The changing face of media, combined with the pressure of the recession and the demise of the traditional newspaper, has given rise to a new breed of journalist. The fast-growing popularity of the concept of the MoJo: the mobile journalist, whose kit includes a convertible stills/video camera, a laptop for writing and editing and a high-quality sound recorder for interviews and podcasts. A journalist/photographer with entrepreneur skills.

According to Dare Parker the main reason a lot of journalists are staying freelance is that it gives them the opportunity to go out and do independent stories.  The journalists pick their own stories and sell them to various press organisations or publications, but in Australia particularly, since Time magazine closed its Australian office and The Bulletin folded, there are less places that will buy their work, prompting a need for entrepreneur skills.

A massive seismic shift in thinking was needed to redefine what journalists would have to do if they wanted to make a living from the business.

Reports now feature a stills gallery, video interviews and text. A MoJo can put a report package together in one day after receiving just five days’ training.

So what is the future of the modern journalist?

Perhaps they’ll be a bit of both photographer and journalist with a large dose of small businessperson thrown in – possessing not just multimedia skills and marketing savvy, but innovative entrepreneur skills and the financial acumen of an accountant.

Shane Krider- Polaris Media Group