The New Newsroom
By Susan Frith
Pegasus, The Magazine of the University of Central Florida
Eric Gutierrez, ’15, was driving home from class last spring when he saw a UCF shuttle bus catch on fire. He immediately pulled over and grabbed his smartphone. But instead of taking a selfie, the journalism student began reporting. By the time a news helicopter flew overhead, the bus’s occupants were safely evacuated, the fire was extinguished and Gutierrez was wrapping up his first Mobile Journalism assignment.
The UCF Nicholson School of Communication class teaches students to write news stories and capture accompanying video and images with mobile devices, then edit and file the content electronically from the field. It’s skills training designed to keep pace with evolving technology fueling the 24-hour news cycle. And Gutierrez was hooked.
“Having access to a smartphone really opens the door for you,” says the senior, who is double majoring in journalism and political science. “In essence you have a newsroom in the palm of your hand.”