Abstract:

Introduction:
The steady proliferation of smartphone ownership has democratized the media and promises the prospect of a truly free press. This is beginning to spawn a new breed of mobile journalists (MoJo) who multi-task in their roles as video content creators; researching, producing, editing, distributing and marketing online video, in real time. However, smartphone ownership has led to passive consummation of mobile video content, and the true potential of video creation on mobile phones has not yet been realized. This paper examines the knowledge gap that exists between video consumers and creators and offers suggestions on how to educate and inspire smartphone users on taking their first steps to becoming mobile video content creators.

Methodology:
This study has been conducted through the delivery of practical workshops with second and third level students. Students have been questioned about their online video consummation habits, and their knowledge of the production process. Students have been required to work in groups with specific individual roles assigned to them, to pre-produce, produce and post produce a video production. After completion and viewing, group review and critique are conducted.

Results:
The results of this study conclude that once the production process is broken down and explained in a simple manner, step by step, the creative inertia that many feel regarding this subject matter disappears and the participants feel empowered to embark on the production process independently, without further instruction.

Conclusions:
Due to the proliferation of smartphone ownership, there is a pressing need for research into teaching and training methodologies for smartphone video production, not only for students of communications, but for inter disciplinary applications and practices.

Keywords:

Mobile phone, mobile journalism, MoJo, content creation.