Mobile Generated News: mobile app

Showing posts with label mobile app. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Drones may be approved for the Movie & TV Industry

Greetings from Mobile Generated News® MoGN!

The FAA may give approval and the Motion Picture Association of America supports the idea.

Drones are seen as a much safer option for filming according to Neil Fried, of the MPAA. “This new tool for storytellers will allow for creative and exciting aerial shots, and is the latest in a myriad of new technologies being used by our industry to further enhance the viewer experience.”

What he doesn’t mention is the cost-effectiveness when compared to using a conventional helicopter with a gyro-stabilized camera system. You can achieve the same effect without it costing a great deal of money. When he mentioned safety considerations, one of my vivid memories in the TV News business was the horrible helicopter accident on the set of the Twilight Zone movie that killed actor Vic Morrow and two children back in 1983.

What are your thoughts about Drones for Movies and Television?

Opinions and commentary are essential to the news cycle. If you have an opinion about the use of Drones, you can record it and send it into the Mobile Generated News App. Local news stations can select from dozens of opinions when forming the best and most complete news story possible.

At Mobile Generated News®, we want news consumers to be able to interact with local media for free. We believe that contributing to the news cycle is essential to our democracy. Most often, viewers do not get to control what they see on the news. Now, the MoGN App enables news enthusiasts to have a say in the content they see on their televisions, web sites and newspapers. We are trying to enhance the human experience when it comes to news. Download the Mobile Generated News App and become a Citizen Journalist! If you are out and about and see news, weather or sports happening, send in your Breaking News. If you have a story or opinion that’s worth sharing, record it and send it in as well!

Search for Mobile Generated News in the Apple App Store. And, you will see all of our related affiliate Apps.

The Univision-Mobile Generated News Apps were just released. In addition, you will find the Mobile Generated News App for Nationwide coverage; Entravision-Mobile Generated News App and Serestar-Mobile Generated News App.

All of the MoGN Apps are currently available in English and Spanish with French language coming soon!

And, stay tuned for new affiliates joining the Mobile Generated News® Network team in 2014. Start contributing today!

Remember, if it is newsworthy, we will post it nationwide and you will see it on the MoGN "Newsfeed" distributed to Broadcast Stations, Newspapers, Web Sites and news organizations across the United States and soon around the World.

Mobile Generated News®. Empowering the NEXT generation.

─Jeff Wald, Mobile Generated News®, Los Angeles

Monday, October 14, 2013

College in Person or Online? I’m a mess!

Welcome back to Mobile Generated News®

Last week, our own Jana Rowland, in this Mobile Generated News® Blog made an excellent case for going to College online. As I have expressed in this Blog, I am an early adapter of new technology and an Adjunct Professor of Broadcast Journalism at USC.

I am so conflicted and in such disarray since I read her very compelling essay!
She made some excellent points:

“If kids are given a tool that promotes advanced thinking at an early age, imagine what life would be like for them...”

“I am an online student (by choice) at National University and personally, I find that this way of learning is better for me. I am so accustomed to weekly deadlines, going above and beyond to research each topic, and I prefer to teach myself with guidance from my Professors.”

Indeed more and more students are taking advantage of the myriad of online courses available to them from major Colleges and Universities.

But what about the College Experience itself?

In my senior year at USC, I was working full time in the broadcast profession and at the same time earning my Bachelor of Arts Degree.  I was a commuter student, first living at home with my parents and eventually I was earning enough money to afford my own place to live.  One of my only regrets in life is that I missed out on the “College Experience.”  You don’t have the time when you are a commuter, or these days an online student, to get involved and participate.  My daughter, who is now a senior in College is living on campus and even she feels some regret and a bit disconnected because she did not join a sorority and take a more active role in her college life.

So what do you think?  Attend in person or “commute online” for College?

I have to disagree with Jana and say that there is nothing like being there!   Download the Mobile Generated News® App and send in your own video commentary on this or any subject we talk about in the Mobile Generated News® Blog!

