Bhatt: Use the right mobile tools for the job

By: Damon Kiesow

September 27, 2010

Rambling Thoughts Blog
The line between professional journalist and professional blogger is debatable, but the tools that each uses in the field are identical. After live blogging a social media conference last week, Australian blogger Neerav Bhatt shares some thoughts on the toolkit he assembled for the job:

“In bygone days a journalist covering an event was likely to be accompanied by a photographer, cameraman or both. Nowadays due to universal budget cuts a modern journalist is often expected to file text, photos and video all by themselves.”

Bhatt outlines a number of gadgets, which he breaks down into a few primary categories: computing, imaging, Internet access and power. The key, he notes, is to have a variety of options and then “pick as many/few tools as needed for a particular job.”

For newsgathering over extended periods, he recommends balancing portability against battery life and quality. A smart phone is a great all-purpose tool, he notes, but an ultra-portable laptop, a digital SLR camera and a tripod will provide the best results.

Overall his strategy seems to be: Have a plan and a backup. This extends to the one piece of analog gear in the kit:

“Sturdy Analog Wristwatch: Proves surprisingly useful for keeping track of the time and date. Watch and laugh as other people who rely on their smart phone to tell them the time have no idea what time it is in the evening because their smart phone battery has gone flat.”

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