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Convergencia

versão On-line ISSN 2448-5799versão impressa ISSN 1405-1435

Convergencia vol.31  Toluca  2024  Epub 27-Ago-2024

https://doi.org/10.29101/crcs.v31i0.23177 

Articles

Uses and Advantages of the Smartphone, Formats and Apps in Mobile Journalism

Yulvitz Ramón Quiroz Pacheco1 
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5453-855X

11Universidad Autónoma del Perú, Perú, yquirozp@autonoma.edu.pe


Abstract:

The mobile journalism (MOJO) is a rapidly journalistic modality. Using the smartphone and its apps, journalists today carry out their professional work. The study aims to identify the apps used by journalists across various formats, as well as the advantages offered by both these apps and smartphones in the practice of MOJO. A mixed methodology was applied. For the quantitative study, 63 journalists were surveyed, and for the qualitative study, four mobile trainers were interviewed. The results show that journalists predominantly use video and communication apps. Among the benefits provided by smartphones are agility and their non-intimidating nature. Regarding apps, their variety of functionalities was highlighted. It is emphasized that journalists must possess skills in MOJO practices, as this knowledge is now considered a requirement in the labor market.

Key words: mobile journalism; multimedia content; apps; smartphone; digital journalism.

Resumen:

El mobile journalism (MOJO) o periodismo móvil es una modalidad periodística que está en auge, pues usando el smartphone y sus apps hoy el periodista desarrolla su labor profesional. El estudio tiene como objetivo conocer las apps que utilizan los periodistas en diversos formatos, así como las ventajas que ofrecen éstas y el smartphone en el ejercicio del MOJO. Se aplicó una metodología mixta. Para el estudio cuantitativo se encuestó a 63 periodistas, y para el estudio cualitativo se entrevistó a cuatro entrenadores móviles. Los resultados muestran que los periodistas utilizan más las apps de video y comunicación. Entre los beneficios que brinda el smartphone están la agilidad y el no intimidar, y en referencia a las apps se mencionó su variedad de funcionalidades. Se resalta que los periodistas deben poseer habilidades en prácticas MOJO, ya que estos conocimientos se consideran hoy un requisito en el mercado laboral.

Palabras clave: periodismo móvil; contenido multimedia; apps; smartphone; periodismo digital

Introduction

The roles of journalism have changed (Bakker, 2014) and with digital profiles expected to remain in high demand by companies in the coming years (Inesdi Digital Business School, 2020) , new journalistic job profiles such as transmedia journalism (Gambarato and Alzamora, 2018), virtual reality (Rocha and Rocha, 2021) and mobile journalism (Kumar and Haneef, 2018) are now being observed.

When discussing the latter, it is distinguished that while the term does not have a unanimous conceptualisation from the point of view of academia (López-García et al., 2019) , as some studies contextualise it specifically in the field of information transmission via a mobile device (Boczek and Koppers, 2020) , while others link it to journalistic work and the production of information when making use of a smartphone (Salzmann et al., 2023) , it should be noted that for the purposes of this research, the definition provided by one of the promoters of this journalistic speciality, Ivo Burum (2021) , will be adopted. He refers to mobile journalism as a narrative style that uses the smartphone to produce and edit audiovisual material that will later be published on a media platform (radio, television, social networks, or others).

The emergence and use of the smartphone have transformed the production and distribution of the traditional media industry (Barrios-Rubio and Pedrero-Esteban, 2021) , which innovates and modifies journalistic work (Mielniczuk, 2013) . In this context, journalists can no longer view smartphones solely as communication instruments but also as tools that are implemented as essential elements in their work (Trabadela and González, 2020) . Furthermore, the fact that smartphones today are equipped with a vast array of image, audio, video, text, and messaging apps allows journalists to expedite their work and enhance the content they produce.