─Jeff Wald, Executive Director, Mobile Generated News®, Los Angeles

To Download the App and see how Generation Next will be getting their News! Just search for Mobile Generated News in iTunes OR download it here. Remember, if it is newsworthy, we will post it nationwide and you will see it on the MoGN “Newsfeed” distributed to Broadcast stations, Newspapers, Web Sites and news organizations across the United States and soon around the World.

Mobile Generated News® MoGN, Mobile News…Global Views

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Adapting Tools at a Young Age

Welcome back to Mobile Generated News®

If kids are given a tool that promotes advanced thinking at an early age, imagine what life would be like for them...
When we begin to think outside of the box, to look at the bigger picture and ask ourselves what we can do to better prepare our kids for the tough years ahead, we question what is most important to teach them. Good values, morals, manners, and common sense, of course but above all, we want our children to be educated and well-rounded.

With the advances in technology in the most recent years, we are now able to give them just that, knowledge of the world around them. There are so many places to search, so many articles to read, so much knowledge readily available. Why not utilize these mediums?

I am an online student (by choice) at National University and personally, I find that this way of learning is better for me. I am so accustomed to weekly deadlines, going above and beyond to research each topic, and I prefer to teach myself with guidance from my Professors. I find that I am able to better understand concepts and I can play it back in ways that not only make sense for me but also for the people I am speaking with. Jeff Wald might have a difference of opinion being a Professor at USC.

I understand the appeal of traditional Universities. For most industries, you need an education from a well-known Accredited University and I applaud those who are able to complete their education that way. However, in my case with mobile marketing becoming so popular and evolving at a rapid pace, is a traditional University the way to go? In my opinion, online Universities are more forward thinking, they might still be working out some bugs in their systems but the overall experience has worked for me.

Online Universities are always looking for ways to expand the way their students learn. By using the Mobile Generated News® app, this will better prepare their students in a world that is constantly changing. They can create a program that will enhance their Journalism courses, getting that raw footage we all want and creating stories in this ever-evolving medium. My generation wants News in real-time, regardless of the quality of video. We have the hunger for knowledge and want to be aware of the world around us.

Until next time..

Jana Rowland

Mobile Generated News® MoGN, Mobile News…Global Views

Monday, September 23, 2013

Soup In Your Coffee Machine?

Greetings from Mobile Generated News® MoGN!

Have seen those Keurig home Coffee/Espresso machines that have the cartridge so you can make beverages in a hurry?

Well Keurig has made a deal with Campbell’s to provide their chicken soup for the cartridges that fit in the machine. Now, you probably haven’t made soup since last winter, but do you recall that it was particularly difficult? From my memory, I put the can in an electric can opener, pressed the button until the lid came off and poured the contents along with an extra can of water into a pot and warmed it up on something called a stove.

Now remember, I am a gadget freak but isn’t this going a little too far? Well, maybe not, if you are already a proud owner of a Keurig machine and want to get your money’s worth!

So what do you think? I look forward to your comments.

─Jeff Wald, Executive Director, Mobile Generated News®, Los Angeles.

Get connected your to local news organizations and contribute original news material by downloading the Mobile Generated News® App from the Apple App store. Just search for Mobile Generated News. Remember, if it is newsworthy, we will post it nationwide and you will see it on the MoGN “Newsfeed” distributed to Broadcast stations, Newspapers, Web Sites and news organizations across the United States and soon around the World. Mobile Generated News® MoGN, Mobile News…Global Views.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Shielding Journalists?

Greetings from Mobile Generated News® MoGN!

The Senate Judiciary Committee is sending a bill to the full senate that is crafted to shield Journalists from having to reveal their sources.

Sounds good so far, right?

The issue here is that the Committee is defining who the Journalists are.

The bill protects anyone who reports news for, “an entity or service that disseminates news and information.” Freelancers for such organizations are also protected for traditional and online media.

