mobile journalism

Mobile Journalism Mo Krochmal (@krochmal)

Asst. Prof., Journalism

-at-Columbia University

Teachers’ CollegeAugust 6, 2009

Mobile

Everybody has it – or will

Magic of Mobile

“It's the only device that you have next to you -- three feet away at any point in time. It's not the next huge thing; it's huge right now.”

Bonin Bough, head of the social media effort for PepsiCo

[http://members.whattheythink.com/allsearch/articleerc.cfm?id=39923]

Forward-Looking Statements

• This talk is based on my research and opinions and on my experience of creating and organizing innovative student-run news operations at Hofstra University. Your mileage may vary.

• See my students work at NassauNewsLive.com Proudly serving the communities surrounding Hofstra university since February 2009.

Looking Forward

• What does the future of journalism look like?

The Frontier of Multimedia JournalismIt’s coming faster than you may think

• Mobile Video– Proliferation of small handheld devices using

Internet cloud-based services and not held to broadcast standards of production.

• Livestreaming Video– Using Internet-based software, individuals and

small organizations can create highly sophisticated broadcast-style and interactive operations with remote and mobile reports.

Entry-Level Tool Kit

To enter the future, you need these tools:– Phone/Mobile Internet connectivity– Lightweight Computer– Webcam/Mic

Plus

Social Media as the Operating System

The single most important piece of software for mobile learning currently is social network web sites.

Educational institutions already have Learning Management Systems (i.e. WebCT, Moodle, and Blackboard). However, these tend to force students to conform to the institution’s idea of how they should learn.

Enter the concept of social networking which allows students to connect to each other, instructors, and course content on their own terms.

http://www.pelinks4u.org/articles/beagleHodges0209.htm

Social Media

Social Media

And, One More

Hardware

Equipment Costs

• Laptop (~$600) with a webcam • Or Netbook ($400)

+Upgraded Webcam ($100)• Video capable 3G Mobile phone ($200-$700)

-- Contract=~$1,400/2 years unl text/data

Investment over 2 years (Approximately $2,100)

Getting Connected

• Broadband Internet accessWiFi – Cheap, but not everywhere.3G – Not cheap, more access, portable.

3G Mobile Internet Access

• Tethered PhoneUse your phone to connect your laptop to the Internet.

• Phone-as-Modem HacksPDANet – for Windows OS, Treo, Centro

• USB ModemBuy a USB modem, and a $ plan.

• Hotspot Modem for SharingMifi – A device that lets you create a hotspot, with password.

• Pay-as-You-GoBuy a device, pay the meter.

Tethered Phone

• If you have a smartphone, i.e. an iPhone, a Palm Pre, or a Nokia, the technology exists for using that phone as your broadband modem.

• Now, you have to convince the carriers to offer it, or do it outside your TOS:

• AT&T – no tethering right now, but soon.• Sprint – no tethering right now, but soon.• Verizon – no tethering right now, but soon.

USB Modem

• You can buy a little popsicle stick that attaches to your computer’s USB port and allows you to access the carrier’s network.

• 2-year plan.

Sprint, Verizon Hotspot Modem• A relatively new gadget called “Mifi” works with any WiFi

device, connecting to mobile net, creating WiFi cloud.

• Verizon -- $100 w 2-year service agreement ($50 rebate). *Monthly: $40 [250 megabytes|$0.10/megabyte overage]*$60 [5 gigabytes / $0.05 per megabyte overage].*DayPass -- $400 for device and $15 per 24-hour access period.

• Sprint -- $100 after $50 rebate, with a two-year contract. Broadband-only for $60; or $150 monthly Simply Everything Plan + Mobile Broadband for data and phone use.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124459621613100645.html

Pay as you Go 3G

• Virgin Mobile USA Broadband2Go on Sprint's Network

• Novatel USB broadband modem $149 from Best Buy– $10 / month for 100MB of data usage for 10 days– $20 / month 250MB– $40 / 600MB– $60 / 1GB of data usage**--Bandwidth expires in 30 days

Pay as You Go

3G Coverage Atlantic States, NE US

Computers+Webcams

Hardware

Standard Computers

Allow you to perform more complex editing tasks, and keyboard allows texting using off-the-shelf or cloud-based software/services. Good for the Mojo.

Netbooks

• What is a netbook?7- to 12-inch notebooks powered by an Intel Atom processor, capable of

running a full operating system such as Windows XP. Let’s you do simple editing. MovieMaker. Blip.tv archive.

