Feb

21

Briggs chapter 5

February 21, 2012 | 1 Comment

Since the advent of the printing press, great efforts have been made to made the written word more mobile and accessible to more people, all while saving money.  As the years have gone by, news has become more available to the consumer as well as easier for journalists to produce.  With the introduction of the smartphone, the streams of consumer and journalist have fused into a single device that can do it all, and do it all more efficiently than ever before.

Smartphones truly are the “Swiss army knives” of journalism, according to Briggs.  They feature intuitive controls that make composing messages easy, even on small touch screens.  They have internet and email capabilities that make staying connected simple.  They have cameras that can capture audio and video, in some cases rivaling the quality of point-and-shoot cameras (even National Geographic is using them occasionally).  Many are ready to host downloadable applications that perform specific functions and expand the phone’s capabilities.

Phones like the iPhone and Android-powered phones are a great do-it-all tool for journalists on the move and in the moment.  When space and time are scarce, a five ounce iPhone can do the work of ten pounds of camera and audio equipment (at a lower degree of quality, but at least it does it) and get the news out fast.  In a pinch, a smartphone is a journalist’s best friend.

Taken on an iPhone

 

 



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