With today’s technology, it is now possible to deliver breaking news stories with only using a phone ( and maybe a laptop.) This idea of backpack journalism means that a journalist can go into the field with only a few items, and deliver a news story to their bureau just as if they used expensive equipment.
I personally can say that backpack journalism is a great tool for journalists to have. For example, recently I made a video package using my phone as a camera.
There are a few things that one must consider before pursuing a story though
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- Remember to charge your phone-This goes without saying, but if you don’t charge your phone, you have nothing to film with.
- Don’t film sideways
- Make sure your shots are well lit. Phones do not have a powerful image señor compared to professional camcorders, so you need to make sure your subject is not too dark or too bright.
With using small camcorders or phones it is now even easier to deliver breaking news, but there is still even more you can do with your phone. Check out my earlier blog post about how to use your phone to deliver video news live.
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