Ms24.10

Homeschooling. Attitude of Latvian Journalists Towards Inclusion of Mobile Technology in Their Daily Work

https://doi.org/10.22364/ms24.10 | pp. 98-107 | PDF

Raivis Vilūns
University of Latvia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6294-7895 

Abstract. In the contemporary era, mobile technologies have become an essential aspect of daily existence. These technologies, encompassing digital and mobile platforms, permeate the everyday lives of a significant portion of the citizenry. Statistics indicate that in 2023, approximately 93.1% of households had access to the Internet. It is important to note that these technologies serve not only as tools for entertainment and communication, but also possess the potential to be utilized for professional endeavours. It is widely believed that the use of mobile technologies constitutes an integral part of the practices deemed essential for a journalist. For instance, journalists may employ mobile phones to record interviews, report from the scene of events, capture video footage, and take photographs. Additionally, smartphones provide access to the Internet, enabling journalists to acquire knowledge, generate ideas, and create live text broadcasts. However, a pertinent question arises: to what extent have media editorials embraced these technologies? Furthermore, is there a systematized approach to the introduction and utilization of modern technologies within the media landscape? This report presents an analysis of preliminary data obtained from a survey conducted among Latvian journalists and media students at the end of 2023. The survey was conducted as part of the project titled “Mobile Journalism: Practice and Education in Central and Eastern Europe”. Researchers from the University of Latvia's Social Science Faculty collaborated with other universities in the region to investigate the use of mobile technologies and the challenges encountered by journalists in Europe in their work and daily lives. The survey data were compared to the findings on an in depth interview with eight journalists and editors from national and regional Latvian media outlets. They reveal a generally positive attitude to learning and using technologies in their work. The largest challenges are the ability to learn to use them and time needed to acquire new skills.

Keywords: mobile journalism, mobile technologies, convergence, multimedia journalism

In: Media and Society, 2024. Proceedings of Scientific Papers = Mediji un sabiedrība, 2024. Rakstu krājums. Riga, University of Latvia, 2025. 137 p.