Maryland Professor Offers 10 Important Lessons for Mobile Journalists

A journalist must keep many factors in mind when preparing to post stories to be read on mobile devices, such as the quality of the audio and the position of the camera, according to Ronald Yaros, professor of new media and mobile journalism at the University of Maryland. At the top of his list of the 10 most important lessons a mobile journalist must learn is that "it's not just production of mobile content, it's the assembly of it for news consumers." Yaros offered this advice at the second Journalism Interactive Conference held Feb. 8-9 in Gainesville, Fla. Among other lessons, he also emphasized the importance of proper lighting.

listen to ‘Tips on Lighting When Taking Pictures on Mobile Devices’ on Audioboo

Yaros also touched on another important lesson for mobile reporters: length of interviews.

listen to ‘Length of Interviews for Mobile Phones’ on Audioboo

Other items on Yaros's list include learning to think out of the box; remembering that a live event for students to cover is not the same as classroom practice; and being prepared for more changes in mobile technology because "it will only get better." The journalism conference, created in 2011 by the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism and the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications, brings together educators, journalists, scholars and students to explore how journalism schools are responding to the challenges of the digital age. This year's focus was specifically on data, design, mobile, and participation.