IDC forecasts manufacturers will ship 26.5 million “mini notebooks” by the end of 2009, or more than double the 11.6 million units shipped in 2008.

• On the Horizon:Smartbooks -- netbook-like devices that run smartphone chips and use operating systems such as Android. Can play back HD video.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/06/netbook-evolution/

Best Netbook, For Now

Experts say:ASUS Eee PC 1000HE (EPC1000HE-BLK005X)

~$400

Via Hardware Central Reviewhttp://www.hardwarecentral.com/hardwarecentral/reviews/article.php/12095_3821901_2

Data Plans

Netbook with built-in 3G• Verizon offers HP Mini for $199 with 2-year plan and costs $40 to

$60 per month with caps on data.

Smartbooks and netbooks with integrated 3G also don’t make much sense if you also own a laptop.

In this case, it’s better to have a USB broadband modem so you can use one wireless account with both mobile devices (unfortunately there aren’t many laptops or netbooks in the U.S. with a SIM card slot).

http://blogs.zdnet.com/computers/?p=747

Webcams

• Simple technology that can be bundled to do some sophisticated switching using cloud-based software.

Webcams

• Low-end

Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000

~$25-$35

640-by-480-pixel resolution for video, 1.3-megapixel sensor, performs in low light than other cameras in its price class. It has an integrated microphone and a unique, flexible base that can clip on to more surfaces than some other webcam mounts.http://www.consumersearch.com/webcam-reviews

• Not Mac compatible

Webcam

High End

Logitech's QuickCam Pro 9000“A top-quality webcam with outstanding optics, user-friendly software and excellent audio.”

http://www.consumersearch.com/webcam-reviews/logitech-quickcam-pro-9000$73.38 from Amazon, $99 from Dell * -- not Mac-compatible

Softwareas

Service

Livestreaming

• LivestreamingAbility to stream video in real time.Watch: WNYW/Fox 5 [

http://www.myfoxny.com/]

Livestream.com

Livestream.com Console

Livestream Interface

Ustream.tv

Ustream Dashboard

Other players

Mobile clients: Stikam, Kyte, Qik, Justin.tv Video Social Networking:• Seesmic http://seesmic.com/ • 12seconds http://12seconds.tv/• Paltalk• Oovoo• Google Talk/Voice• Skype

Smartphones

Top 3– Iphone – new edition is out, has video– Nokia N97 – new. Pricey– Palm Pre – new. Cool

For me, video and a QWERTY keyboard are the critical factor in a purchase decision.

Smartphone Costs

• Smartphone costs:

“If you follow the rules, service for an unlocked Nokia N97 or any other smart phone will cost you as much as service for any subsidized smart phone, BlackBerry or iPhone that AT&T sells. These plans cost $30 a month for unlimited data and if you want a texting plan you can choose from plans that range in price from $5 a month to $20 a month for unlimited texting.”

• http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10260642-94.html

Bandwidth

• Average iPhone user eats up around 400 megabytes of capacity each month.

• Average smartphone usage is 40 to 80 megabytes.

• Roger Entner, head of telecom research for Nielsen

Mobile Video Services

• Qik.com

• Kyte.tv

• Flixwagon

Nokia N97

Distribution

• Outbound information

Write once, distribute.

Innovation

Collecting Your Streams

Innovation

Services

Smartphones

• Nokia says that 100M of the 1B mobile phones sold last year were smart phones, with perhaps 200M smart phones to be sold in 2009. Netbooks are also selling very well.

• http://viodi.com/2009/06/14/tiecon2009/

• Smartphones are still a small part of the overall market — about 27 percent of mobile phone shipments

• http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/06/09/smartphones-apple-iphone-price.html

The Phone: It’s the tool most of the world will use to see the Internet

Cell phone adoption exceeds 100% in many economies (Intel)

http://www.wimax.com/commentary/blog/blog-2009/june-2009/wimax-inside-0602

“By 2013, 90 percent of web traffic will be [for] the distribution of video." Mozilla's Mark Surman

Networks, Reliability

• Grrrrrrrrrrrrr

3G Reliability, Availability

The Teaching

Presentation of MaterialsI’ll present this in classStudents will find examples

Hands-on practiceStudents will be required to identify and share news-worthy content in practice, then live.

Written TestStudents will be graded on a basic knowledge of best practices in mobile journalism

PracticumStudents will report and produce using the mobile technology of their choosing.