“We in the Mojo Community”–Exploring a Global Network of Mobile Journalists

Abstract

Mobile journalism is a fast-growing area of journalistic innovation that requires new skills and work practices. Thus, a major challenge for journalists is learning not only how to keep up with new gadgets but how to advance and develop a mojo mindset to pursue their interests and solidify future work options. This paper investigates a globally pioneering network of mojo journalism, the Mojo Community, that consists of journalists and practitioners dedicated to creating multimedia content using mobile technologies. The study is based on empirical data from interviews with and the observation of the participants of the community over a two-year period. The analysis draws on Wenger’s concept of “communities of practice” to explore the domain, structure, and role of this communal formation for innovation and change in journalistic practices. The community’s core group is comprised of journalists mainly affiliated with legacy broadcast organizations and with a particular interest in and extensive knowledge of mobile technologies. The participants perceive their engagement with the community as a way of meeting the challenges of organizational reluctance to change, fast-evolving technological advancements, and uncertain job prospects.