The general objective of the research is to identify which apps are used by journalists in different professional formats: photography, video, audio, text/editing, and communication/information storage, as well as the advantages offered by these and the smartphone in the practice of MOJO. Moreover, the first specific objective is to define mobile journalism; the second specific objective is to know the incidence of the smartphone in journalistic work, and the third specific objective is to present a perspective on the future of the MOJO.

Mobile Journalism

With journalism being shaped in form and practice by the state in which technology develops (Dutta and Gangopadhyay, 2019) , the practice of mobile journalism is no longer considered atypical today (Goggin, 2020) . Referred to by some authors as “solo journalism” (Blankenship and Riffe, 2021) or “backpack journalism” (Zafra, 2018) , mobile journalism, or MOJO, is described as “a journalistic technique of individual production” (Rodrigues et al., 2021: 282) , in which professional, cross-platform audiovisual use is made of smartphones to capture, film, write, edit, and publish news (Martín-Pascual and Andreu-Sánchez, 2017) ; hence, MOJO is recognised as an innovative way of reporting (Burum and Quinn, 2016) ."

As one of the areas of journalism that has experienced significant growth in recent years (Hill and Bradshaw, 2018) , various academic materials are now available on the practice of MOJO (Amigo, 2024; Bernal-Triviño, 2014; Burum, 2021; Montgomery, 2020; Staschen, 2017) . Consequently, a number of changes are currently taking place in media newsrooms. Thanks to the instrumental hypermultifunctionality of smartphones (Fumero, 2010) , journalists have gained greater autonomy and independence in their coverage (Batista, 2021) , enabling them to create multimedia pieces that, with their distinct characteristics, contribute to the diversity of narrative models in the current digital landscape (López-García and Vázquez-Herrero, 2019) . Thus, audiovisual content can be seen in the form of social media clips (Richardson, 2020) , 360° multimedia narratives (Sidorenko-Bautista et al., 2020) , and immersive content (Colussi and Assunção, 2020) , produced in innovation labs established by various media outlets in the second decade of the 21st century, such as the BBC and RTVE (Zaragoza and García, 2024) .

Another change observed in newsrooms due to MOJO relates to the ability to access sources from virtually anywhere, which accelerates investigative journalism (Martínez-Fresneda et al., 2023) . Additionally, media outlets now employ more specialised professionals and greater interaction with their audience (Westlund and Ekström, 2019) . Furthermore, as the smartphone is considered a 'Swiss army knife' for journalists due to the multitude of tools it provides (Quinn, 2012) and has become an indispensable instrument for journalism today (Pavlik, 2019) , MOJO professionals benefit from several advantages in the exercise of their work by utilising this tool.

Among these advantages are the ability to enter hard-to-reach places with a smartphone and broadcast from them (Karhunen, 2017) , as well as the journalist's discretion, since the smartphone is a device commonly used by the public (Allan, 2016) and does not intimidate (Adornato, 2022) . Quinn (2009) highlights another advantage: the ability to produce content in different formats, as well as the agility journalists gain when using a small and lightweight device (Barros, 2021) . Additionally, journalism professionals can capture, create, and disseminate information with their smartphones from any location, enhancing their ability to work and report directly from the scene of an event (Westlund, 2013) . Finally, other advantages include the smartphone's ample storage capacity (Cebrián-Herreros and Flores-Vivar, 2011) and the cost savings associated with MOJO, due to minimal investment in equipment (Al Jazeera, 2017) .

There is no doubt that, in this digital era, the smartphone has become an essential tool in a journalist's professional life. Therefore, it is crucial for journalists to have an in-depth understanding of this mobile device to fully leverage the advantages it offers, particularly in a context where mobile journalism is expected to dominate the news as 5G technology becomes widespread (Mulcahy, cited in Thomson Foundation, 2016) .

Apps

According to Flores-Vivar (2017) , an application, or app, is a computer programme designed to perform a specific task of any kind, focused on direct interaction with the user and intended to operate on smartphones, tablets, or other mobile devices (Belair-Gagnon et al., 2018) . Currently, the apps available in this digital context are indeed abundant: Android (Google Play) and iOS (App Store) are the operating systems that dominate the mobile app market (Chmielarz et al., 2021) .

