Evernote App for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry

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.

Price

Free for iPhone
Free for iPad
Free for Android
Free for Blackberry
$5 per month for a Premium Account

How It Works

Download the app and create a free Evernote Account. To make a new note, click “New note” and give it a title. By default, it will be saved in your “notebook” folder. You can create more folders, and choose which ones you want to share with others. To take a voice note, press the microphone (record audio) button within your new note. To take a picture, press the snapshot button. To attach a file, click the paperclip. Hit “save.” To find the note, scroll or search.

Your Virtual Assignment Desk

The problem with assignment desks is that they’re usually not accessible from the field. How many times have you or your reporters gone out to a story without printing off the assignment notes? Then they call in asking for information and phone numbers. With Evernote, anyone given the proper permission can access the information on their phones, tablets, and computers. For those without an Evernote account, the note can be emailed. Each story idea can get it’s own note. Those notes can go into a notebook. And permission for that notebook can be given to journalists in the field. Journalists can add to the notes with a Premium Account ($5/month)

In The Field

“I really have started using Evernote much more since I came to the Las Vegas Sun three months ago.  I cover casinos and the Strip. These places can change quickly and frequently.  I spend a lot of time in the field, and I especially like the photo notes. Using my iPhone, I take pictures of interesting things I see: new construction, changes in restaurants and retail, and other items I want to remember.  It’s easy to snap a pic and tag it for later. Las Vegas is a huge restaurant city, so I take pictures of menus, too. I’ve added Evernote to Chrome and have started using the Clip feature to bookmark web sites for research. And when I don’t use the valet for parking, I use Evernote so I don’t lose my car.” — Ron Sylvester, Casino & Gaming Writer for the Las Vegas Sun

Why It’s Good For Broadcast Journalists

Broadcast journalists are often required to post their scripts in a rundown (like ENPS or Avid iNews), which is usually a closed system. Journalists are constantly scribbling notes on the scene, and trying to hash out a script in a live truck, before powering up their laptops, connecting to the internet via air-card, and accessing the rundown through a pass-word protected VPN. Often times, journalists are having to re-write what they’ve already written so their EPs can approve the script. With Evernote, the process is more simple. If a journalist has typed part of a script in their cell phone’s Evernote app, the notes can be accessed on the computer. Simply copy and paste the script from their Evernote program. And if a journalist wants to keep the notes he or she scribbled during the press conference, that person can take a picture within the app and save it in Evernote.

Extras

Evernote’s Video Introduction

Webclipper

Evernote Food (Great for Food Critics)