The Mobile Media Toolkit is a new, free resource from MobileActive.org, an organisation aiming at “connecting people, organisations, and resources using mobile technology for social change.”

Using mobile phones in media production isn’t always as easy as it seems. Finding the right tool and using it correctly to reach the broadest possible audience requires knowledge of the mobile landscape.

The Mobile Media Toolkit aims to help users make sense of the changing, growing role of mobile technology in media. The Toolkit content is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, and it is being translated into Russian as well.

The Toolkit provides how-to guides, mobile tools, and case studies on how mobile phones can be (and are being) used for reporting, broadcasting, and citizen media participation.

All Toolkit content is licensed under Creative Commons license, and media organisations and professionals are welcome to highlight, share, and distribute content to their networks or use it as part of their own trainings.

Helpful resources include:

How-to guides:  The latest guide is on how to use Bambuser to live stream content and engage with audiences. Michelle Li of WECT explains how her newsroom uses Bambuser to share live video and engage with viewers. Check out the complete guide here.

The are also detailed guides on Adding Location Information to Content, Reporting on a Smartphone, and Engaging with Audiences on their Mobile Phones.

Case studies: No Internet? No problem. A new tool called TRAC FM allows radio stations to poll listeners via SMS and share the results over the radio. These case studies provide real-world examples and help demonstrate how mobiles are being used in innovative ways around the world.

Tips for the Mobile Journalist: Check for example as the video below on how to shoot and transfer content from a mobile phone to a tablet using basic hardware and software.

Tutorial on the hardware, software and workflow needed for iPhone4 mobile journalism ( MoJo)

The site also publishes mobile tool reviews of relevant apps for mobile media users.

Stay updated on new developments by subscribing to the Mobile Media Toolkit newsletter, or via Twitter or Facebook.

By Melissa Ulbricht

[Disclosure: Melissa Ulbricht is Project Manager of the Mobile Media Toolkit.]

Published: November 15, 2011