Smartphone excites multimedia journalist

By Martin Ndijjo

Vision group journalist, Ashiraf Kasirye is overwhelmed by the smart phone he is using for the first time to cover a story about Kampala City’s cheapest restaurants. He uses the phone to take photos, record videos and voices and immediately types a news story for the company’s news websites. Kasirye will submit the story to different Vision Group media platforms, like Bukedde and Urban Tv, The New Vision and Bukedde Newspapers, Bukedde Fa Ma and X.Fm.

“Our company has introduced smartphones for journalists and I am now using it to do the interview and file the story,” an excited Kasirye said, as he captured footage with his phone at a restaurant on 1st street industrial area.

However he is seen fidgeting with the phone as he tries to assemble and get it ready for work.

Challenges of using the smartphone

I asked Kasirye what challenges he faced using the smartphone for the first time. “Switching from my ordinary phone to a smartphone with many specifications... I have to first learn and master,” he said.

He also said, that doing a number of activities at a go – taking photos, recording videos and voices as well as typing - is hectic because being a radio journalist, he is used to moving with a recorder and placing it at the table for some one tospeak into.

“I find it challenging filming as well as interviewing a person. 

Mastering the settings and adjustments on my phone to have quality pictures is also difficult,” Kasirye said.

Smart phones the way to go in the multi media era

As more people start seeking news from online sources, whether on computers or mobile devices the smart journalist needs to be able to deliver that news in a format that meets the reader’s interest

Smartphones are able to capture photo and video content as well Smartphones help to gather the news content and be able to send it from the field and thus enable journalists deliver breaking news and other stories as fast as possible.