The importance of the term mobile application, or app, is underscored by the fact that the American Dialect Society (2011) selected it as the Word of the Year in 2010. Today, this has led to the development of an 'App Culture,' which can be defined as a culture originating from mobile devices due to the accelerated increase in app downloads. This culture adapts 'to new forms of expression and social reaffirmation, redefining the structural role of communication and journalism' (Rublescki et al., 2013: 124) .

Although there are numerous apps that are well-suited to the development of a journalist's professional work and assist in carrying out their functions (Knihová, 2018) , it should be noted that almost all of these apps were not specifically developed for journalistic practice. Nonetheless, this does not preclude journalists from using them to optimise their work, especially in a digital context where apps play a significant role (Nozal et al., 2020) .

Methodology

The study employs a mixed-method approach (Sánchez-Gómez et al., 2020) , combining both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (semi-structured interview) techniques. In the initial phase of the research, aimed at identifying the apps used by journalists in various professional formats such as photography, video, audio, text/writing, and communication/information storage, alongside the benefits these tools and smartphones offer in the practice of mobile journalism (MOJO), a survey was conducted. The Shoulderpod account on “X” (formerly Twitter) was selected as the unit of study to being this process. This choice was informed by several considerations: Shoulderpod is a company that specialises in designing and manufacturing professional mobile equipment for digital storytellers and visual creators, attracting a significant number of mobile journalists to its social media presence. Furthermore, studies, including one by Pew Research Center (2022), suggest that “X” is the social network most frequently used by journalists. Additionally, “X” provides the advantage of immediate access to users' biographies.

In line with this, upon reviewing the Shoulderpod account on “X” (June 2022), the goal was to establish the population based on biographies containing specific terms such as MOJO, mobile journalist, mobile journalism, mobile storytelling, MOJO trainer, MOJO journalism, MOJO reporter, mobile producer, and MOJO storyteller. This process identified a total of 305 individuals. Subsequently, the survey was distributed to 63 MOJO professionals from various countries (France, the Netherlands, Ecuador, Croatia, Kenya, Italy, the United States, Colombia, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Ghana, Canada, Ukraine, and Argentina). These individuals were considered the sample for the study.

Before implementation, the survey was validated by two experts, both professionals in mobile journalism. The sample selection was justified by the use of filter questions in the second section of the survey. (type of professional work, the advantages they find in working with the mobile device, and the formats or areas they work with the smartphone in their professional work) and thus was done to confirm their professional experience in mobile journalism (MOJO), ensuring they were qualified to complete the survey. This approach mirrors that of Rodrigues et al. (2021) , who analysed MOJO as a new journalistic technique aligned with the demands of 21st-century work. Data collection took place between July and December 2022, with the data processed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26 software.

The survey consisted of seven sections, two of which were mandatory: the first on personal data (first name, surname and nationality) and the second on professional work with apps and smartphone (type of professional work, use of apps integrated or downloaded on your smartphone, and whether these are free or paid, the operating system of your smartphone, the advantages you find when working with this mobile device, and the formats or areas you work with the smartphone in your professional work); and five optional sections that considered the work of MOJO professionals with the aforementioned work formats (section 3: photography, section 4: video, section 5: audio, section 6: text/writing, and section 7: communication/information storage). In that sense, respondents had the choice of answering either only one of these last five sections, or all of them. It should be noted that the questions in the five optional sections had the same tenor and were in the same number in each section (three); they were aimed at finding out how many apps these professionals use in their area of work, which apps they use and the reasons for their use in their professional work, as well as the benefits and advantages they offer them in their work. It should be noted that the 63 professionals considered for the sample of this study answered the two compulsory sections and at least one optional section.