Ah, but here is a significant problem: The bill excludes posts on Social Media such as Blogs, Twitter and Facebook. Also the bill says that the Feds can still “compel disclosure” from Journalists if they have information that could help prevent serious crimes. My concern is for the independent bloggers that do investigative reporting based on sources they may have cultivated on the inside?

Personal note: I represent a bona fide news organization through MoGN, MGN Online and Multimedia Graphic Network, Inc., so I am probably covered, right?

So what do you think? I look forward to your comments.

─Jeff Wald, Executive Director, Mobile Generated News®, Los Angeles.

Monday, September 16, 2013

New Apple iPhones and iOS 7

Greetings from Mobile Generated News® MoGN!

If you haven’t heard by now, Apple has announced two new iPhones, the iPhone 5-C and the iPhone 5-S that will both be available in Apple Stores and other Apple outlets this Friday, September 20^th. The iPhone 5-C also is available for pre-sale with Free Shipping directly from Apple effective last Friday the 13^th.

Many in the media and the public are condemning these two new products without having the opportunity to see or test them. Admittedly, I am a Gadget Geek and I own several Apple products. I have an iPhone 5, iPad 4^th Generation, iPad Mini and an iMac at home. I have always been amazed by the intuitive nature of Apple Products without the need of having to call Tech Support or consult an online manual.

I am not an Apple snob, Some of my best friends have Android phones and tablets!

Chief competitor, Samsung makes decent products. However, I am not impressed with the fit and finish of the Samsung Galaxy or the various tablets that are out there that are not iPads. I find them clunky and need to study the owner’s manual to figure them out.

So why are people so quick to judge?

What Apple started, with the late, great Steve Jobs, was a company committed to making computers and peripherals that are stylishly simple and intuitive to operate. Certainly his shoes are difficult to fill but before you condemn Apple and Tim Cook, at least let’s evaluate the two new iPhones and the products to come.

I will also be very surprised if iOS-7 is not a huge hit. From what I have been reading about it, it should be quite a leap forward from the current operating system.

What do you think? I look forward to your comments.

─Jeff Wald, Executive Director, Mobile Generated News®, Los Angeles.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

9/11/2001: A Day We Must Never Forget

Greetings from MobileGenerated News® MoGN!

It has been 12-years since the first terrorist attacks on American soil. 2,996 people lost their lives that day. A very sad day for all Americans. It is hard to quantify all that has changed since then but we lost a great deal of our freedom that we once enjoyed and perhaps, took for granted until the tragic events of that day.

I will never forget because I was the News Director at KTLA, a legendary TV station in Los Angeles with a reputation for solid news coverage. I got a call at home, as I was getting ready for work from our morning news Executive Producer, RichGoldner. He asked me if I was watching the program. I said yes and we both thought that some crazy person crashed his private plane into the World TradeCenter. It was just so surreal that even as experienced and skeptical news people we couldn’t fathom anything more than that at that moment. As we talked, the 2^nd plane hit. We then knew this was a story that was much larger and significant than we could ever imagine. We mobilized our news team and we were on the air LIVE for two straight days.

Today, let’s remember where we all were when this tragedy happened and how it changed all of us. Let’s bring to mind our thoughts and prayers for all of the innocent victims and their families and let’s resolve to never forget them.

What are you thinking about on this 12^th anniversary of 9/11?

I look forward to your comments.

─Jeff Wald, Executive Director, Mobile Generated News®, Los Angeles.

Get connected your to local news organizations and contribute original news material by downloading the Mobile Generated News® App from the Apple App store. Just search for Mobile Generated News.

Remember, if it is newsworthy, we will post it nationwide and you will see it on the MoGN “Newsfeed” distributed to Broadcast stations, Newspapers, Web Sites and news organizations across the United States and soon around the World. Mobile Generated News® MoGN, Mobile News…Global Views.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Abba Fest at Hollywood Bowl is Sold Out with Nearly 18,000 Fans

Greetings from MobileGenerated News® MoGN!

