Mobile journalism is on the rise, and we believe it’s one of the most critical technical skill sets that journalists should be learning right now. Video is more important than ever in journalism, and creating it using a smartphone will allow you to be more agile as a journalist.
We are in an age where people want their news delivered via video. People wish for context, and they want it fast. A photo can give you some context but often not enough. A written article can detail information, but even with all the charts and graphs, you sometimes need a moving image to understand what’s happening in today’s world.
With your phone, you have a potent tool that can capture high-quality video and audio at any time or place. You can watch Bigvu’s videos for mobile journalism to learn more on the subject. These videos can be published and shared with millions of people instantly (it is also essential for journalists to understand how social media works). You also have unlimited access to social media platforms.
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Videos Continue to Grow in Popularity
If you’re wondering how to make your content stand out in 2022, this one is a sure bet. As of now, over 50% of consumers watch more than an hour of video per day. That number will only increase in the coming years. This trend applies to all age groups—including older generations, which are often the hardest to reach.
What does this mean for mobile journalists? If you want to gain and keep your audience’s attention, you’ll have to start creating videos as part of your content strategy. The future’s looking bright for moving pictures!
Consumers Are Watching More Videos Than Ever Before
Primarily driven by an increase in mobile devices, the ease of content access, and the fact that videos are short and easy to consume (and can be watched while multitasking), video is becoming the preferred format for many people.
Let’s say you’re at a museum and want to know where the bathroom is. Voice search is becoming more popular because it’s easier to use, and users get better results. If you type in “bathroom location,” the top search result will probably direct you to a website with a picture of a bathroom or photos from last year’s Bathroom Expo.
If you speak into your phone and ask, “where is the bathroom?” it will take into account your location and give directions based on that data! Voice search also uses natural language processing (NLP), which means Google can understand complex questions like “what are the pros and cons of peanut butter?” And there are many other examples!
Video Streaming Will Become the Norm
We live in the age of instant gratification, and streaming is one of the most convenient ways to deliver information. You can stream live events, get breaking news alerts, or even watch your favourite show using a mobile device with a few clicks. In 2021, streaming became commonplace for many consumers and businesses alike.
According to a report on video streaming habits, over 80% of U.S.-based internet users said they watched at least one form of video content each week. That number is expected to grow in 2022 as more companies invest in video game production and marketing efforts. The rise of connected TVs (bright) and set-top boxes like Roku will also help fuel this trend as people look for new ways to stay entertained during these uncertain times.
The Rise of AR, VR, and MR
Augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality are already here, and they’re expected to be a $200 billion industry by 2021. But what exactly are AR, VR, and MR?
AR and MR place virtual objects in the real world, while VR is a fully immersive experience in an artificial environment. Unlike a 360-degree video, which identifies you at a “fixed point” and allows you to look around your surroundings with tech (like Google Cardboard), AR, VR, and MR will enable you to interact with virtual objects in real-time. Think IKEA’s app that lets you see how a couch would look in your living room or Pokemon Go.
Interactivity Is Key
As our society becomes more and more technologically sophisticated, the way we interact with one another is becoming increasingly nuanced. In short, people don’t just want to be talked to—they want to participate, and giving them this opportunity will make your video that much more engaging.
To make the most of this trend, start by providing a list of options so the viewer can choose what they want to see; for example, you could give a list of relevant questions or topics at the beginning of your video. People have different interests and may not need all the information you’re providing—so let them skip to whatever interests them most!
Making your video interactive doesn’t mean you need to incorporate advanced technology like augmented reality or virtual reality into your work (though you certainly can if feasible). You can use simple methods like inviting viewers to type out their opinions in an accompanying chat room or engage with a poll embedded in your video.
In short: Keep audiences engaged by creating videos that feel tailor-made for them.
Also, read How to Install YouTube TV On PS5
Shorter Will Be Better
Video production is a constantly evolving field, and mobile journalism is no exception. From the early days of smartphones to now, these trends will continue to impact how we create a video in the future:
Shorter will be better. In 2022, video journalists (VJs) will produce shorter videos and capture smaller moments because it’ll be easier for people to watch them. Viewers today are already inundated with longer-form content on TV and online, so a short glimpse into someone’s life could be much more appealing. Shorter videos might also change the way VJs interact with their audience since they’ll have more time to engage and build relationships with viewers between each episode.
The importance of music and sound design will grow significantly as VJs try to make their work stand out from others.
Keep These Trends in Mind
Those who follow the tech news and want to capture videos on the go will find it a bit more complex than others, especially if they don’t have a phone that comes with a camera. For instance, if you don’t have access to an external camera, you may be stuck using your phone’s default camera app.
While this does work for some, such as when recording time-lapse videos of plants growing, it doesn’t work for most other types of videos. If you are going to use your phone’s default app, here are a few tips that will help you capture better videos in different circumstances:
Use the flash. The flash on most phones is horrible and tends to wash out all the colours in your video. This is especially true with models launched after 2010/2011/2012. If possible, make sure that whatever video you’re making has good lighting—it’ll make it easier for viewers to watch and not get distracted by shadows or light sources that aren’t there at all.
Even if this isn’t possible, try increasing the brightness of your screen so the bars will show up earlier in daylight or nighttime situations where people won’t need their eyes to adjust as quickly. For example: shoot something indoors during the day but turn down contrast beforehand, so it shows up better when viewed later at night or under bad lighting conditions outdoors.
Try zooming in. Suppose something looks blurry once you start recording video or have zoomed in enough to see everything well without losing focus. Try zooming back out until things look clearer again. It makes it much easier for viewers to focus on what’s important instead of seeing motion blur from distant objects like cars or planes flying by while they’re watching.
So even though we can’t tell how good someone’s hands look at arm’s length while wearing gloves during winter months, we can easily zoom out when standing near something like an ice cream carton. Also, Read How to Download Reddit Video?
Conclusion
While some progressive media outlets have already started to present their opinions in voiceovers and graphics, this approach will likely become more widespread. As a mobile journalist, you may also want to consider how your work can fit into this emerging trend.
Of course, we’ll see a lot of change over the next few years. The only certainty is that it’s impossible to predict exactly where the media industry will be headed down the road—but I think it’s safe to say that these video trends will play a key role in determining its direction.
What do you think? Have you come across any other video trends on social media? Is there anything else you’d like to add? Let me know by leaving your thoughts and comments below!