For the second part of the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted, following the approach of Ahmad (2023) , who interviewed journalism professionals to analyse the adoption of smartphones as journalistic tools at BBC World News and Al Jazeera English. In this study, four mobile trainers were interviewed. These individuals were not part of the survey, as the objective was to complement and broaden the understanding of MOJO professional practice.

In alignment with the specific objectives (SO), the interview began by asking the trainers to define mobile journalism (SO 1). This was followed by three questions addressing the impact of smartphones on journalistic work (SO 2) and concluded with their perspectives on the future of MOJO (SO 3). The interviews took place between 14 March and 7 April 2023 via the Zoom platform, with each session lasting an average of 40 minutes. The mobile trainers interviewed were:

  • Ana López: Lecturer in mobile journalism for the Master's Degree in Multimedia Journalism at the International University of Valencia.

  • Matías Amigo: Advisor and trainer for media and companies on creating audiovisual content using smartphones.

  • Pipo Serrano: Radio and television journalist, and author of La transformación digital de una redacción y el periodismo móvil (MOJO).

  • Christian Espinosa: Director of Cobertura Digital, who teaches mobile journalism in several Latin American countries.

Results

Quantitative Analysis

When addressing the general objective of identifying the apps used by journalists across various professional formats—photography, video, audio, text/editing, and communication/information storage—along with the advantages offered by these apps and smartphones in the practice of mobile journalism (MOJO), the first section of personal data reveals that the sample of 63 professionals consists of 51 men and 12 women from 18 countries (ten from Europe, five from the Americas, and three from Africa). In the second section, which explores the specifics of professional work with apps and smartphones, 57 respondents identified themselves as mobile journalists who work with all or at least two of the formats: photography, video, audio, text/editing, and communication/information storage. The remaining six are exclusively focused on mobile photography. Of the 57 mobile journalists, 30 also indicated their involvement in MOJO training, three worked in creative direction, two served as mobile communication consultants, and one was engaged in the mobile artistic field.

Regarding whether journalists use only the apps already integrated into their smartphones or if they also work with additional apps downloaded to their devices, 56 respondents indicated that they use both types of apps, while seven reported that they only use downloaded apps. When asked about their usage of free versus paid apps, 55 respondents said they use both, five use only free apps, and three use only paid apps. Among the journalists who download paid apps, 33 reported spending 20 dollars or more, nine spend between 15 and 19 dollars, six spend between 10 and 14 dollars, and ten spend between one and nine dollars. Additionally, when inquired about their operating systems, iOS (Apple) emerged as the most commonly used, with 30 participants using it exclusively, compared to 16 who use only Android (Google). The remaining 17 participants reported using both operating systems.

When asked about the advantages of using a smartphone in mobile journalism (MOJO), 52 journalists noted that it allows them to access difficult-to-reach locations. Additionally, 38 journalists mentioned that using a mobile device enables them to go unnoticed, as it is commonly used by people. A majority of 53 respondents felt that smartphones facilitate the development of multimedia content. Furthermore, 61 journalists appreciated the greater agility provided by the smartphone due to its lightweight and compact nature. Among the respondents, 55 valued the non-intimidating nature of the smartphone, while 49 noted that it reduces costs related to acquisition and maintenance compared to traditional analogue audiovisual equipment. To a lesser extent, 14 journalists cited the smartphone's storage capacity as an advantage, ten mentioned its ease of use, and eight highlighted its portability.

To conclude this section, when asked about the formats or areas in which they use smartphones for their professional work, 57 journalists reported using them for taking photographs, 61 for developing video content, 44 for producing audio material, 11 for creating written content, and 62 for utilizing communication and storage tools.

The third section focuses on professional work in photography. Of the 57 professionals who use their smartphones for photography, 11reported using more than five apps for their professional work, 13 use between four and five apps, 18 use between two and three apps, and 15 use only one app. Table 1 2 lists the photography apps most frequently used by the journalists surveyed, alons with the functions they perform. Other apps reported being used in smaller numbers include Focos, Quik, ProCamera, Hipstamatic y Reeflex. When asked why they use these apps, 45 professionals cited various functionalities (long exposure, retouching, styling), 28 said they enhance the attractiveness of images, 31 mentioned ease of use with range of tolos, 23 noted the superiority of editing apps over the built-in camera, and 25 aprecciated the greater control they provide.

