The Mojo revolution: a critical evaluation of mobile journalism practice and its impact on journalistic identity

This study examines the impact of smartphone technology on the practices of broadcastjournalists in a select number of newsrooms in different continents. The researchcomprises two main elements: a mobile video documentary; and a written analysis ofmobile journalism with a reflection and discussion on the data collected from each site.The research demonstrates that mobile journalism has proven to be variously a solution, adisruption, a reaction and a tool, influenced by both economic and societal trends thataffect newsgathering processes.The video submission involved 20 days of content gathering and fieldwork from fournewsrooms in India, USA, Scotland and Switzerland. The research drew on 30 interviewswith news editors, mobile journalists, media academics and TV news producersexamining their experiences of transitions to mobile journalism and its subsequentimpacts. The documentary output of the study is a fly-on-the-wall observational stylepiece incorporating talking heads with little on screen interference from myself. Thisapproach allowed the interviewees to dictate the flow of the film and bring the viewer ona journey into the journalist’s worlds in their evolving digital newsrooms.I began the doctoral journey as a product of mobile journalism as well as a supporter of itsimplementation and have solo shot, edited and produced the piece using the sametechnology utilized by the journalistic practitioners who are the focus of the submission.This allowed me the academic space to analyse, alter my practice throughout the contentgathering stage, and in turn reflect upon this. Based upon the creative journey I haveundertaken I have become more critical of Mojo and this study provides evidence of someof the concerns and fears that were previously never recognised or acknowledged fromme as a practitioner turned researcher. The equipment used throughout the fieldwork included iPhone and iPod devices as part of mobile journalism (Mojo) kits. The videosubmission stands as the creative practice element of the study.Some of the findings demonstrate a greater risk of alienation for media practitioners, thetransformative but disruptive impact of mobile technology on reporters and the knock-oneffects this has for journalistic identity. The study showed that while Mojo is proving acost-effective approach to create, share and broadcast TV and digital news with feweremployees, it is exposing journalists to increased workloads while they become moreisolated from newsrooms, under pressure to constantly upskill and reskill or be leftbehind, as broadcasting becomes more mobile technology dependent.These findings contrast with previous views held by the researcher who no longersupports full Mojo implementation and the study provides guidance for newsorganisations and educators on how to adopt a more blended approach to newsgathering,one that is supportive and inclusive rather than letting technology dictate newsroomchanges.