Mobile-First Journalism: Producing News for Social and Interactive Media

Media publishers produce news for a full range of smart devices – including smartphones, tablets and watches. Combining theory and practice, Mobile-First Journalism examines how audiences view, share and engage with journalism on internet-connected devices and through social media platforms.

The book examines the interlinked relationship between mobile technology, social media and apps, covering the entire news production process – from generating ideas for visual multimedia news content, to skills in verification and newsgathering, and outputting interactive content on websites, apps and social media platforms. These skills are underpinned with a consideration of ethical and legal concerns involving fake news, online trolling and the economics of mobile journalism.

Topics include:

• understanding how mobile devices, social media platforms and apps are interlinked;
• making journalistic content more engaging and interactive;
• advice on how successful news publishers have developed mobile and social media strategies;
• adopting an approach that is entrepreneurial and user-centered;
• expert interviews with journalists, academics and software developers;
• learning key skills to launch and develop news websites, apps and social media outputs.

Mobile-First Journalism is essential reading for journalism students and media professionals and of interest to those studying on courses in social and new media.

Steve Hill is Course Leader of the MA in Multimedia Journalism at Westminster University, London. Previously, he lectured at Southampton Solent University, UK, and has a background in technology journalism. His books include Online Journalism: The Essential Guide (with Dr. Paul Lashmar, 2013).

Paul Bradshaw is Course Leader for both the MA in Multiplatform and Mobile Journalism and the MA in Data Journalism at Birmingham City University, UK. He also works as a consulting data journalist with the BBC England Data Unit. His books include Magazine Editing (with John Morrish, 2011), Snapchat for Journalists (2016), and the Online Journalism Handbook (2018).