The fourth section addresses professional video work. In this field, of the 61 journalists who develop video content, 18 reported using more than five apps to carry out their work, 16 use between four and five apps, 22 use between two and three apps, and five use only one app. Table 2 presents the video apps most commonly used by the survey participants and the functions they perform with them. Additionally, other apps mentioned less frequently include Cinema FV-5, Hyperlapse, MoJoPro, CapCut, and Videoleap. When asked why they use these apps, 35 respondents cited the ability to shoot in formats not supported by native applications, 28 for better control of the application, 37 for the variety of tools, 42 mentioned that it improves video quality, and 16 indicated that it allows them to complete their work faster.

The fifth section focuses on professional audio work. In this area, of the 44 journalists who use their smartphones for audio work, six reported using more than five applications, seven use between four and five apps, 22 use between two and three apps, and nine only use one app. Table 3 displays the audio apps most commonly used by the surveyed professionals and the functions they perform with them. Additionally, other apps that were occasionally mentioned include Auphonic, Mikme, Dictation, Spreaker Studio, and ShurePlus MOTIV. When asked why they use these apps, 27 respondents highlighted their integration with other apps, 32 mentioned that they improve the quality of the recorded content, 23 cited the variety of tools, 38 for their ease of use, and seven indicated they use them for immediate transfer to radio.

The sixth section focuses on professional text/editing work. Of the 11 journalists who reported working on text/editing with their mobile devices, none used four or more apps for this task; eight used between two and three apps, and three used only one app. Table 4 presents the text/editing apps most frequently used by journalists and the functions they perform with them. Due to the limited use of this format, three journalists mentioned sporadic use of the apps Notability and Grammarly Keyboard. When asked why they use these apps, ten cited the ease of using the same file on both the smartphone and computer, five mentioned the ability to advance their text while commuting, three for quick correction and sending of information, three for better organization of their documents, and two because the versatility of the application simplifies their work.

The seventh and final section of the survey examined professional work in communication/storage. Of the 62 journalists who use their smartphones for communication/storage, 18 reported using more than five apps, 21 use between four and five apps, 15 use between two and three apps, and eight use only one app. Table 5 presents the communication/storage apps most frequently used by journalists and the functions they perform with them. Other apps mentioned for occasional use include Snapchat, Skype, Microsoft OneDrive, Nextcloud, and SwissTransfer. When asked why they use these apps, 57 respondents indicated that they use them because many people already have these apps on their smartphones, 51 cited the immediacy of communication, 60 highlighted the efficiency of data retrieval, 42 mentioned the security of data transfer, and 59 referred to the ease of use.

Qualitative Analysis

In relation to the first specific objective, when asked to define mobile journalism, the four interviewees agreed that it is a journalistic practice that utilizes smartphones to produce multimedia content. Ana López, Pipo Serrano, and Christian Espinosa concurred that mobile journalism does not need to be considered a distinct form of journalism, as the only difference in this modality is the use of mobile devices, which are widely accessible (Ana López). These devices facilitate part of the fieldwork (Pipo Serrano) and allow for the creation of diverse narratives (Christian Espinosa). It can be concluded that mobile journalism (MOJO) represents a significant evolution in news practice, reshaping the traditional concept of news coverage as journalists integrate mobile technologies with journalistic principles.

Likewise, Matias Amigo stated that mobile journalism (MOJO) is in constant evolution due to the vast array of applications available, which enable journalists to achieve different outcomes and offer varied treatments of the same information, catering to different audience niches. As a result, mobile journalism ensures that information is transmitted both accurately and instantly to a global audience.