Alright I admit it. I’m an ABBA fan, so when my wife, Gabrielle, asked me if I wanted to go to the Hollywood Bowl last weekend for an Abba Fest with two of our close friends, I said, sure!

I really didn’t know what to expect. After all, the original group was formed in 1973 and stopped performing in December of 1982. To my surprise and amazement there were nearly 18,000 other Abba fans filling the Hollywood Bowl to capacity.

Around 7:00 PM the pre-show began with a competition “Sing Off” with 3 a cappella groups formed at Los Angeles area Universities, UCLA, USC and Chapman. They all sang Abba songs with no musical accompaniment. Suddenly I realized that the next generation had discovered and accepted ABBA. I was feeling better about my confession that I am an Abba fan.

After the pre-show ─ UCLA Won by the way ─ A large group of young musicians appeared on the stage, with two attractive female singers, that looked remarkably like the original band members all dressed in 70-‘s attire. When they began to sing, I thought I was in a time warp. They sounded just like the real ABBA. They had us all singing and dancing in the aisles for almost 2-hours.

How many other tribute bands could fill the Hollywood Bowl and entertain the audience just like the original?

What do you think?
Do you know any other tribute bands that could sell out the Hollywood Bowl or similar large venue and give such a satisfying performance?
I look forward to your comments.

─Jeff Wald, Executive Director, Mobile Generated News, Los Angeles.

Get connected your to local news organizations and contribute original news material by downloading the Mobile Generated News® App from the Apple App store. Just search for Mobile Generated News.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Microsoft buys Nokia for 7.2 Billion

Greetings from MobileGenerated News™ MoGN!

Today’s top tech story is Microsoft’s purchase of Nokia, a company that was once the world’s leader in mobile phones, and more recently, continued to lose ground to Apple and Samsung in the Smartphone universe.

There are reasons that this is probably a good idea for both parties. First of all, Microsoft has been struggling making their Windows Phones competitive for nearly two years. The manufacturer that builds 90% of Windows Phones on the Windows 8 mobile operating system? You guessed it ─ Nokia.

Another major reason may be that Microsoft is looking for their next CEO. Stephen Elop has been rumored as a strong candidate. Who is Stephen Elop you ask? He is currently the head of Nokia and Elop used to be head of the highly profitable business unit of Microsoft!

So the high price tag may be worth it. Microsoft stands to gain control over the dominant player in the Windows Phone world, their lucrative patents and may get a new Chief Executive Officer. As a bonus it insures that Microsoft stays relevant in this new mobile age. Although this is a huge sum of money, the resources of Microsoft will certainly continue to make the Windows Phone more user friendly so it can compete with Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android operating system devices. Microsoft certainly has a lot of catching up to do given that Windows Phone has only 3% of the US market and 6% of the world market dominated by their two giant competitor operating systems.

What do you think? I look forward to your comments and questions.

–Jeff Wald, Executive Director, Mobile Generated News™, Los Angeles.

Don’t forget to download the Mobile Generated News™ App from the Apple App store. Just search for Mobile Generated News.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Fast Food Workers Want More Money

Greetings from MobileGenerated News™ MoGN!

One of today’s Top Stories is about a Nationwide attempt to raise the minimum wage for fast food workers. They make between $7.50 and $10.00 an hour. The workers say it is not enough money to live on. They are protesting today trying to convince their employers to double their salaries to $15.00 an hour. The companies say that giving their workers such a significant raise will raise prices as much as a $1.50 on such marquee items as a Big Mac. The workers are threatening to unionize. It’s certainly hard to argue that a job that pays so little may not be enough to survive on your own. If the employers respond in an unsympathetic manner, they could create a public relations nightmare for their companies and franchisees.

What do you think? I look forward to your comments and questions.

–Jeff Wald, Executive Director, Mobile Generated News, Los Angeles.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

iOS Beta 7 to be Released to Developers this Week!

