Journalists are always trying to give their audiences an interactive experience. Ideally, a developer would spend weeks working with a team of producers to come up with a unique web application. A great example of one such “web extra” is this guided tour of a solitary confinement prison cell featured in Mother Jones. Journalists can create a similar experience for about a buck, by using Occipital’s 360 Panorama App for Android and iOS. The app can be embedded on web pages, and shared on various social networking sites. There are several examples of how the app can be used. Take a look at the ‘In The Field with Lindsey Mastis’ section below.
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Whether there’s a shooting, a fire, or a funky flash mob– journalists need to get to the scene fast and find witnesses even faster. With the Banjo App, journalists can quickly see who “checked in” nearby.
Banjo takes information from social networking sites and organizes it based on location. One of Banjo’s best features is a map showing the images of people that checked into venues on social networking sites including Twitter and Facebook (geotagging). Journalists can use this information to find people to interview and can even double-check the whereabouts of those eager to get some face-time. When it comes to finding out who might have saw what, Banjo can be a great resource.
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When it comes to taking notes during an interview, journalists are more likely to use a pen and a steno notebook over a smartphone, tablet or laptop. It’s faster. But trying to write down everything word-for-word is extremely difficult. That’s why Frank Bond, an on-air journalist and producer at the Newseum in Washington, DC, has invested in a Livescribe Smartpen. (He’ll share his thoughts on the device, below as part of the ‘In The Field’ section).
The pen can record what’s being said and keep track of the notes. For example, if you’re trying to write a quote and only get the first few words, no worries. You can take the pen, tap it on the sentence, and the audio from that part of the interview will be played back. Not to mention the pen comes with it’s own apps, so you can even have it email your notes to your computer (because it records your pen strokes). Continue reading →
The Evernote App is the journalist’s new virtual notebook. It’s versatile and this blog can only begin to explain some of its features. Evernote recognizes handwriting and makes it searchable. Journalists can take a picture of a document or business card, and it’s text becomes searchable. Because it’s saved in a cloud and to a device, journalists can access the same notes on their phone, computer, or tablet in a matter of moments. This is especially handy for the journalists like Ron Sylvester, who moves around a lot throughout the day. He shares how he uses the app in our “In The Field” section.
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Journalists are surrounded by Wi-Fi hotspots… until they get close to deadline. Perhaps Starbucks is packed, or Panera Bread is enforcing it’s 30-minute limit. Bottom line: You need Wi-Fi now.
The free JiWire Wi-Fi Finder App uses your GPS location to show you the nearest public and paid hotspots on a map. You can also search for a location, and it will work when you’re not connected to the internet. Continue reading →
Journalists know an iPhone battery won’t last through an entire news day. It drains down fast and often dies during breaking news. The solution: a rechargeable battery case. And it’s affordable.
Companies selling these cases say they can double the battery life. While that may only be true be under perfect circumstances, the plain truth is that these cases are extremely worthwhile.
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When your assignment editor sends you to the scene of breaking news, you’ll want to turn to your iPhone into a mobile police scanner and stay on top of the latest details.
These scanners are career savers for multimedia journalists trying to cover the scene alone. You can also tune in and listen to the scanner in the background, so you can keep both hands on the wheel while you’re en route. That’s exactly what Hayden Mitman did on his way to breaking news. He’s managing editor of the Star Newspapers in Philadelphia, and we reached out to him to share a police scanner app success story, featured in our In The Field section.
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Tired of lugging around that 30 pound camera? Left your audio kit at home? Grab your iPhone (or iPad) to record and edit audio and video instead.
By using VeriCorder’s 1st Video App, you can ditch most of your gear, and cut down on those trips to the chiropractor.
It’s a suitable option for radio reporters (scroll down to see how one reporter uses it in the field). But if you’re editing video, there are some things you have to consider.
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In the field, journalists need to update their audiences in real time. The best way to update everyone on multiple social networking sites at the same time is through Instagram.
This free app for iPhone (it’s coming “soon” for Android) lets users take a picture, add a filter to make it look artsy, and then upload it to several social networks and Email.
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Remember taking that AP Stylebook exam in college? Desperately thumbing through the 400+ page book in record time despite the fact your fingers were bleeding from multiple paper cuts? Frantically looking up abbreviations, accepted word forms, and tried to figure out if “Kitty Litter” is brand name (it is, and the guide encourages reporters to use the phrase “cat box litter” instead)?
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Journalists are always trying to give their audiences an interactive experience. Ideally, a developer would spend weeks working with a team of producers to come up with a unique web application. A great example of one such “web extra” is this guided tour of a solitary confinement prison cell featured in Mother Jones. Journalists can create a similar experience for about a buck, by using Occipital’s 360 Panorama App for Android and iOS. The app can be embedded on web pages, and shared on various social networking sites. There are several examples of how the app can be used. Take a look at the ‘In The Field with Lindsey Mastis’ section below.