Considering the second specific objective, three questions were posed about the impact of smartphones on journalistic work. In response to the first question regarding the importance of the content to be transmitted, Ana López emphasized the necessity of mastering mobile tools to produce quality content. Matías Amigo agreed, adding that the content generated must evoke sensations and empathy from the audience, highlighting the importance of considering the audience’s perspective. Similarly, Christian Espinosa asserted that journalists must understand the entire process, from production to creating impactful narratives. He also reflected on the need for universities to update their curricula to include courses on mobile journalism, aligning with the current demands of the labor market, which require communication professionals to have knowledge in all areas influenced by digital technology. Pipo Serrano shared this view, stating that teaching mobile journalism is highly beneficial, as MOJO offers numerous opportunities for accessing the labor market, allowing new journalists to engage directly with the realities of fieldwork.

With these considerations in mind, the interviewees were asked about the adaptation process of so-called ‘analogue’ journalists to digital technologies. Matías Amigo suggested that these professionals must embrace the concept of "unlearning to relearn" in order to adapt to the digital context. Pipo Serrano emphasized that analogue journalists need to step out of their comfort zones, understanding that mobile journalism (MOJO) is simply a modality that complements traditional journalistic work. He noted that mastering MOJO techniques can be beneficial in various work environments. Ana López, on the other hand, advocated for a collaboration between new entrants into the labor market and analogue journalists, suggesting that the former should share their knowledge of digital tools, while the latter should offer their extensive professional experience. Christian Espinosa added that journalists must become ‘amphibious,’ meaning versatile in both analogue and digital techniques. Otherwise, they risk being replaced by media outlets seeking professionals skilled in using new technological tools.

This analysis highlights the importance of training journalists in new technologies within the digital context, as these tools enhance both speed and accuracy in their work. It is essential to recognize that proficiency with digital tools not only improves the efficiency of journalistic tasks but also strengthens journalists' ability to adapt to the ever-changing media landscape.

The final question related to this objective focused on the interviewees' views regarding the label of the smartphone as a ‘Swiss Army Knife.’ From a positive standpoint, the four professionals agreed on the value of having such a versatile tool. They noted that smartphones enable journalists to perform multiple functions, including recording, editing, and disseminating audiovisual, photographic, and textual content (Ana López, Pipo Serrano, and Christian Espinosa). Additionally, Matías Amigo pointed out that it is not necessary for journalists to master every app on their mobile device; being proficient in just two or three apps for each format is sufficient to work efficiently (Matias Amigo).

These perspectives clearly show that the mobile phone has become an indispensable tool for modern journalism. Its diversity of functions, such as capturing high-quality photos and videos in real time or being able to investigate, contrast and publish information from the scene not only increases the speed and accessibility of news coverage, but also favours access to information. However, from a negative angle, the four also expressed similar ideas, as it can lead to the so-called ‘orchestra journalist’, which makes journalists precarious by telling them to do many things at the same time for several platforms and that in the end they will not do any of them well (Christian Espinosa). Therefore, this is a situation that cannot be allowed, since journalism is a public service and it is not right to lower the quality of the journalistic product by having to do more work than was previously done in the same period (Ana López), and even more so in a context in which the consumption of information sets a trend that leads journalists to specialise in a single format (Matías Amigo).

At this point, there is concern about the quality of the content and the very objectivity of the information, as the phenomenon of the ‘journalist orchestrator’ dilutes a fundamental characteristic of journalism: specialisation. Therefore, media outlets must balance the practicality of assigning multiple roles with maintaining professional integrity, in order to safeguard the professional excellence of journalism. Pipo Serrano remarked that it is impossible to fully replace a newsroom filled with professional cameras and equipment with one solely relying on MOJO tools, as there will always be professionals dedicated to recording and others to editing—unless a journalist owns their own media outlet and generates all their own content.