Mobile Generated News™ MoGN is expecting Apple to release the latest operating system for mobile devices this week. Our App developers are planning to update our App as soon as the new iOS is released to the public around September 10th. The MoGN App will also include an update for our professional newsrooms across the country. In the meantime, if you haven't already, go the Apple App store and search for Mobile Generated News and download it. When you see something newsworthy, open the MoGN App and start shooting video!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Calling All Citizen Journalists!

With all that is going on in the world today chances are you may witness something Newsworthy while you are out and about. Go to the Apple App store on your iPhone or iPad and Download our Mobile Generated News™ (MoGN) App. When you see news as it happens, open the App, select the “Camera” icon, choose “Take Video", press the Record button and start shooting!

You can shoot multiple one minute videos and Upload them. Everything you shoot for MoGN will appear in your “My Newsfeed" archive. If it is newsworthy, we will post it nationwide and you will see it on “Newsfeed". If you are in a bad cell area and don’t have access to WIFI, the video you shot will appear in your iPhone or IPad’s camera roll. Then, when you are in a better signal area or can connect to WIFI, open the MoGN App, select the “Camera” icon, click “Choose Existing", select the Video you want to send and the MoGNApp will do the rest.

Monday, August 19, 2013

The MoGN App continues to attract attention at the Apple Store!

Our Mobile Generated News™ (MoGN) App continues to attract attention at the Apple Store! I have received many emails and calls about how easy the App can be used to upload news stories! These are very exciting times for us.

The announcement of our brand new App was picked up by hundreds of websites and publications around the country. Having been a TV News Director for so many years, I am amazed at the response, particularly through Social Media. As soon as the first Press Release went out, a friend who is a TV Network News Producer, sent me a message on Facebook wanting to know more about the App!

Although the App is up and running and available in the Apple App Store, we are still working diligently on our end to make sure we are properly receiving User Generated Content before it is made available to all of our clients on September 16, 2013. So those of you reading this blog, get busy! When you see news happening, shoot it and send it! If it is newsworthy, we will post it, nationwide.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

There is NO Substitute for Original Reporting

When it comes to News, credibility, accuracy and dependability are paramount. There is so much unattributed and bad information floating around in cyberspace. When we created the Mobile Generated News™ (MoGN) App, we had to make sure that safeguards were in place to make sure the material we are providing to our clients is sourced and true. We want our clients and consumers of our news product to feel confident that the information that we present can be shared with others and based on fact. As simple as this may sound, other news services (and competitors) are just aggregating material from other sources. There is no original “reporting”. Every story that we post daily on MoGN will be fact checked and we will know the source of the video or still images.

Did you ever play that game in school when a bunch of your classmate’s line up and whisper a story to the first person in line? And by the time the story reached the end of the line, it was different than the original story started at the front of the line? This is how I see Content Aggressors on the web. Although I like the idea of collecting all of the information that I am interested in all in one place, many of these content distributors are merely “cutting and pasting” stories from other (trusted?) sources.

There is no substitute for original reporting. This is the heart of what we do and how we feel about the information we deliver on MoGN.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

MoGN is in the Apple App Store!

After nearly two years of brainstorming, planning, organizing and revising, the Mobile Generated News™ App is complete and now in the Apple App Store!

It has been quite a journey. Shortly after the iPad came out, Gill Davis of MGN Online and I met to talk about the future of News. We both came to the same conclusion. The next generation of news consumers were not reading Newspapers, not watching as much TV News as we might think they should be, and basically learning about the world through social media. We were both concerned that the next generation, our daughters and sons, were not getting enough reputable information and therefore would be making intelligent life decisions without being well informed.

After several meetings, our plan began to take shape. We would create a forum for the next generation to contribute breaking news and hyper-local news stories to new media AND mainstream media.

Above all, our project had to be a credible source. The material needed to confirmed, fact-checked, and otherwise vetted so that all of those consuming the information could depend on our News product as a solid source of information.

You can download the MoGN App by searching “Mobile Generated News” in the Apple App Store or by clicking this link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mobile-generated-news/id682265217?ls=1&mt=#

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