*Normahfuzah Ahmad

Abstract:

Mobile phones have become the sine qua non in our daily life. The adoption of mobile phones as a reporting tool has shifted newsroom practice and revolutionised journalism, amplifying news omnipresence. The affordances brought forth by digitalisation have made it important that news channels re-model their newsroom practice to suit the demands and market of their changing audience. This study aims to discuss the changes in newsroom practice at two renowned rolling news channels. Specifically, it intends to examine the adoption practice of mobile phones at the BBC World News and Al Jazeera English. Adopting a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with journalists and newsmakers working for the two renowned news organisations. Findings from this study highlight three vital factors within the shifting newsroom practice of mobile phone adoption. They are the importance of videos and vertical filming; the interweaving roles and functions between mobile phones and social media; and the future of mobile journalism.

Keywords: Mobile journalism, mobile phones, newsroom practice, Al Jazeera English, BBC World News