolution of journalism.

MoJo is an entirely new set of tactics for reporting, defined by an ever-

ready, DIY approach that allows an individual to act as a one-person
news team. Whether a professional or an amateur, the philosophy
of MoJo allows a lone reporter in the field to easily capture moments
as they happen, without expensive equipment or a full team on the
ground.

It opens doors to coverage of local news, community events and niche

topics, with interviews and live broadcasts conducted at the drop of
a hat. In opening these local and community avenues, it brings to the
viewing public stories they might not otherwise see.
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Current technology is a major driving factor in the possibilities MoJo

offers. In nearly everyone’s pocket is an HD camera, microphone, and
internet connection. Almost anyone can cover anything, anywhere, at
anytime. And all-encompassing coverage is what viewers are looking
for.

Consumers desire immediate coverage of breaking news, both globally

and in their own communities. Reporting on-the-go allows outlets to
bring viewers what they want, from every level. The interest, especially
on social, is for coverage to be continuous, with minute-to-minute
updates as stories develop, whether that story is politics on the other
side of the globe or a high school football game on the other side of
town. When these consumer interests are coupled with the current
technological possibilities, MoJo is born.
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What MoJo means for publishers

For publishers ready to embrace Mobile Journalism, the opportunities
MoJo provides are broad. You can expect more robust and immediate
coverage. Publishers can cover niche interests and communities. MoJo
also allows for new asset sources and the ability to more rapidly push
coverage out to followers. These opportunities (and more) are brought
to life through embracing MoJo, and each in its own way can help
publishers capture new audiences.

Coverage your audience wants, when they want it

It’s well known that today’s consumers expect news instantly. Especially
when turning to social, viewers want the latest updates alongside
coverage from the ground. MoJo affords this opportunity without
breaking the bank.

A single journalist on the ground can wholly cover what’s happening.

Footage can be shot with their smartphone, or they can even broadcast
live from the scene (using services such as Facebook Live).

Free of the need for hefty gear or a production crew, outlets can cover
events that formerly they were unable to, as a result of manpower or
basic economics. This allows publishers to expand their coverage with
their current resources, delivering more content on more subjects.
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Anyone can capture assets

Now, when news breaks, the time it takes to get someone on the scene
capturing the story is just as long as it takes a lone staffer to make it
there with their smartphone. This isn’t just restricted to the professional
journalists on staff - anyone in an organization can be empowered to
hit the ground and capture assets.

Alternatively, the philosophy of MoJo also encourages the use of

amateur assets. Increasingly, users on social act almost as citizen
journalists, whether intentionally or not. When people find themselves
at the scene of breaking news, their phones naturally come out and
start capturing video and photos.

This means that at many events, there is a steady stream of content

being captured and created by everyday people. Publishers shouldn’t
be afraid to utilize this flow, with proper permission and credit, of
course. A willingness to pull amateur footage into coverage only further
expands the opportunities for coverage, as well as providing greater
choice of assets when creating videos.
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MoJo drives audience growth

For publishers and media outlets, MoJo adds up to one big thing: bigger
audiences.

In broadening coverage through MoJo to local and community events,

publishers can set themselves apart from the standard. Generally
speaking, local news is often under-covered, despite the fact that
people want to know what’s happening in their own communities.

The Italian media company Gruppo L’Espresso has found great success
by incorporating MoJo into its video strategy. They’ve empowered each
of their 18 local newsrooms to create videos, leading to a surge in the
number and quality of videos they were able to publish. The effort has
yielded millions of views and even some viral Facebook hits.

Note that MoJo works so well in social videos because that kind of raw,
on-the-ground footage has the look and feel of social content users
see from their friends and networks. All-around MoJo allows publishers
to expand their coverage into these niche markets and interests,
capturing new viewers and followers, without an expanding budget.
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Is MoJo replacing traditional coverage?

Mobile Journalism is a rising trend that will continue shaking up the

industry at every level. It’s a new and important tool for newsroom
managers and media companies who must increasingly build
audience with fewer resources at their disposal. It’s an empowering
new philosophy for journalists and editors looking to offer ever-more
coverage to their audiences.