Finally, regarding the third specific objective on the interviewees' perspectives on the future of MOJO, Matías Amigo argued that mobile journalism has already advanced to a point where all journalists now have the opportunity to create content on any platform. Pipo Serrano noted that future journalists must understand all the possibilities their smartphones offer and, from there, craft the best story, as storytelling remains the essence of journalism. Similarly, Ana López pointed out that MOJO is here to stay and will play a greater role in journalistic ventures, especially those with limited budgets. She believes that smartphones will be highly beneficial for future journalism professionals, particularly those who specialize in generating audiovisual content.

Lastly, Christian Espinosa stated that MOJO will evolve to a stage where it will integrate with artificial intelligence, allowing journalistic work to be completed much faster than it is currently done using smartphones. He highlighted that MOJO represents a revolution in professional journalism, challenging traditional journalism prototypes by incorporating multimedia, interactivity, and increasingly dynamic narratives. While this new context will bring about new ways of creating content, Espinosa stressed the importance of journalists upholding the principles of verifying and contrasting information.

Discussion and Conclusions

The use of apps is becoming increasingly widespread in a society deeply connected to the mobile market, and journalism is no exception to this trend. Regarding the general objective of identifying which apps are used by journalists across various professional formats—photography, video, audio, text/editing, and communication/information storage—as well as the advantages these apps and smartphones offer in the practice of MOJO, this study found that the most frequently used apps among the journalists surveyed include Ferrite, Filmic Pro, FiLMiC Firstlight, Word, WhatsApp, and Lu-Smart. This aligns with findings by Amigo (2024) and Burum (2017) that Filmic Pro is the most widely used video app in MOJO due to its ability to provide full control over camera functions. It also concurs with Al Jazeera (2021) that Ferrite is a popular audio app among radio reporters, particularly for podcasting because of its ease of use, and with We Are Social (2023), which noted that WhatsApp is commonly used in professional settings for peer-to-peer communication and seeking expert opinions.

The research confirms that the use of apps and smartphones offers numerous and wide-ranging advantages for journalistic work. One of the main benefits is that it makes the execution of various tasks more accessible, faster, and easier, a point also emphasized in studies by Lydersen (2020) and Salzmann (2022) , as well as in journalistic manuals such as those of Al Jazeera (2017). This aligns with the popular notion in today's society of "there's an app for that" (Miller et al., 2021).

In addressing the first specific objective, which is to provide a definition of mobile journalism, this study proposes the following definition: Mobile journalism (MOJO) is a journalism specialty that uses smartphones to generate multimedia content and thus contribute to new narratives. Within this conceptualization, two fundamental aspects stand out for professionals in this field: the ability to narrate stories or informative content, as storytelling is a crucial element within the tools that make up MOJO practices (as also noted by Burum, 2021) and possessing the appropriate and varied mobile production skills (Wenger et al., 2014) . Therefore, mobile journalism is affirmed as a form of knowledge that is increasingly universal (Canavilhas, 2021) .

With regard to the second specific objective, which explores the impact of smartphones on journalistic work, the results indicate that journalists must consider the audience they are targeting when developing content using mobile devices. This audience is increasingly accustomed to and thus more likely to consume new narratives, often leaving behind the content of traditional journalism, as also observed by Perreault and Stanfield (2019) . Additionally, this study aligns with Singh et al. (2017) , who refer to the smartphone as a "Swiss Army Knife," a tool that, in the short term, has turned journalists into multipurpose professionals (Himma-Kadakas and Palmiste, 2019). These journalists now have access to multifunctional equipment that was unavailable until the early 21st century. However, this development has also distorted journalistic work, as it transforms the professional into an "orchestra journalist"—a term used in both this study and by Blankenship (2016) —referring to journalists who are required to handle multiple roles simultaneously, potentially compromising the quality of their work.

