Mobile journalism in HK Smartphones for smarter reporting Stephen Quinn is a digital development editor at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong who has trained journalists in 10 countries on mobile journalism (mojo) techniques. Using affordable smartphones and accessories, mojo allows reporters to live stream breaking news multimedia directly from the field. The summary provides an overview of Quinn's background and credentials in mobile journalism training, as well as how affordable smartphones like the iPhone can serve as a portable multi-media reporting kit for gathering video, audio, and photos on breaking news stories.

1. MOJO: Mobile journalism in HK
Smartphonesfor smarter reporting
Stephen Quinn, PhD
digital development editor
South China Morning Post,
Hong Kong SAR, CHINA
Mobile: +852-9619-1922
Email: stephen.quinn@scmp.com

2. About Stephen Quinn
• 1975-95: reporter, producer and editor in 5
countries
• 1996-2011: university journalism professor
• published 17books and 3 teaching manuals
– Latest book out earierthis year
– Since 2000: >160 presentations in 32 countries
– Trained journalists in 10 countries
• consultant with WAN/Ifra, Newsplex and
Innovation International
• Online News Association’s international
committee

3. Smartphone = tech
convergence
Brings together
many tools

4. Why is mojo important?
• Mojo delivers multi-media forms of breaking
news almost live(delay of few seconds) …
• From the field to the TV newsroom or web
sites
• Multi-media builds audiences online
• Bigger audiences mean higher advertising
revenues …
• 85% online news sites use video (33% rise since
2010)
• Source: DS Simon web influencers’ survey, May 2011

5. Quinn worked as a mojo …
• September
2008: Grand final
preview
• Media scrum: >50
journalists; no private
i/v
• Player thought I was
just taking a photo …
• I got only individual i/v
• Streamed live video to
newspaper web site
seconds later

6. Good and bad of the iPhone
GOOD BAD
• Easy to use • Lens needs cleaning
• Discreet/compact • Battery life
• Always connected • Data charges
• Potential for • Tempting to thieves
journalism

7. Keep your lens clean!
#1 cause of video problems: dirty optics
(the phone is in your pocket, after all…)

8. Battery options: Digipower

9. Spare battery: Mophie Juice

10. Battery charger: Lifetrons
• Euro 40
• 4,800 mAh
(enough for 2 or 3
complete charges
of iPhone)

11. WARNING: Data charges
• Streaming video involves lots of data
and someone will need to pay for those
data
• Option: Use free wi-fi
• Where to find wi-fi?

12. Pocket wi-fi from PCCW

13. WELCOME TO
THE MOJO REVOLUTION
Mojo means you can do broadcast
journalism with only a mobile
phone

14. Cheaper than O/B vans
• Expensive to
operate
• Require a crew
• Limited number

15. VJ=video journalist Mojo=mobile journo
Backpack reporting kit Mobile phone reporting kit

16. MOJO course UNNC June 2011

17. Mojo toolkit (7 at UNNC)

18. Cost of a mojokit
Prices in $US
• Mobile phone (iPhone 4, 32Gb) = $550
Cheaper option: use
• OWLE Bubo = $160/170 iTouch or iPhone
• Microphone = $25 3GS
• Software = $60 (1st Video)
• SIM card = $2
• My-fi device (egHuawei) = $80 (or free wi-
fi)
• Battery charger = $100
Total: about $977 or 987

19. 1st video by Vericorder
• Canadian company
Vericorder creates
sophisticated software
for mobile phones
• Produce TV news
stories on iPhones
• Edit video and multi-
track sound on mobile
1st video app launched at
NAB in Las Vegas April
2010;new version for NAB

20. Video quality varies …
• iPhone 3GS = standard definition (SD)
• iPhone 4 = high definition (HD2/720)
• iPhone 4S (Nov 2011 in HK) = HD (1080)

21. OWLE Bubo hardware
Use OWLE Bubo
to get steady
video and
microphone for
better sound

22. Now being used for movies!
Link to video

23. BUBO + lens = better images

24. Quinn’s MOJO book
• Mojo: Mobile Journalism in
the Asian Region (Konrad
Adenauer Foundation)
• Published December 2009
• Second edition Feb 2011
• Third edition January 2012

25. Thank you for your time