However, it is not going to replace the hard-core investigative

journalism upon which the industry is built. Organizations and
audiences still need those professionals who have dedicated their
lives to the free press. That foundational coverage will now just be
expanded and work in tandem with this next generation of reporting
and consuming news.
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Prepare for MoJo

Tips for newsroom managers and editors

As MoJo takes on an ever-more important role for social and online

video, newsroom managers and editors need to be ready to direct their
journalists and teams accordingly. We have some practical advice for
those overseeing video creation in managing the flow of content from
their people on the ground.

• You’re free to empower anyone. Any member of your staff has the
capability to capture footage that you can utilize in coverage. Members
of your video team, social team, or even editors themselves can hit the
ground, smartphone in hand. This is valuable to remember when trying to
balance big news alongside local coverage.

• Get multiple people to capture footage, when possible. Even if

you’re sending two or three staffers, that’s still less expense required
than traveling production suites. One person might get a great shot of a
particular moment, while being out of view of another. The more you have
to work with, the better your final product can be.

• Plan for special local events. Make sure to have someone on the ground
as well as someone in the newsroom ready to create and publish videos
as the assets roll in.

• Think local! MoJo offers you the chance to connect more intimately with
audiences. Don’t be afraid to show your reporters and incorporate the
local audience into your footage. MoJo also allows you to easily cover local
stories in your own language, so do it!

• Always plan to pull additional assets. Even if the footage from the
ground is great, in crafting a video for social or for your website, it’s likely
you’ll want to complement it with additional assets. Except in rare cases,
don’t expect to just take raw footage from the ground to stand on its own.
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Tips for journalists

Journalists, too, need to be ready to embrace MoJo. Most reporters are
used to covering things on the ground, and in our social-focused many are
already capturing photos and videos to be shared. This is, in essence, Mobile
Journalism. But there are a few tips to keep in mind when capturing video
with a smartphone, to be utilized later.

• Consider framing. If you’re shooting with your smartphone held

vertically, keep a tight eye on the action and subject. You want to keep the
frame as full as you can, so a vertical presentation of the clip later doesn’t
feel empty.

• When shooting horizontally, keep it simple. Make sure your subject is

centered and try, when possible, keep the bulk of the action to the middle
portion of the frame. This way the assets can easily be trimmed and
edited to fit multiple aspect ratios - such as vertical or square - by video
creators later.

• Keep your phone steady. There are small add-ons and grips that can
help keep things steady when shooting with a smartphone available on
the market. Without one of those, just do your best. Many have found that
a shot can be steadied by holding your phone in one hand while gripping
your wrist tightly with the other.

• Plan ahead if you can. When you know you’ll be covering a particular
event, make a plan of action. What are the shots and moments you’ll want
to capture? Planning as you’re able can save you time and hassle on the
ground.

• Keep in mind where your footage is headed. Is this to be part of a social

video or more in-depth coverage? If you know, it can help inform what the
most valuable elements of a situation are for your colleagues who will be
utilizing the footage in video creation.
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Two great examples of videos driven by MoJo

Channel24 on the red carpet

Channel24 strikes a perfect balance

between MoJo coverage and
additional footage in this red-carpet
clip. The well-crafted social video
jumps between hi-res stills, vertical
MoJo footage, and on-the-ground,
MoJo interviews with celebrities. That
first-hand coverage is exactly what
audiences want.

Gruppo L’Espresso Local in the wild

Gruppo L’Espresso Local goes full

MoJo in this piece. They alternate
between vertical shots of fish in the
water and wide shots of interview
footage. With a few high-quality stills
and text-overlay to contextualize the
story, this MoJo piece is tailor-made
for social success.
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Wochit is putting the power of MoJo in your

hands
We recognize the importance and power of Mobile Journalism here at
Wochit. That’s why we are making it easier than ever for our users to
integrate MoJo practices into their workflow on Wochit’s platform.

With our new MoJo Uploader, users can upload assets from their
smartphones directly to their production timelines on Wochit. When they
return to the office, the footage is awaiting them. Or their colleagues can get
to work using it right away.

Wochit users can open the web app here to start using it today. Others can
go here to learn more about Wochit’s service.
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THE HOW AND WHY OF MOBILE JOURNALISM:

FROM ON THE SCENE TO IN THE NEWSROOM
Learn more at wochit.com/blog