In addressing the third specific objective, which aims to present a perspective on the future of MOJO, the research reveals that digital journalism has increasingly embraced mobile platforms over the course of the 21st century, a trend consistent with Bui and Moran (2020) . This shift underscores the need for journalists to develop skills in MOJO practices, as these are now considered essential in the digital job market (Murphy, 2019). It is therefore important for journalists to cultivate a MOJO habitus, which allows them to merge traditional print editing with mobile video production (Kumar and Haneef, 2018) , ultimately fostering a mindset of multimedia content creators and storytellers—a point also emphasized by Mulcahy (2017). Moreover, acquiring these skills is closely linked to the dynamics of the teams involved in journalistic work, as noted by Weilenmann et al. (2014) . Finally, this study agrees with the view that MOJO should not be seen as a replacement for traditional journalistic practices but rather as a complement to them, enhancing the tools and methods already in place (Quinn, 2011) .

Appendix

Table 1: Most Used Photo Applications and Functions 

App Function Capture Edite Photo 360 Time lapse Multimedia Storytelling Don’t use the app
Camera+ 38 8 - - 5 12
Snapseed - 39 3 - - 21
FiLMiC Firstlight 45 8 - - - 10
Adobe Lightroom 7 32 - - - 24
Time Lapse 10 - - 12 2 39

Source: Author's own elaboration based on the information obtained from the survey of professionals working in mobile journalism.

Table 2: Most Used Video Applications and Functions 

App Function Filming Edite Live streaming Time lapse / Video 360 Multimedia Storytelling Don’t use the app
Filmic Pro 54 - - - - 9
LumaFusion - 43 - 4 6 10
iMovie - 42 - - 8 13
KineMaster - 39 - - - 24
LU-Smart - - 19 - - 44

Source: Author's own elaboration based on the information obtained from the survey of professionals working in mobile journalism.

Table 3: Most Used Audio Applications and Functions 

App Function Recording / Interviewing Edite Live Streaming Multimedia Storytelling Don’t use the app
Voice Record 32 - - - 31
Luci Live 14 - 15 - 34
TwistedWave 10 7 - - 46
Ferrite 15 13 - 5 30
AudioLab - 5 - 4 54

Source: Author's own elaboration based on the information obtained from the survey of professionals working in mobile journalism.

Table 4: Most Used Text / Writing Applications and Functions 

App Function Drafting Editing / Proofreading Transcribe Make annotations Don’t use the app
Microsoft Word 15 3 - - 45
Evernote - - - 3 60
Speechnotes - - 2 - 61

Source: Author's own elaboration based on the information obtained from the survey of professionals working in mobile journalism.

Table 5: Most Used Communication / Storage Applications and Functions 

App Function Send messages Interview Store / Transfer data Don’t use the app
WhatsApp 41 3 15 4
Telegram 21 14 23 5
Messenger 25 8 10 20
Google Drive - - 49 14
Dropbox - - 26 37
WeTransfer - - 31 32

Source: Author's own elaboration based on the information obtained from the survey of professionals working in mobile journalism.

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1 All figures can be found in the Annex at the end of this article (Editor's note).

Received: March 23, 2024; Accepted: August 02, 2024

Yulvitz Ramón Quiroz Pacheco. Doctor in Journalism. Responsible for the research area of the Professional School of Communication Sciences of the Autonomous University of Peru, Peru. Research interests: Multimedia journalism, audiovisual communication. Recent publications: 1) Quiroz, Yulvitz et al. (2023), ‘Las fake news como fenómeno de desinformación y posverdad. Una revisión de la literatura del 2018 al 2022’, in LATAM Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, vol. 4, núm. 6, Paraguay: Redilat. 2) Quiroz, Yulvitz (2018), “Uso de las aplicaciones del Smartphone en el fotoperiodismo”, in Revista Cultura, vol. 32, núm. 1, Peru: Universidad de San Martín de Porres. 3) Quiroz, Yulvitz (2017), ‘La educación y las nuevas tecnologías de la información y comunicación: la alfabetización digital’, in Revista Cultura, vol. 31, no. 1, Peru: Universidad de San Martín de Porres.

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